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Wesley Biblical Seminary<br />
Developing trusted leaders for faithful churches<br />
Melanie McMillan<br />
For nearly 50 years, Wesley<br />
Biblical Seminary has been<br />
training spiritual leaders from<br />
all over the world, right here<br />
in our community.<br />
Located in Ridgeland, the seminary’s<br />
most important mission is to raise up trusted<br />
pastors. “There is a deep need for biblically<br />
sound pastors in Mississippi as well as across<br />
the country and beyond,” says Wesley’s<br />
Director of Development Kaitlin Godfrey.<br />
Offering undergraduate and graduate degree<br />
programs, Wesley is dedicated to preparing<br />
students for ministry through on-campus and<br />
online study.<br />
As a global institution, WBS follows a<br />
polysynchronous model, meaning students<br />
can attend in person or online. “Wesley had<br />
implemented online learning long before<br />
COVID, so during the pandemic, other local<br />
colleges and universities reached out for<br />
guidance on remote learning for their students,”<br />
says Godfrey. “We are proud to be able to serve<br />
370 students, with approximately 60 of those<br />
from outside the United States.”<br />
Wesley has seen a significant increase in<br />
enrollment since becoming the first school to<br />
offer an approved Global Methodist Church<br />
course of study, which consists of educational<br />
requirements for students desiring to be<br />
ordained. The GMC list of recommended<br />
educational institutions for ordination<br />
candidates is short, so the fact that Wesley was<br />
the first to be approved speaks to the caliber<br />
of the faculty and curriculum. It’s fair to say<br />
that other schools are looking to Wesley as<br />
the benchmark for successful implementation<br />
of a GMC course of study.<br />
In addition to programs for ministerial<br />
students, WBS offers the Wesley Institute,<br />
a 9-month course designed for lay people.<br />
Participants can choose between the Bible<br />
or theology tracks, both of which provide<br />
seminary-level instruction to those desiring<br />
a deeper understanding of the Bible and<br />
growing in their faith. These classes are taught<br />
by Wesley faculty members.<br />
While the name Wesley certainly brings<br />
to mind the Methodist denomination, and<br />
Wesley Biblical Seminary is on the approved<br />
GMC list, the school itself is not affiliated with<br />
a particular denomination, nor do they receive<br />
any funds from a denomination. “Because our<br />
first priority is to fulfill the mission we are called<br />
to, Wesley never turns a potential student away<br />
due to his or her ability to pay,” says Godfrey.<br />
“Last year we provided students with<br />
$505,000 in unfunded scholarships, so the<br />
support of lay people is extremely important in<br />
continuing the work of the seminary.” A little<br />
over a year ago, Wesley launched the “Steadfast”<br />
campaign, with a goal of raising $4.17 million<br />
to drive long-term funding needs. In just a<br />
year, $3.1 million has been raised, 76% of the<br />
total goal, and this is before the public launch<br />
of the campaign in January 2024.<br />
Wesley Biblical Seminary is not just<br />
physically located in the community, but<br />
faculty and staff members are actively involved<br />
in the community as well. Teaching and<br />
preaching all over the metro area, faculty<br />
members are committed to serving in local<br />
churches, leading students by example and not<br />
just through instruction. A current WBS<br />
student says, “In my previous course of study<br />
at another seminary, the instructor came into<br />
the very first class and announced, ‘the Bible<br />
is not inerrant, and it is not the Word of God.’<br />
I was stunned. In contrast, Dr. Ayars joined<br />
my first class at Wesley Biblical Seminary to<br />
affirm that the inerrancy of Scripture is a core<br />
value that WBS will never depart from.<br />
I thought to myself, ‘I’m home.’”<br />
Wesley Biblical Seminary invites the<br />
community to a reception on Thursday,<br />
January 11th, from 10am-12pm to launch the<br />
Steadfast giving campaign.<br />
For more information on Wesley Biblical Seminary,<br />
visit wbs.edu or find them on Facebook and Instagram.<br />
Hometown RANKIN • 33