The facilities were designed to accommodate 80 people, and when we arrived, more than 150 women, children, men and families flooded the premises. We saw fatigue, frustration, as well as hope in the eyes of those served there. We also saw the same emotions in the pastor. He has traveled across the border most every day and on every Sunday to minister to those in his care. Church members and school staff have aided in the care. The church and its leaders are being stretched beyond their resources, yet they show up every day to serve those God has sent their way.
Several Carroll graduates are serving on the island of Cuba. We get intermittent news of their lack of basic resources and harassment from the government, yet they do not waver in their calling or in service to those God has put in their care.
Global and domestic churches and church leaders are being challenged today like never before. B. H. Carroll and our family can support these men and women called to serve Christ through our delivery of accredited theological education, as well as with training to help them where God has assigned them in their kingdom.
Grant to Equip Pastors with Counseling Skills
The pandemic has put a heavier than usual burden on pastors and church staffs to aid their members and communities through these difficult months. Abuse, suicides, and relational turmoil are the result of the relational upheavals caused by the disease on our social, education, business, and family relationships. We exist to equip missional leaders, and our faculty and staff envisioned a program to invest our expertise in counseling in the ministries in local churches.
B.H. Carroll Theological Institute recently received a resource grant from the InTrust Center for Theological Schools to host a series of quarterly counseling workshops for pastors in an effort to assist them in addressing critical topics needed to shepherd individuals and families within their churches. The program will include workshops held at the Carroll Center in Irving and will offer specialized training by experts in their counseling fields. These in-depth sessions will address subject matter including adolescent suicide, mental health in the church, and individual pastoral counseling. A webinar of each session will be produced in order to share this resource with as many pastors and church leaders as are interested.
Carroll will also host a series of professional trainings for currently practicing counselors, offering a biblical perspective from seasoned professionals who can help navigate the intricacies of being a counselor. This series is additionally funded with a matching gift from donor.
Dr. Shannon Wolf, who serves Carroll as a professor of counseling, told me, “The problems people have today are often complex and require specialized training to address. This grant, along with the generous donations of others, allows us to equip pastors as they navigate difficult mental health and relationship situations.”
“Counselors are required by the State of Texas to attend ongoing training to maintain their licenses. Unfortunately, finding Christ-centered training can be challenging. Because of this grant, we are able to invite Christian experts to conduct a series of workshops on various counseling topics. Counselors will gain skills and knowledge from a distinctly biblical worldview.”
There’s more news, too. The Counseling program recently awarded four students the Snider Scholarship for Women in Ministry. This scholarship is awarded each year to female M.A. Counseling students who show potential in ministry and, specifically, within the counseling field. We are grateful to the donors who make these scholarships available to worthy students.
BWA Congress Anchor Site
July 7-10 B. H. Carroll was an anchor site for the 22nd Baptist World Congress, which was held 100% online this year due COVID regulations which prevented the scheduled in-person meeting in 2020. More than 4,200 participants from 126 countries joined together in worship, shared stories, and training. As an anchor site, Carroll students, faculty and staff could access the proceedings as well as host a “virtual booth” for those attending the congress (the Carroll site will be available to BWA Congress participants until the end of the year).
Dr. Karen Bullock, Distinguished Professor of Christian Heritage and Director of the PhD program, has been involved in this global fellowship of Baptists for years and serves to coordinate the work of the commissions as they serve in their areas of need. I was humbled by the diverse expressions of worship in ministry from around the world. We heard of devastating need as well as victories in ministry from Christians in a variety of settings. B. H. Carroll has affinity with this fellowship, and we will continue to fellowship and serve with them in various ways.
Website upgrade
A gracious and long-time financial supporter has made it possible for us to enhance our digital presence through a redesign of our website. We have engaged at reasonable cost an outside firm, Caylor Solutions, to help us develop a more efficient website which capitalizes on the latest trends in web design. The new website, scheduled for release later this fall, will enhance our appeal among those seeking access to affordable theological education.
Please join me in prayer for our brothers and sisters around the world who sacrificially serve where God has assigned them. Share your requests and stories with The Carroll Prayer Network and receive weekly updates of how you can pray and how God is answering our prayers.
If you would like to support our efforts financially to equip those called to serve Christ and his church, you can give here.
My prayer for Christ’s servants is: “So you, my child, Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:1) Christ is our strength as we live out his mission call on our lives.
Serving Him With You,
Gene