FORT WORTH, Texas – More than 130 people professed faith in Christ as 84 students who were enrolled in Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s Introduction to Missiology and Contemporary Evangelism practicums shared the gospel almost 1,100 times during the fall 2022 academic semester, seminary leadership announced today.

“Southwestern Seminary professors offer students weekly scheduled times through ‘Everyday Evangelism’ so they can join the professors to evangelize the greater Fort Worth community in its neighborhoods, parks and local college campuses,” said Interim Provost Matt Queen. “In addition, a number of practicum students utilize the seminary’s relationship with NeedHim Global, in order to share the gospel over digital platforms. However, the vast majority of students’ evangelistic encounters occur by their own initiatives.”

On average each student enrolled in the practicums shared the gospel almost 13 times during the semester, which was more than twice the number of gospel presentations per student enrolled in the practicums during the spring 2022 academic semester.

John D. Massey, dean of the Roy J. Fish School of Evangelism and Missions, associate professor of missions, and Charles F. Stanley Chair for the Advancement of Global Christianity, said the required practicums for the Introduction to Missiology and Contemporary Evangelism courses are designed to “inspire and equip students to become active witnesses for the gospel of Christ.”

“As a Great Commandment and Great Commission seminary, SWBTS has been known for its training and equipping in evangelism and missions,” Massey added. “The Fish School has the opportunity and privilege through these practicums to mobilize and equip students from all schools in the seminary to share the gospel of Christ under the supervision of professors who are active witnesses for Christ.”

Massey said the Introduction to Missiology practicum “is designed to give students the opportunity to share Christ cross-culturally” while the Contemporary Evangelism practicum, under the coaching and help of a professor, “requires students to share a complete gospel presentation with 13 people throughout the course of the semester that includes a call to repent and believe in Christ.”

Professors play a crucial role in equipping students for evangelism in the classroom, but also while they are engaged in sharing the gospel, Massey said.

“Our professors of evangelism and missions have given their lives to share the gospel of Christ with a lost world and to equipping others to do the same,” Massey explained. “They not only teach students the how and why of evangelism, but each one is actively sharing Christ on a weekly basis. We not only require practicums, but we go out with the students and demonstrate in real world situations how to have a gospel conversation with the lost.”

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(EDITOR’S NOTE – Ashley Allen is director of news and information at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.)