Southwestern Seminary and SBTC DR begin training partnership; initial DR Zoom training set for June 25

FORT WORTH  The coronavirus crisis put pause on this summer’s scheduled missions trips for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary students, but in a forward-looking move the seminary’s World Missions Center will partner with Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Disaster Relief to offer introductory online training in disaster relief.

Phase 1 Introduction to Disaster Relief will be offered via Zoom with SBTC DR Director Scottie Stice from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. June 25. The training is open to Southwestern students and others wishing to earn or renew credentials in disaster relief. Class size is limited to 300.

Participants must register at https://sbtcevangelism.wufoo.com/forms/intro-to-dr-registration-form/ before noon on June 23. They are also asked to download and become familiar with the basics of Zoom before the training begins, said Kelsey Melvin, SBTC DR ministry assistant. 

Completion of Phase 1 Intro to DR qualifies individuals to deploy during disasters with SBTC DR teams.

Brent Ray, director of Southwestern’s World Missions Center, expressed enthusiasm for the DR training, especially in the wake of this summer’s many forced cancelations.

“We had 11 mission trips, multiple faculty deployments to seminaries overseas,” Ray told the TEXAN. “we were working with Send Relief in Appalachia, sending a group of students. And COVID-19 caused us basically to shut down through the summer all of our missions activities and deployments. So we were looking for alternative ways to engage the students in mission training and activities.”

Future collaborations between Southwestern and SBTC DR are also being explored.

The relationship between Southwestern and SBTC DR will “hopefully be long-time,” involving face-to-face events on campus and training, Ray said, adding that future trainings in mud-out, chainsaw work, food preparation and distribution would fit in well with the seminary’s preparation of students to serve and share the gospel.

“Our students across the board can benefit [from DR training]. It’s another means of practical ministry,” Ray said.

Southwestern students will be notified of the opportunity through email blasts, social media and the World Missions Center webpage, Ray added. 

“We are excited about working with Southwestern Seminary students with disaster relief,” Stice said. “We look forward to a long partnership with Southwestern.”