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Wesley Biblical Seminary
Developing trusted leaders for faithful churches
Melanie McMillan
For nearly 50 years, Wesley
Biblical Seminary has been
training spiritual leaders from
all over the world, right here
in our community.
Located in Ridgeland, the seminary’s
most important mission is to raise up trusted
pastors. “There is a deep need for biblically
sound pastors in Mississippi as well as across
the country and beyond,” says Wesley’s
Director of Development Kaitlin Godfrey.
Offering undergraduate and graduate degree
programs, Wesley is dedicated to preparing
students for ministry through on-campus and
online study.
As a global institution, WBS follows a
polysynchronous model, meaning students
can attend in person or online. “Wesley had
implemented online learning long before
COVID, so during the pandemic, other local
colleges and universities reached out for
guidance on remote learning for their students,”
says Godfrey. “We are proud to be able to serve
370 students, with approximately 60 of those
from outside the United States.”
Wesley has seen a significant increase in
enrollment since becoming the first school to
offer an approved Global Methodist Church
course of study, which consists of educational
requirements for students desiring to be
ordained. The GMC list of recommended
educational institutions for ordination
candidates is short, so the fact that Wesley was
the first to be approved speaks to the caliber
of the faculty and curriculum. It’s fair to say
that other schools are looking to Wesley as
the benchmark for successful implementation
of a GMC course of study.
In addition to programs for ministerial
students, WBS offers the Wesley Institute,
a 9-month course designed for lay people.
Participants can choose between the Bible
or theology tracks, both of which provide
seminary-level instruction to those desiring
a deeper understanding of the Bible and
growing in their faith. These classes are taught
by Wesley faculty members.
While the name Wesley certainly brings
to mind the Methodist denomination, and
Wesley Biblical Seminary is on the approved
GMC list, the school itself is not affiliated with
a particular denomination, nor do they receive
any funds from a denomination. “Because our
first priority is to fulfill the mission we are called
to, Wesley never turns a potential student away
due to his or her ability to pay,” says Godfrey.
“Last year we provided students with
$505,000 in unfunded scholarships, so the
support of lay people is extremely important in
continuing the work of the seminary.” A little
over a year ago, Wesley launched the “Steadfast”
campaign, with a goal of raising $4.17 million
to drive long-term funding needs. In just a
year, $3.1 million has been raised, 76% of the
total goal, and this is before the public launch
of the campaign in January 2024.
Wesley Biblical Seminary is not just
physically located in the community, but
faculty and staff members are actively involved
in the community as well. Teaching and
preaching all over the metro area, faculty
members are committed to serving in local
churches, leading students by example and not
just through instruction. A current WBS
student says, “In my previous course of study
at another seminary, the instructor came into
the very first class and announced, ‘the Bible
is not inerrant, and it is not the Word of God.’
I was stunned. In contrast, Dr. Ayars joined
my first class at Wesley Biblical Seminary to
affirm that the inerrancy of Scripture is a core
value that WBS will never depart from.
I thought to myself, ‘I’m home.’”
Wesley Biblical Seminary invites the
community to a reception on Thursday,
January 11th, from 10am-12pm to launch the
Steadfast giving campaign.
For more information on Wesley Biblical Seminary,
visit wbs.edu or find them on Facebook and Instagram.
Hometown RANKIN • 33