A report from the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) claims that student enrolment is at a five-year high across 100 of the 273 AST member seminaries. Some schools have grown more than 50%. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary was named as the fastest-growing seminary with minimum enrolment of 500 students. University president Dr. Jason Allen says that building the student body with robust numbers of Korean, Hispanic and African American students has yielded sustainable growth.

‘But,’ Allen says, ‘While these steps have doubtlessly helped, I believe the most important steps we’ve taken are convictional and missiological… Our doctrinal convictions and our missiological clarity both have accelerated growth. Everyone knows precisely who we are… and what we see as our chief ambition – to train pastors, ministers and evangelists for the church.’

Although there was a downturn during the recent economic crisis, taking the longer term view, the ATS report also shows a growth in graduate theological school enrolment compared to 1999. Likewise the numbers of online ATS students also shot up to 18,500 compared to 13,750 in 2009.

Source: ATS; Christian Today

Bible Study: Proverbs 4:1-13

PRAISE God that, contrary to expectations, more students are enrolling in theological studies.

PRAY that evangelical seminaries will train future church leaders to be true to Christ in a world of relativity.