Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) and Fruitland Baptist Bible College are partnering in an effort to more effectively train the next generation of leaders.

Beginning in the fall of 2020, Fruitland graduates can also earn 46 hours toward a bachelor of arts in pastoral ministry from the College at Southeastern. Fruitland is a college in Hendersonville, N.C., affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. Nearly half of western North Carolina’s pastors have graduated with an associate’s from Fruitland, making this partnership invaluable by providing more extensive theological training to those called to pastoral ministry.

“Southeastern Seminary has enjoyed a long and blessed relationship with Fruitland Baptist Bible College,” SEBTS President Danny Akin said. “Almost all of their administration are graduates of SEBTS, as are a number of faculty. Further, we share common commitments to the inerrancy of the Bible, expository preaching, personal evangelism and the Great Commission. We each love our Baptist heritage and are excited about what God is doing now and will do in the future. This partnership is the natural outcome of all these common commitments and convictions. Great days, I believe, are ahead of us.”

Apply for the program here.

(EDITOR’S NOTE – Forrest Strickland writes for Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. This story was updated July 20, 2020.)