This year Virginia Baptists contributed $300,000 to Bluefield College. Next year that amount will be cut by more than 50 percent (“Virginia Baptist Mission Board takes show on the road,” Herald, Oct. 19). What do we do with the money that Virginia Baptists give us? Many, many things.
As chair of the Christian studies at the college, I want to thank Virginia Baptists for their support and let you know something about our programs. In a time when Virginia Baptists are dealing with a shortage of ministers and looking to that short-age to become worse, Bluefield College is working to serve Virginia Baptist churches by equipping emerging leaders.
All of our students, no matter their major, take at least two courses from the Christian studies faculty. We also have qualified, talented, Baptist faculty in other disciplines preparing students for ministry including church music and Christian drama.
In addition to our academic programs, BGAV gifts also support our strong Baptist campus ministries program and scholarships for students from BGAV churches.
Last year we graduated eight Christian studies majors, seven of whom are already in seminary and the eighth will start within the year. Several of our current students are involved in youth ministry positions as well. Every year we graduate folks who are preparing for ministry, nurtured in this Virginia Baptist environment. All of our majors take at least five Bible courses and most take at least two years of biblical language. All take church history, world religions, Christian theology and introduction to ministry. This year we have added a youth ministry track in the major as one of the students' options and we are offering a youth ministry minor for those in other majors.
For us, training ministers to serve Virginia Baptist churches is a calling we embrace as our vocation.
Timothy G. Crawford, Chair
Division of Christian Studies
Bluefield College