Spring 2007 | Volume 65, No. 3

Extension Education News

Arkansas ministers benefit from SWBTS-ASBC collaboration

by Deron Biles

The extension education centers provide many great partnerships between Southwestern Seminary and our host campuses. One of the most unique partnerships we enjoy is with the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. Since fall 1993, Southwestern has been offering extension classes in Little Rock at the offices of the Arkansas State Baptist Convention.

The proximity of the campus to the airport makes it accessible, but it is the partnership with the state convention that makes it effective. Our coordinator for this center, Dr. Tim Deahl (MDiv 1974), is also on staff at the state convention. His work with the convention affords him many opportunities to interact with current and prospective students. He also teaches at the campus.

One of Deahl’s primary roles as coordinator of Southwestern’s Little Rock campus is recruitment. His relationship with the state convention gives him unusual opportunities to promote the work of the extension campus all across the state.
 “Almost daily, I receive calls from across Arkansas from individuals
wanting to know how to obtain theological training,” Deahl said.

“Discovering a means of achieving that training while serving Arkansas churches is a dream come true for so many.”

Deahl, a second generation Southern Baptist pastor, has been teaching at the Little Rock extension since 1996 and serving as its coordinator since 2002. He knows the value of theological education from several perspectives. As a pastor, he knows the importance of solid, Bible-based theological education. As a state convention worker, he recognizes the value of seminary education in close proximity of those who need it.

“Having a graduate-level, seminary training program located centrally in the state makes my job much easier,” Deahl said. “Many pastors and other church-related vocational workers in Arkansas feel that the cost of leaving a job and uprooting a family is too great.”

One of the values of extension education is the immediate practicality of the coursework. Many of the students studying at extension campuses are already involved in church work. “As a result, the students at the LR extension campus are motivated, enthusiastic and serious about their seminary studies,” Deahl said. “For most, it is not a matter of preparing for ministry as much as a matter of preparing in ministry.”

In addition, Deahl says his roles as state convention servant, extension campus coordinator and fellow church laborer allow him to “relate to potential students the direct benefit and continuous relevance of theological training.”
That effort is paying off. Enrollment in Little Rock has remained consistent over its 15-year existence. Moreover, in a recent study, Little Rock students had the highest ratio of number of hours taken per student among all of Southwestern’s extension campuses.

In the coming years, the Arkansas State Baptist Convention plans to relocate its office facilities, but remains steadfast in its commitment to offering theological education for its pastors, staff and lay people. Southwestern Seminary is proud of its partnership with Arkansas Baptists and the faithful students and faculty who train there. We all eagerly look forward to the future with confidence. It’s a great place to serve and study.

If you are interested in pursuing seminary education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Shawnee, you can call Clyde Cain in Oklahoma at 405.878.2377, or the Office of Extension Education on the Fort Worth campus at 817.923.1921 ext. 6700.

Dr. Deron Biles is dean of extension education