September Newsletter

Hello there,

It is an exciting season for my family here at NOBTS and Leavell College. I have served as the Director of Alumni Engagement since May. I have enjoyed meeting you at events such as the Southern Baptist Convention Alumni Luncheon, Collegiate Week at Falls Creek, Convocation, and your churches all before the beginning of a new semester.

You should be proud as your fellow alumni serve all around the world as pastors, missionaries, ministers, state executives, counselors, teachers, leaders, servants, and difference-makers. I cannot wait to meet and serve more of you as we engage in this relationship.

I look forward to meeting you! If you are on or coming campus, reach out at ctownson@nobts.edu or 504.816.8234. I'll buy you some coffee, and we can talk about how to help each other.

For Christ,

Christian Townson
Director of Alumni Engagement

P.S. On a personal note, I am also a current PhD student in Christian Leadership as my wife and I expect our first child in January. God has been so good to us. Pray for his favor in this role and our lives.

Your Upcoming Alumni Events

Alumni Association Webinar

On September 24th at 2 P.M., Dr. Jody Dean will discuss his new role as the Director of the Doctor of Education Program, as well as how we can manage our season of ministry. With families, education, church life, and everything else we have to juggle, we need to know how to set ourselves and our churches up for success.

Participants in the live webinar will be entered to win a gift at the end.

You must be an alumni association member to watch the webinar.

Join the Alumni Association!

What's Coming at NOBTS!

Abre Mis Ojos Conference | 20–21 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2024 (September 20-21)

Last semester, we added seven alumni from our Spanish program as it continues to grow. We are thrilled to promote the Abre Mis Ojos Conference coming on September 20-21.

La Conferencia Hispana “Abre Mis Ojos” es un evento organizado por el Seminario Teológico Bautista de New Orleans y la comunidad Bautista de New Orleans. Su propósito es proveer una reflexión bíblica y académica sobre los problemas contemporáneos que enfrentamos los creyentes.

(The “Open My Eyes” Hispanic Conference is an event organized by the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and the New Orleans Baptist community. Its purpose is to provide a biblical and academic reflection on the contemporary problems that believers face.)

Interested in attending? Register here: https://brushfire.com/nobts/abremisojos/577236

Founder's Day | October 8th

We are celebrating the 106th anniversary since NOBTS (a.k.a. the Baptist Bible Institute) was founded. Classes began in October 1918, and we will be celebrating our Founder's Day in chapel. We invite you to visit campus, attend chapel, and thank God for the work of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College.

Learn more about the history of NOBTS here: https://www.nobts.edu/about/our-history.html

State Conventions | October 22-November 12

State Conventions

The Alumni Engagement Office coordinates the alumni gatherings at state conventions. These events are a time for you to connect with alumni in your state while also hearing from an update from your leaders. Be on the lookout for more information and sign-ups to save your spot.

Arkansas: 10/22

Mississippi: 10/29

Missouri: 10/29

Florida: 11/11

Louisiana: 11/11

Georgia: 11/11

Alabama: 11/12

Tennessee: 11/12

Abide Women's Conference | January 31-February 1, 2025

Our topic this year focuses on "Women of Biblical Community." Through rich Bible teaching and worship, practical breakout sessions, as well as sweet times of fellowship, it is our hope that your walk with God would grow deeper as you learn the power and importance of biblical community.

Check out the details at https://prepareher.com/abide/

Alumni Association Members receive 15% off the conference price. Use the discount code from your welcome email or email alumni@nobts.edu to get the code.

Will You Join the Alumni Association?

Stories from Your Alumni

Check out this response to the story about Chaplain Ike Eichelberger in our previous newsletter.

"This article on Bro. Ike warmed my heart, and I sat here rejoicing that our Lord Jesus used me in his life. I was pastor of Calvary BC in Petal, Mississippi, a suburb of Hattiesburg and I became Bro. Ike's pastor. He and his wife were the first Black members that came to Calvary. His pastor of the local Black Baptist Church and I exchanged pulpits. Bro. Ike and Leslie came along with their choir and congregation. After the worship service, we had a little fellowship meal prepared. Bro. Ike came up to me and asked if he and Leslie could move their membership to Calvary. I replied that we had never had a Black family in our Church, but I would discuss this with our Deacon Body and let him know. It was a 100% "yes". They became faithful and precious members. And our Church family received them with open arms. A short time later, Bro. Ike told me that our Lord was calling him into the ministry. We licensed him to preach and then the Church later ordained him. What a blessing we all receive when we let Jesus show us His Will and follow it...Thanks for posting his story.

Love in our Jesus, David Shofner, class of 1965."

If you would like to share your story, use this form: https://forms.office.com/r/Dke...

Join the NOBTS Alumni Facebook Group!

Join the Community!

Don't Miss Your Alumni Association Benefits!

Check out the benefits you receive when you join the Alumni Association.

Each month, we will highlight one benefit to show you the value of what it offers.

Access the Library Databases

Your education does not stop once you graduate. Through the Alumni Association, you gain access to all the library databases and can access ebooks, articles, and other resources to help you as you prepare for sermons, edit Sunday school lessons, or think about writing an article or blog post and want to read a book.

This is a cost-effective way to support your continued education.

Stay engaged with this newsletter to see our benefits highlighted.

Resources for You

Staff/Faculty Resource

We are excited to feature a valuable resource authored by one of our esteemed staff/faculty members this month. We are highlighting a resource published today!

In Kingdom Students: Skills to Succeed in Education and the Rest of Your Life, Cory Barnes and Norris Grubb assert that, regardless of degree program or eventual career goals, every student is called to a lifetime of service in the kingdom of God. They invite college students to embrace their God-given responsibility to steward their time, resources, and educational opportunities for the glory of God and the good of the kingdom.

More than just telling students how to think, Grubbs and Barnes winsomely guide the reader in accomplishing this task, creating a blueprint for navigating scholarship, productivity, leadership, and relationships in the collegiate context.

This book would benefit not only you but also potential students you are discipling or those who are considering a call to ministry.

Purchase it here!

Special Offer for New Recurring or Lifetime Alumni Association Members: If you join the Alumni Association or renew your membership and choose the auto-renewal or lifetime option this month, we will send you a copy of Kingdom Students.

How to Receive a Book:

Join the Alumni Association.
Choose the Annual Option ($50 per year) and auto-renew or the Lifetime Option.
Enter "Kingdom Students" in the comment section.
Once you purchase the membership, we will be in touch to make sure we can send it to you.
Stay tuned for more highlighted resources and exclusive offers for our Alumni Association members.

Join the Alumni Association!