KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Oct. 21-22 meeting of the board of trustees for Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary celebrated institutional growth, the announcement of a newly endowed chair and the rededication of a building, while also hosting this year’s Midwestern Institute for Preaching and Preachers Workshop.

President’s report

Speaking from Luke 10:1-2, Midwestern Seminary President Jason Allen emphasized the urgency of laborers being sent into the harvest.

In his presidential report, Allen highlighted the priority of prayer in sending laborers into the harvest, while also noting the urgency to participate in the mission.

“The more you pray for the Lord to send out laborers into the harvest, the more you can realize you are a laborer in the harvest,” he said, adding: “We are grateful to God at this institution that He has privileged us to train laborers for the harvest.”

Allen then highlighted God’s faithfulness to the institution over the 2024-2025 academic year, as the school saw growth on multiple fronts. The past academic year saw growth, not only in financial assets, but also in total headcount, which totaled 5,540 students for the 2024-2025 academic year. He added that the fall 2025 headcount is up 4% year to date.

Endowed chairs, trustee business

Trustee business featured the announcement of the Bill and Connie Jenkins Endowed Chair of Historical Theology and Spurgeon Studies at Midwestern Seminary. Bill and Connie Jenkins have been instrumental in several initiatives at the seminary over the last decade, including supporting the Charles Spurgeon Heritage Collection in 2023 and singlehandedly funding the Spurgeon Library project in 2015.

“We are so grateful for all that the Lord has done through the Spurgeon Library due to your ongoing partnership,” Allen said during a special presentation in the chapel service. Through your generosity, each of you will have an enduring part of our work here at Midwestern Seminary, not only in the Spurgeon Library, but through this endowed chair.”

Additionally, Allen and the Midwestern Seminary community celebrated the installation of Matthew Swain into the Wayne and Berna Dean Lee Endowed Chair of Church Music and Worship Ministries and Michael McMullen into the Lee and Tammy Roberson Endowed Chair of Church History.

Additional trustee business included the election of three professors and two faculty reelections.

Academic approvals included the elections of James Kragenbring to associate professor of business and Christian studies, Leslie Umstattd to associate professor of Christian education and ministry to women, and Ronni Kurtz to assistant professor of systematic theology.

Reelections included Jason DeRouchie as research professor of Old Testament and biblical theology and Blake Hearson as professor of Old Testament and Hebrew.

Koehn-Meyers Hall rededication

Following the business session on Tuesday, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held outside Koehn-Meyers Hall to celebrate the completion of the most significant campus project of the year — the transformation of the former Library Annex into a purpose-built dormitory for the Fusion Program at Spurgeon College. The project was completed ahead of schedule and approximately 10% under budget, marking a resounding success for the institution.

The building was originally dedicated in 2005 as the Koehn-Meyers Center, named after two Southern Baptist missionaries who gave their lives for the cause of Christ in 2002 while serving overseas in Africa. Bill Koehn and Martha Meyers, the two missionaries who also were alumni of Midwestern Seminary, were tragically killed while serving at a Baptist hospital in Yemen. A Muslim militant, holding a gun wrapped in cloths, entered the hospital in which they served, took out the gun and killed several individuals serving in the hospital, including Koehn and Meyers.

Reflecting on the legacy of Koehn and Meyers, Allen shared, “We are proud to be associated with both Bill Koehn and Martha Meyers and are grateful for their service. We pray that their legacy endures for generations here at this institution.”

In addition to repurposing the facility, substantial improvements were made to the building and surrounding area.

Midwestern Institute for Preachers and Preaching

As a special feature during Trustees Week, Midwestern Seminary hosted the Midwestern Institute for Preachers and Preaching Workshop, which welcomed more than 130 pastors and ministry leaders for instruction, inspiration and encouragement in the task of preaching the Word.

The Institute’s workshop immersed participants in the skills and challenges of biblical preaching, helping preachers strengthen their craft for the glory of Christ and the benefit of His church.

Featuring speakers Jason Allen, H.B. Charles Jr. and Jared Wilson, the workshop focused on preaching from the Gospels, addressing key questions such as: What is the main message of each Gospel? How does each Gospel magnify Christ and use the Old Testament? What are practical tips for preaching from the Gospels?

The Midwestern Institute for Preachers and Preaching hosts two workshops annually on campus in Kansas City, with four additional events held in regional cities in partnership with local churches. To learn more or register for an upcoming workshop, click here.