In August we hit the ground running! SWSBS welcomed eleven new students and twelve returning students to Austin. Over the course of the year, we will continue to build knowledge, character, and habits in these Christians. Our second year class will focus their attention this quarter on various Bible texts. Over the course of this second year, practical classes in preaching, teaching, evangelism, and counseling will be woven into their studies to prepare them for the work that lies ahead. Our first year students take introductory classes to help them with reading, writing, study, and work as Bible students. They are introduced to both the Old Testament and New Testament and get foundational classes in both.
These students will adjust to classes five days per week. They will be integrated into the Southwest congregation. They will learn about thank you letters and word processing and chores and interpersonal communication and sermon outlines and much more. Why? What is the purpose? Well, our aim is that these students will be formed more and more into the image of Jesus. The power of the gospel in their heads will produce conviction in their hearts and will make its way into their hands of diligent service. We will do our imperfect best to model this for our students.
When a student graduates, if he has committed himself, through attention and effort, to everything we are doing at SWSBS, he will leave with the head of an exegete, the heart of a missionary, and the hands of a servant. He will seek to understand deeply Scripture in his own mind and explain it simply. He will see souls in the individuals around him and know the gospel’s power to save. And, he will be a tireless worker in the Kingdom willing to do any job any time anywhere.
-Trent Kennedy