By Message Staff
ST LOUIS – Personal evangelism and discipleship remain a vital part of a student’s experience at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, President Chuck Kelley told messengers on Wednesday morning.
“We know if you will not become a witness now, you will not likely become one later on,” Kelley said. “We simply have to get the gospel out from behind our pulpits, into the streets and neighborhoods of our cities and communities. That’s where the prospects are. That’s what we teach you to do.”
Speaking during the seminary’s report at the Southern Baptist Convention, Kelley said each student is required during their first year, along with 10-12 other students, to meet in a small group with a professor once a week, to practice walking with God together. Additionally, students are required to spend at least one semester witnessing door-to-door in New Orleans.
Kelley expressed appreciation for donors who provided scholarships for African-American students and small church pastors in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Those students receiving the scholarships for small church pastors are required to have a gospel conversation at least once a week with someone who is lost. During the past two years, the 250 students receiving the scholarships have shared the gospel 7,585 times with individuals who do not have a personal relationship with Christ. From those conversations, 1,061 people have accepted Christ.
Kelley ended his report by reminding messengers the seminary is preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary with events planned for 2017 and 2018. One way the seminary will mark the milestone is to ask Southern Baptists to share the gospel 100,000 times.
“We think lifting up Jesus is the best way to celebrate what God is doing at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary,” Kelley said.
