Odds 'N Ends

The NOBTS Board of Trustees meeting finished up with dinner and dessert about 7:30 Wednesday evening. On the academic side, three professors were elected and tenure was granted to four others. We approved several new Certificate Programs and a new Women's Studies Track at the graduate level. This is a beefed up graduate level program to continue the outstanding Women's Ministries program in the undergraduate side. Several new extension centers were approved in Florida and Alabama to join the others that already exist in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.

NOBTS is seeking innovative ways to bring Seminary Education to anyone in the United States or around the world. The delivery system now includes:

• Traditional on campus degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels
  
• Off Campus programs through our hubs and extension centers


• Internet classes (for anyone, anywhere with access to a computer)

The high level of Internet courses that are now offered, came, primarily as a result of Hurricane Katrina. As you know, Katrina hit on August 29, 2005, only one week into the fall semester. The school was devastated and the main campus was shut down for a full year. The administration opened temporary offices in Atlanta. Faculty were spread over six states as they evacuated the campus, and students fled to 23 states. Yet, under the leadership of President Dr. Chuck Kelley and Provost, Dr. Steve Lemke, within just a couple of weeks, EVERY class that had been offered that semester (including Biblical languages) had been posted online, and every NOBTS student was able to continue his or her course of study as long as they could get access to a computer. This was an absolutely monumental task, and one that was not duplicated by any other institution of higher learning in the entire Katrina "strike zone". Graduation was held, on schedule, that December in Birmingham, Alabama. Again, the only college or university affected by Katrina to finish out that fall semester.

The Faculty of NOBTS pulled this off in spite of the fact that everyone of them were literally rendered homeless by the storm. I'm telling all my Southern Baptist friends, that you can be proud of this dedicated group of men and women. One just can't say enough about the dedication of the faculty and staff of this institution! We trustees have ample opportunity to interact with them while we are here, through lunches with them and the students in the Campus Cafeteria. The Tuesday activities always conclude with a large dinner for Trustees with faculty members and their spouses, and there is plenty of time to interact with them and the students all around the campus. This institution is committed to training men and women to fulfill the Great Commission and make an eternal impact on this world for the cause of Christ. Our next generation of church leaders, pastors, missionaries, and Christian educators are being trained here. I wish everyone had the opportunity to see the love, dedication, and vision for World Evangelism that is prevalent at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Besides the academic matters, Trustees also had t (o approve several recommendations involving financial matters and a host of Building and Grounds issues. As mentioned in my previous post, restoration work is pretty much complete, but there is still a severe shortage of housing for students. This is the number one priority right now. Please pray that we will be able to raise the $7,000,000 needed to build the first of the desperately needed three two bedroom apartment buildings.

This is the first Trustee meeting, Linda has been able to attend with me. Spouses are always welcome to come to the meetings (at our own expense) and several spouses are usually in attendance. On Wednesday, Dr. Rhonda Kelley, who is the wife of Seminary President Chuck Kelley, usually has an activity planned for the wives who are present. Yesterday morning they had prayer and coffee time in the President's home from 9:00 till 10:30 and then went for a "cooking class" at the famous William Sonoma's on Canal Street. Then they were taken for a "taste of New Orleans" at a restaurant on the top of the World Trade Center overlooking the city. They had a great view of the surrounding area, including the Mississippi river which is at flood stage and very near the tops of the levees! The wives who went had a great time of fellowship, and got a really good meal in the process...

Last night, when the Trustee meeting ended, I had the opportunity to have ANOTHER meeting. This one was with the New Orleans area's young men and women who will accompany me and Joseph Spurgeon on our upcoming short term mission trip to the Philippines. This was our last opportunity to get together to answer questions and tie up loose ends before we depart in one month. The group who will be joining us in LA on the evening of May 19th includes, our son, Jay, and several of his seminary friends and church members. Billy Cox is the senior man of the group. Billy is in his 60's and is rearin' to go on his first overseas mission trip. Janna Johnston and Amanda Lindsey are seminary students and members of Jay's church in Westwego. Janna and Amanda will help us in worship time and will work in children's ministry while in the Philippines. Robby Pearson is the third preacher in the group, and he will obviously help us in the seminar and crusade and at other preaching opportunities. Daniel Savage is worship leader at Jay's church and Bobby Wood is his Christian Education minister. Both of these young men will be an asset to our team.

Today is my "vacation" day before we head home on Friday. Jay and Canon will be coming over about 9:00 this morning and we will make a visit to the French Market to pick up a few things Linda wants, and we'll take the usual walk through the French Quarter and probably have some bingnets at Cafe' DuMonde. (how can anyone go to the Quarter and not get a bingnet?)

Then at 1:30 this afternoon, Jay and Robby, Vernon Henson, and I have a tee time for my first round of golf since July 4th last year! Linda will be taking care of Canon until Michelle and Quint get out of school. The whole family should be able to get together for one last dinner tonight. There is a crawfish boil on campus tonight, and I would like to go, but I don't think you could drag Linda there with a team of wild horses.

I am certainly looking forward to getting back home. It's nice to get away every now and then, but I do have responsibilities that God has given me at Westmoreland. This week has been a time of work but also a time of refreshing that I believe will help me perform those duties with more energy than before. I also want to thank Rick Weber for filling in at the Wednesday evening service for me, and to thank Charley Dygert and Darrell Clark for taking care of some hospital visits I would have done if in town. Thanks guys!