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PURPOSE:
St. Paul's Seminary, Inc., is a
multi-denominational Christian Educational Institution dedicated to
preparing world Christians to serve God with excellence. Its
educational divisions offer degree programs ranging from Associate to
Doctoral studies. The Seminary's programs emphasize spiritual
formation; mastery of biblical and theological content;
interpretation techniques and skills; cultivation of a biblical
world- view and ministry skills development. The latter through
field Christian education and internship experiences.
The Seminary serves students from
different denominations. Any person who wants to study Scripture is
welcome into our halls. The majority of its graduates serve in
vocational Christian roles, and we are now emphasizing that they
serve in cross-cultural contexts.
St. Paul's Seminary, Inc. is
especially designed to serve ministers, who, due to ultimate job
requirements, full-time pastorates, family commitments, or other
commitments, have need of the opportunity for Christian education and
training in Bible Study, Theological Training or in Christian
Outreach through on-line distance learning. At the same time, we
have developed a program which is an in-depth six year course of
instruction and studies.
Our purpose may be summarized as
follows:
First,
our curriculum and community life at The Seminary are designed to
provide a dynamic context in which our students will be assisted and
encouraged to pursue realistic goals.
Second, know oneself by an
increasing awareness of one's spiritual place in life and high
potentiality.
Third, knowing Jesus Christ,
learning submission to His will and His lordship and obedience and
dependence on the Holy Spirit; thus making progress in conforming to
His word.
Fourth, know the Word by achieving
mastery of its content as well as understanding it's meaning by
assimilating and applying its truth and developing skills and
techniques in the utilization of study instruments.
Fifth to recognize we have a Heavenly
Father, who cares far more for us than any earthly father ever could.
That being so, He always wishes and wills what is best for our
lives, and we must seek to be within the bounds of His will for our
future.
Sixth, know people and become aware
and sensitive to their needs, the context in which they live, and by
striving to improve communication with students whatever their
culture.
Seventh, know the skills that it
takes to pursue the ministry in a particular area. It requires born
again persons who are called by God to minister in and through
professional disciplines, whether in communication, Christian
education, sociology, psychology, theology, or in other professional
disciplines where training programs are being developed.
We provide the teachers and their
resources for learning as well as the taste or incentive and
curricular guidance essential for growth and progress toward these
goals. Thus we expect our student to become involved in the
activities of The Seminary including the spiritual, academic, social
and physical dimensions of The Seminary's life. As they practice
what they preach they come to know Christ better and are able to make
Him known more effectively to others. We believe that God's
purpose for the seminary corporately and for its instructors and
students individually, can be accomplished only by the supernatural
ministry of the Holy Spirit through yielded servants.
DOCTRINAL STATEMENT AND STANDARDS:
Teachings at St. Paul's Seminary are
based on the great fundamentals of the Christian faith, all of which
center in the person of Jesus Christ our crucified, risen and
glorified Savior and Lord.
1.
We believe that love one for another as Jesus loves the believer
manifests our discipleship, proves our love for God and symbolizes
our authority as New Testament churches. Love is therefore the great
commandment of the LORD Jesus Christ upon which all others are
dependent (Matt. 22:35-40; John 13:34, 35; John 15:12; 1 John 4:7-21;
1 John 5:1-3; Rev. 2:4, 5).
2. We believe in the infallible,
verbal inspiration of the whole Bible and that the Bible is the
all-sufficient rule of faith and practice. The Bible is the inspired
Word of God, the written record of His divine revelation of Himself
to man, woman, boys and girls; complete in its authority; perfect in
its revelation; final in its content and free from error in its
teachings. (Psalm 119:160; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17).
3. We believe
there is one God, revealing Himself to man in distinct personages of
the Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. (Matt. 28:19).
4. We
believe in the Genesis account of Creation (Gen. 1; 2).
5. We
believe that Satan is a fallen angel, the archenemy of God and man,
the unholy god of this world, and that his destiny is the eternal
lake of fire (Isa. 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:11-19; Matt. 25:41; 2 Cor. 4:4;
Eph. 6:10-17; Rev. 20:10).
6. We believe in the virgin birth
and sinless humanity of Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:18-20; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1
Peter 2:22).
7. We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ (John
10:30; John 1:1, 14; 2 Cor. 5:19).
8. We believe the Holy
Spirit is the divine Administrator for Jesus Christ in His churches
(Luke 24:49; John 14:16, 17; Acts 1:4, 5, 8; Acts 2:1-4).
9.
We believe that Faith, Hope and Love are the remaining and vital
abiding Spiritual Gifts for this age. (1 Cor. chapters 12-14).
10.
We believe that Man was created in the image of God and lived in
innocence until he fell by voluntary transgression from his sinless
state, the result being that all mankind are sinners (Gen. 1:26; Gen.
3:6-24; Rom. 5:12, 19).
11. Salvation is wholly by grace, an
unmerited gift from God, through faith in the Lord Jesus who died for
our sins according to the Bible (1 Corinthians 15:3). We receive
Christ by Grace Thru faith (Ephesians 1:7). We believe that Jesus
Christ paid the full price for all our sins, which God the Father
demanded. (Isa. 53:6; Heb. 2:9; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18; 2 Peter
3:9; 1 John 2:2).
12.
We believe in the bodily resurrection and ascension of Christ and the
bodily resurrection of His saints (Matt. 28:1-7; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Cor.
15:42-58; 1 Thess. 4:13-18).
13. The Lord Jesus has risen from
the dead, exemplifying Himself in the same body that was laid to rest
in the tomb (John 20:25-27). For this reason, all believers who will
die, will be raised from the dead, having received an incorruptible
body like unto His glorious body (1 Corinthians 15:53; Philippians
3:21). We believe in the premillennial, personal, bodily return of
Christ as the crowning event of the Gentile age. This event will
include the resurrection of the righteous to eternal heaven, and the
Millennium will be followed by the resurrection of the unrighteous
unto eternal punishment in the lake of fire and that the righteous
shall enter into the heaven age (John 14:1-6; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 2
Thess. 2:8; Rev. 19; Rev. 20:4-6; Rev. 20:11-15; Rev. 21:8).
14.
Men are born in sin and shaped in iniquity; therefore, they are in a
state of being lost, alienated from God, spiritually dead: All
have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God� (Romans
3:23). We believe that the depraved sinner is saved wholly by grace
through faith in Jesus Christ. We believe that regeneration is a
supernatural act of the Holy Spirit, whereby he moves upon lost
sinners and enables them to repent of their sins and by Holy Faith
granted to them in God's Grace, they are enabled to turn to Jesus
Christ; that he gives them power to come to Christ and draws them to
the Father., (Luke 13:3-5; John 3:16-18; Acts 20:21; Rom. 6:23; Eph.
2:8, 9; Act 13:48), and that the Holy Spirit convicts sinners,
regenerates, seals, secures, and indwells every believer (John 3:6;
John 16:8, 9; Rom. 8:9-11; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20; Eph. 4:30; Titus
3:5).
15. We believe that all who trust Jesus Christ for
salvation are eternally secure in Him and shall never perish. We
believe that all who truly trust Jesus Christ will persevere to the
end because they are anchored in Him and will seek to live a Holy,
Separated Life. (John 3:36; John 5:24; John 10:27-30; Rom. 8:35-39;
Heb. 10:39; 1 Peter 1:5).
16. We believe that God deals with
believers as His children, that He chastises the disobedient, and
that He rewards the obedient (Matt. 16:27; Matt. 25:14-23; John 1:12;
Heb. 12:5-11; 2 John 8; Rev. 22:12).
17. We believe that Jesus
Christ established His church during His ministry on earth and that
it is always a local, visible assembly of scripturally baptized
believers in covenant relationship to carry out the Commission of the
Lord Jesus Christ, and each church is an independent, self-governing
body, and no other ecclesiastical body may exercise authority over
it. We believe that Jesus Christ gave the Great Commission to the New
Testament churches only, and that He promised the perpetuity of His
churches (Matt. 4:18-22; Matt. 16:18; Matt. 28:19, 20; Mark 1:14-20;
John 1:35-51; Eph. 3:21).
18. We believe that there are two
pictorial ordinances in the Lord's churches: Baptism and the Lord's
Supper. Scriptural baptism is the immersion of penitent believers in
water, administered by the authority of a New Testament church in the
name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Lord's Supper is a
memorial ordinance, and is a local church ordinance, to be observed
individually by each local church. (Matt. 28:19, 20; Acts 8:12, 38;
Rom. 6:4; 1 Cor. 5:11-13; 1 Cor. 11:1, 2, 17-20, 26).
19. We
believe that there are two divinely appointed offices in a church,
pastors and deacons, to be filled by men who are willing to mold
their lives to the criteria set forth in Titus and 1 Timothy.
20.
We believe that all associations, fellowships, and committees are,
and properly should be, servants of, and under control of the
churches (Matt. 20:25-28).
21. We believe in freedom of
worship without interference from the government and affirm our
belief in civil obedience, unless the laws and regulations of civil
government run contrary to the Holy Scriptures (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Peter
2:13-15).
22.
Winning souls for Christ is our primary responsibility; Christian
service; world proclamation of the Gospel; and looking toward seeing
Christ come again to earth the second time (Hebrews 9:28).
PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS:
The basic goals of St. Paul's
Seminary are:
1. Personal Goals
2. Vocational Goals
3. Evangelistic Goals
1. PERSONAL GOAL - Our first
primary goal has to do with what we desire to be in both our
character and personality. At The Seminary our objective is to
become increasingly, through faith and spiritual growth, like Jesus
Christ. Thus, our understanding of Christ sets forth two dimensions:
First, to know all we can learn about Him, and to really know Christ
in intimate companionship. Therefore, to know Him we must know the
Holy Bible, the revelation God has given of Christ. It is for this
cause that the Bible forms the core of The Seminary's curriculum.
2. VOCATIONAL GOAL - Our second
goal is primarily an educational objective, which is vocational. We
design training at The Seminary to enable student to fulfill, as
efficient as their potential will would permit God's purpose for
the student's lives. In order to make Christ known we propose to
prepare students for marketplace, church, cross-cultural, as well as
other vocations. The best Christian leaders are the persons who
submit completely to the will of God, as well as join to this
fundamental orientation a thorough knowledge and clear understanding
of the Word of God.
We must not only study the Bible,
God's Revelation, but we know the instruments of communication that
have to be used effectively in order to make Him known. For this
cause, skills in teaching are developed in accordance with one's
personal gifts and calling. We also seed to provide an introduction
to certain technical skills that assist in fulfilling the vocational
purpose of preparing them for teaching and managerial positions
Supervised practical experience is a
prerequisite to being hired in teaching or administrative positions.
OBJECTIVES:
The
objectives of The Seminary express specific ways in which we attempt
to achieve our mission through aiding students to develop or grow in
maturity, Bible knowledge, ministry and evangelistic skills, and
teacher education. The Seminary takes its mission and objectives
very seriously and facilitates assessment by conducting concise
assessment activities every year, to guide the institutional planning
process, which helps us to make improvements through regular
evaluations.
SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND MATURITY:
Candidates for graduation will
demonstrate commitment to as well as growth in the application of
both Biblical and Theological standards and reflections of the Word.
1. Candidates for graduation will
demonstrate in their personal lives and wills submission to the
Lordship of Christ and the use of the Bible as the main textbook and
the authoritative revelation of God's will.
2. Candidates for graduation will
demonstrate in application, Christian and Biblical principles, which
govern all human relationships.
3. Candidates for graduation will
demonstrate both commitment to and growth in the activation of care
of the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit.
BIBLE ORIENTATION:
Candidates for graduation must
demonstrate knowledge of both the Bible and Theology in the following
manner:
1. Candidates for graduation will
demonstrate basic understanding of the content as well as the
composition of Biblical revelation of God's Plan of Salvation and
program redemption.
2. Candidates for graduation will
demonstrate a basic grasp of the Biblical mandate for world
evangelism and the role and responsibility of every individual
believer and local church in that enterprise.
3. Candidates for graduation will
demonstrate a clear understanding of the Biblical standards,
Theological principles and provisions for a Christ-like lifestyle.
EXPECTATION: TEACHING AND MINISTRY
SKILLS
1. Candidates for graduation will
visualize real identification and thorough understanding of their
fundamental spiritual gifts and abilities, and will grasp proof of
ability to use them effectively in both teaching and preaching the
Word of God.
2. Candidates for graduation will
visualize proof of integration of the cognitive factors of learning
with effective and behavioral aspects by showing competence in the
development of teaching strategies, growth and use of teaching skills
and adequate skills in the use of appropriate methods to their
academic specialization and vocational goals.
3. Candidates for graduation will
reflect individual development in their respective fields. The
adequate use of traits and skills for Christian Leadership must be
demonstrated. Candidates will accept personal responsibility for
evangelization of lost souls; as well as commitment to the Biblical
priority of evangelization of the Word, personal involvement in
promoting justice, righteousness, moral integrity and mercy in
contemporary society; and dependability, creativity, vision,
initiative and a submissive attitude in their preaching, teaching and
administrative experiences.
UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE SCHOOL
MISSION STATEMENT:
The mission of the undergraduate and
graduate school is to develop competence in our students by promoting
growth in Biblical knowledge, Christian growth, spiritual maturity
and ministry orientation, as well as the professional skills
essential for service in a variety of cultural contexts.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATIONAL PERSPECTIVE:
It is the intention of both our
undergraduate and graduate school to include in its educational
values a full commitment to Biblical literacy coupled with a ministry
orientation and marketable professional skills. Our main purpose is
to fulfill The Great Commission in a variety of settings. Graduates
must have a Biblical servant-leader orientation and refined
professional skills. The programs of the undergraduate and graduate
school will require demonstrated excellence in several areas of value
including inquiry, scrutiny, knowledge and practice.
GOALS:
The goal of the undergraduate and
graduate school is to develop in students:
1. The cardinal principal and/or
advanced knowledge premise and skills needed for professional
practice.
2. The capacity to articulate as well
as present a Biblical model for one's chosen professional
discipline.
3. To have the knowledge of and
commitment to the ethical code of conduct and practice.
4. To understand and apply the theory
of the discipline as a basis for continued growth and leadership in
your master field.
5. Biblical competence affirms the
ability to survey redemptive history, to pinpoint each Biblical
document that contributes to it, to articulate the basic teachings of
the scriptures and to interpret as well as apply the Word to
contemporary culture in the exercise of one's personal profession.
6. To have a deepening relationship
with and submission to Christ and to the Holy Bible as the
authoritative Word of God.
7. To activate Christ lifestyle means
to initiate a commitment to a Christian ethic and healthy
interpersonal relationship.
8. A Biblical submissive leader
orientation for the purpose of furthering God's kingdom rather than
oneself.
9. Intercultural sensitivity and
skills takes us to a worldview of Christian perspectives.
10. A dedication to the life ministry
and the work of the local parish church.
11. Reading habitually for a long
time, enacting clear reflection and rational discussion which
indicates the process of utilizing the revealed truth as the
foundation for critiquing contemporary culture, and for edifying
Christian world-and-life view.
12. To develop in students a lifelong
collegiate fellowship and relationship as a source of support and
encouragement during future ministry.
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF ST.
PAUL'S SEMINARY
Dear Prospective Student:
As president of St. Paul's Seminary,
let me personally thank you for contacting St. Paul's Seminary
about possible enrollment. If you decide to come to St. Paul's
Seminary, our staff and faculty will do everything possible to be a
blessing to you. We know selecting the right seminary is of great importance
to you, so allow me to share some information with you that might be
helpful to you in making this important choice.
I can assure you that there are many
good schools in America from which to choose. Yet, before choosing
any of these schools, let me recommend that you evaluate each school
by four standards:
- The school's reputation
- The school's curriculum
- The school's tuition rates
- The school's accreditation.
Judging
St. Paul's Seminary by these four standards, please allow me to
briefly share with you the value of a St. Paul's Seminary degree.
St. Paul's Seminary's Reputation:
St. Paul's Seminary has a cumulative
total of 140 years of preaching behind the faculty. St. Paul's has
a reputation of being a "tough" school, and our goal is to
produce the best in the field. Students and graduates chose St.
Paul's Seminary because of its young reputation for thorough Bible
teaching.
In addition the Language program here
is in the top twenty percent of the seminary world, requiring six
years of Greek, Six Years of Hebrew and Three Years of Latin for the
Post Graduate Doctoral Program.
St.
Paul's Seminary's Curriculum:
St.
Paul's Seminary to offer several undergraduate degrees, as well as
a broad range of graduate degrees, and several doctorate degrees in
many different majors. St. Paul's Seminary also employs a variety
of teaching methods, including textbooks, and a completely
computerized curriculum. We are online for international distance
learning. These courses are all taught by St. Paul's Seminary
professors who are extremely well-trained and experienced in their
field of study. Most St. Paul's Seminary professors have over 25
years of experience! St. Paul's Seminary are able to offer
exceptional tuition, keeping the total cost of your education
extremely affordable.
At
St. Paul's Seminary, we don't think a man should be allowed to
perform surgery on your spiritual life, and soul, just because he
says he is called of God and led of the Spirit. The Spirit leads us
into all truth. The Word of God is truth. The Spirit will not lead
us to do things the Word forbids. It will lead us to follow the
practices set forth in the Word. The disciples were taught at the
feet of Jesus for three years and then sent out. Paul said to
Timothy, the things you have learned, commit thou to
other faithful men, who shall be able to teach others, also
Luke wrote a treatise to Theophilus to assure him of the faith he had
received. Jude said contend for the faith (that system of doctrine
and teaching) once (for all) delivered. Scripture sets forth from
start to finish, from beginning to end, from Genesis to Revelation,
from Alpha to Omega, this principle of God's people learning first
and then teaching and preaching. God gave some, pastors and
teachers, for the perfecting of the saints that we henceforth be no
more children tossed to and fro (Eph 4:) Only in recent
years has this been ignored. As a result we have ignorance abounding
in pulpits and pews. Never in the history of the Christian Church,
have we had so many degrees and so little temperature. The world
boasts there are 2 billion Christians worldwide, and those 2 billion
have never turned a city upside down, much less a world. One hundred
twenty men in the First Century turned the World upside down. There
is something missing in the religion today! God is the Same, His
Spirit is the same and Jesus is the same. We have changed and we
need to turn back to God. It is time we faced up to the sad facts.
We have compromised and prostituted ourselves on every altar of
religion, tried every method except open the Book and Follow it. We
are convinced the proper pathway into the 21st Century is
a return to the First Century Theology.
St.
Paul's Seminary does not exist to invite every foul spirit of
Babylon to lodge in its branches, under the guise of religious
freedom, ecumenism etc. We neither believe nor teach that all
religions are correct, but affirm our faith in One Lord, One Faith
and One Baptism. We affirm that Jesus is The Way, The Truth and The
Life, not a way or one path of many. However we believe we should
have a "right spirit" when preaching the Word of God, and that "right spirit" produces a humble spirit, rather than arrogance.
The
Seminary does not compromise the glorious doctrines of the Word of
God, nor does it classify Scripture into "essentials" and "non-essentials". All the Scripture is God's Word and equally
essential. The question always comes up in any religious institution, "Are you ecumenical?" The answer is St. Paul's Seminary is
Biblical.
Dr. C. D. Reams, President
St. Paul's Seminary
Letter from the ACADEMIC DEAN ST.
PAUL'S SEMINARY
To the Student Body of St. Paul's,
I extend greetings in the name of our Savior and Blessings to you
from on High. St. Paul's was founded by men who desired to bring
the church into the 21st Century by going back to the
First Century. They saw a great need for Theological Education, and
desired to establish a seminary, which would be both academic and
affordable to its students.
As Dean, I want you all to know I am
here to help you and to be your friend and brother in Christ. This
is a Bible Seminary and we are all brethren.
I ask the following things from you as
a student in this Seminary.
- I expect you to conduct
yourself in a manner that reflects credit upon this institution and
praises our Savior. We look for Christian Character, Christian
Dealings and Christian Attitudes in all our dealings. Remember you
represent our school for as long as you attend, and you are the only
product the world will ever see which comes from this institution.
- Take all your problems up not
laterally. If you are experiencing difficulties, if you are
overloaded, or having some type of problem which is affecting you in
school, or affecting your performance, please talk to a teacher, a
counselor, some member of the faculty, or one of the officers of the
Seminary. My door is always open to any student who needs
counseling or a sympathetic ear.
- Work hard here to be your best,
and help us turn out really great persons, who can enter the secular
and church world, and really make a difference.
- Please be honest in all your
deliberations. I would much rather you walk in my office and be
honest, than to try to live a lie. When men and women are honest
with each other, we can help one another. When we cannot be
believed, there is no help.
Again, I wish to welcome you aboard,
and we are thankful for each member of this student body, which God
has entrusted to us, to teach and train, to be better servants for
him.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Eric Dickey
Letter from the Registrar Rev.
Dennis Stevenson
Dear Prospective Student:
There is a great need today for men who
are well-trained in the field of Theology. In any other professional
field there is peer review, continuing education, and minimum
academic requirement. There is therefore a greater need today for
educated men in pulpits than ever before. One of the successes of
the first century was men like Paul the Apostle who had both secular
and religious education. All those men sat at the feet of Jesus for
three years. There are more "diploma mills" in the field of
religion than in any other field today. We recognize that we do not
need the approval of "Caesar" as to academics, but neither do we
wish to be looked down upon as unscholarly and uneducated. At this
seminary you will find a course of direction in five different areas
of Study:
- Bible Language
- English Bible
- Divinity
- English Bible Communications
If are serious about investing your
life in the ministry of God's Word, then St. Paul’s is the place
for you. St Paul's focus is on the Scriptures. Our Curriculum has
the kind of studies you need to know in ministry. If I can assist
you in any matter Please call me at 228-475-0173 or write The
Admissions Office to discuss your specific needs or questions with
one of our counselors who want to help you get started in order that
you may receive the most in Theological Education
May God give you the wisdom to make
the best decision for your ministry.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Dennis Stevenson, Registrar
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