Alumni News

Criswell Centennial Year, 1909-2009

January 19–21, 2010 – Criswell Lecture Series to be recorded on DVD

January 19

  • W. A. Criswell: A Biographical and Anecdotal Sketch – Lanny Elmore
  • W. A. Criswell: The Consummate Expositor – Paige Patterson
  • W. A. Criswell: Pastor, Church Growth Pioneer, and Evangelist – Alan Streett
  • W. A. Criswell: Writer and Theologian – Lamar E. Cooper, Sr.
  • W. A. Criswell: Pioneer of Women’s Ministry in the Church – Susie Hawkins

 January 21

  • W. A. Criswell: Moral and Social Conscience – Richard Land
  • W. A. Criswell: Friend of Israel: Jewish Ministry of the Pastor – Jim Sibley
  • W. A. Criswell: Scholar, Linguist, and Orator – H. Leroy Metts
  • W. A. Criswell: Place in Baptist History – James Bryant
  • W. A. Criswell: His Legacy for Future Generations – David Allen

March 9–11, 2010 – Annual Missions Conference this year featuring Criswell graduates who are career international missionaries

June 15, 2010 – 40th Anniversary Dinner at the Southern Baptist Convention with keynote speakers to be announced, including alumni and guests

October 5–8, 2010 – 40th Anniversary Alumni Reunion; 40th Anniversary Alumni Yearbook; release of the 40th Anniversary Edition of the Criswell Study Bible; School of the Prophets; prominent guest preachers to be announced; School of the Prophets Women’s Conference led by Kathy Sibley and featuring Susie Hawkins as keynote speaker.

Jerry Johnson Leadership Scholarship

The Jerry Johnson Leaderhip Scholarship is names in honor of Dr. Jerry Johnson for his vision, leadership, and commitment in developing Christian leaders.  This scholarship will join in the development of these Christian men and women as they prepare for a lifetime of ministry through their education at Criswell College.

Contact or 214-818-1311 to contribute to this scholarship.

Bethany Baptist Church Graduate Scholarship

Criswell College is thrilled to announce a new scholarship provided by Bethany Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas! Our partnership with this church began when the current pastor of the church, Jeff Campbell, began attending Criswell College in the fall of 2003. He just graduated this past May with an MA in Ministry, having already completed his BA in Biblical Studies.

Pastor Jeff can relate with the challenges faced by a young pastoral student. But, he says, a financial burden should not be one of them. For this reason, Pastor Jeff and his church have founded the Bethany Baptist Church Graduate Scholarship. The church has been contributing to Criswell College for years, but this new focused giving is meant to directly impact the life of a pastor-in-training.

No one can explain Jeff's vision for this scholarship like he can. In his own words:

I came to saving faith in Jesus on September 15th 2002 at First Baptist Mansfield. Shortly after that, I felt God calling me to Pastoral Ministry. There was a day that I was sitting in a nursing degree program at a local community college when God impressed upon me that it was time for a change. I left that class at break and never returned. I enrolled at Criswell College in fall of 2003 and have received my BA in Biblical Studies and am finishing my MA in Ministry. I will graduate in May of 2008.

I believe, as my church does, that Criswell College is one of the finest schools for training pastors, bar none. I know the demands of life for someone who is trying to balance family, school, and church and want to bless someone the same way I have been blessed. I will graduate from Criswell College without having incurred any debt. I am able to do that because people provide help for students and because they believe in what the college is doing.

This scholarship is geared toward men who are working on a graduate degree and are entering or currently serving in pastoral ministry in the local church. Bethany Baptist has supported the college on a regular basis in the past. We are simply increasing our support and dedicating it to a specific function.

Bethany Baptist Church exists to love God through worship, grow people through discipleship, and serve the Lord through ministry. Our church is unique in that we are a multi-generational, multi-ethnic church, which reflects our community context in the Pleasant Grove area. Bethany Baptist believes that Criswell College trains the kind of pastors which have the same convictions as us and are interested in furthering the Kingdom of God. Of all the things that a pastor should be concerned with, it is our belief that tuition to the school to which God has sent them should not be one of these concerns.

Contact or 214-818-1311 to contribute to this scholarship.

 Corsicana Church Calls Pastor

SBTexan - Cornerstone Baptist Church in Corsicana has called Paul D. Carter of Dallas as pastor.  Carter is an ordained Southern Baptist minister and has served churches in Wyoming, Virginia, and Texas over the past 30 years.  Carter comes from the staff at First Baptist Church Hamilton Park in Richardson, where he has served for five years.  Carter earned degrees at Criswell College in Dallas, where he teaches adjunctly, and Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.

Veribest Baptist Church calls Pastor

Veribest Baptist Church outside of San Angelo has called Chad Leutwyler as pastor. A graduate of Criswell College, Leutwyler was ordained November 15 at the church, where he has focused on preaching and evangelism in the community.

 The ordination council included Criswell alumni, Dr. Barry Creamer, professor and host of daily talkshow Live from Criswell, Luke Panter, pastor of Bridgeview Baptist Church, Quinlan, TX, and Criswell College trustee Mack Roller, pastor of Glen Meadows Baptist Church in San Angelo.

 Leutwyler graduated from Criswell College in May 2009, where he earned a degree in pastoral ministry.

Family Promise Calls Criswell Alum to Serve

Family Promise of Bryan-College Station, an interfaith non-profit organization, is pleased to announce that Dr. Mark Taplette has accepted the position of Program Director effective December 7, 2009.   Dr. Mark will coordinate all program components of the Family Promise of Bryan-College Station Network, which includes host and buddy congregations, hundreds of volunteers, referring and supporting agencies, day center, and transportation, for the effective provision of services to homeless guests.