From the President
Dr. Charley Holmes, President 
A
Middle-Aged Layman
Dr. Charley Holmes, Seminary President
|
In
the late 1980s, a middle-aged layman in Central Texas was called to
the ministry. Although
he had been raised in church and had studied a great deal preparing as
a Sunday School teacher, he felt a need for more preparation before
leading one of the Lord’s flocks. Paying
for tuition, when he had only a part-time job and a family to feed
while attending seminary, seemed impossible. One of
the BMA Seminary’s first trustees, L.H. Raney, directed him to Dr.
Philip Bryan, seminary president, for help. Dr.
Bryan graciously directed scholarship funds to the student which had
been given as designated offerings by the people of the BMA.
The student was able to finish seminary and has served the BMA
ever since. I am very
familiar with this “happy-ever-after” story because the student
was ME! I know how
crucial scholarships are for young preachers. |
May 19,
2002 has been designated as Scholarship Sunday by the BMA of America. This is
the one Sunday of the year that we ask BMA churches to receive a
special offering for young missionaries and pastors studying at the
BMA Seminary. The
seminary currently has students from the continents of Asia, Africa,
Europe, and South America. “Home”
students are also attending from most states represented in the BMA of
America. Most, if not all, of them need your help to get through
school, just as I did. Please
help them. The
third week of April, our pastors and church clerks will receive
material to help promote Scholarship Sunday in our churches.
If you are a WMA leader or Sunday School teacher and would like
to have promotional materials for your circle or class, please call us
at 903-586-2501.
Thanks for caring for our future BMA pastors and missionaries! |
Jacksonville, Texas
B.A.R., M.Div., Baptist Missionary Association
Theological Seminary, 1993, 1994
D.Min., Reformed Theological Seminary, 1998