The 2012 WBS commencement address by Professor Emeritus of Old Testament, Dr. John Oswalt, is now available for download as an MP3 from the WBS Podcast page.

On Saturday, April 28, Dr. Jim Porter granted degrees to the 2012 graduating class whom Wesley Biblical Seminary has commissioned to serve the mission of God in the world. The graduation ceremony, held in the main auditorium of WBS’ campus on Northside Drive in Jackson, MS, was the seminary’s thirty-fifth annual commencement exercise. Eleven Master of Divinity degrees and seven Master of Arts degrees were conferred upon eighteen men and women who have been enriched by their theological studies and their interaction with dedicated faculty and an engaged student body.

The men and women of the 2012 graduating class represent more than thirteen denominations including The African Methodist Episcopal Church, The Assemblies of God, The Association of Independent Methodists, The Baptist General Conference, The Bible Methodist Church, Church of God, Anderson, IN, Church of the Nazarene, The Congregational Methodist Church, The Evangelical Church of North America, The International Pentecostal Holiness Church, The Japan Holiness Church, The United Methodist Church, and The Wesleyan Church. Many of these graduates are currently in ministry in the United States and Haiti. Others will now take positions around the nation and in the country of Japan. All will go with Jesus’ mandate to “make disciples” imprinted on their lives and ministries.

In harmony with the goal of Wesley Biblical Seminary to equip servant-leaders transformed by Christ, who will in turn transform the world, we send out this group of choice graduates with our blessings and prayers. They have been intellectually strengthened by Scripture-centered teaching and stimulating fellowship with their student colleagues. They have grown spiritually in our seminary discipleship groups, both in the offices of our professors and in our online groups. We thank God for the privilege of loving and shaping these men and women and we commit them to Christ for the advancement of His Kingdom purposes in both the present and the future.

WBS Class of 2012
Matthew I. Ayars
Julianne Carr Burnett
David F. Duncombe
Shawn Thomas Earles
Yoshitaka Fujiwara
Daric Wayne Geyer
Mark Adams Godbold, Jr.
Kevin Alan Hoffman
Darryl Lynn Hooks
Litermin Joseph
James Andrew Malone
Matthew Clay Marshall
Elijah John McKnight
Brooks St. Clair Morton
Vilmer Paul
Lucner Pierre
Timothy Lynn Pitts

As a result of the Budget Control Act (BCA) of 2011, two major changes impacting Federal Student Aid are being implemented for the 2012-2013 academic year. The BCA is the result of negotiations between the President and Congress held in response to the federal government having nearly reached its borrowing capacity. In order to cut cost they have made the following changes:

Changes to Federal Student Aid

Discontinuation of Subsidized Loan Eligibility for Graduate/Professional Students
Direct Subsidized Loans can no longer be awarded to graduate and professional students. However, graduate and professional students will be able to substitute amounts they would have previously borrowed using Subsidized Stafford Loans with Unsubsidized Stafford Loans. The annual loan limit for graduate and professional students remains unchanged at $20,500.00, but this amount will now be limited to Direct Unsubsidized Loans.

Those borrowing Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are responsible for paying the interest that accrues while they are in school, and during grace and deferment periods.

Interest Rebate Calculation Change
Currently borrowers of Stafford Loans receive a 0.5% up-front interest rebate that offsets a 1% origination fee. This up-front interest rebate for all Direct Loans has been eliminated with the 1% origination fee staying the same.

The above information was provided by “The Budget Control Act of 2011.” Further information regarding these changes can be found by visiting the following address: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41965.pdf.

To see the latest WBS academic calendar, click here.

Wesley Biblical Seminary recognized for achieving exemplary marketing results

Jackson, MS — March 15, 2012 – Wesley Biblical Seminary, a provider of graduate level theological education, has received the 2011 All Star Award from Constant Contact®, Inc., the trusted marketing advisor to more than half a million small organizations worldwide. Each year, a select group of Constant Contact customers are honored with the All Star Award for their exemplary marketing results. Wesley Biblical Seminary’s results ranked among the top 10% of Constant Contact’s customer base.

“We’re happy to be recognized by Constant Contact for achieving strong marketing results. Constant Contact’s tools have helped us better manage our constituent relationships and engagement. Our constituents are very important to us. It is our goal that they learn as much as they can about the benefits of Wesley Biblical Seminary through our email marketing campaigns and social networking. We hope to make 2012 an even better year! Thank you to all our supporters.” – Jessica Peabody, Director of Recruitment

Constant Contact customers using any combination of the company’s Email Marketing, Event Marketing, and Online Survey tools are eligible for this award. Constant Contact looked at the following criteria to select this year’s All Stars:

• Frequency of campaigns, events, and surveys
• Open, bounce, and click-through rates
• Event registration rates
• Survey completion rates
• Use of social features
• Use of mailing list sign-up tools

“There is nothing we like more than to see our customers finding success. It’s the reason Constant Contact was founded, and it’s a thrill to see the fantastic results that our All Stars are achieving,” said Gail Goodman, CEO of Constant Contact. “This group is really leading the charge when it comes to delivering relevant, engaging content that drives real business results. We salute this year’s All Stars for their success, and are honored to have played a part in their achievements.”

About Constant Contact, Inc.
Constant Contact is revolutionizing the success formula for small organizations through affordable, easy-to-use Engagement MarketingTM tools that help create and grow customer relationships. More than half a million small businesses, nonprofits, and associations worldwide rely on Constant Contact to drive ongoing customer dialogs through email marketing, social media marketing, event marketing, and online surveys. All Constant Contact products come with unrivaled KnowHow, education, and free coaching with a personal touch, including award-winning customer support.

Constant Contact and the Constant Contact Logo are registered trademarks of Constant Contact, Inc. All Constant Contact product names and other brand names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Constant Contact, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.

Julianne Burnett & Dr. Richter w/ state legislator Nick Bain

Ms. Julianne Burnett, WBS student and Dr. Sandra Richter, Professor of Old Testament received special recognition from the Mississippi Legislature on Tuesday, February 28, 2012. Ms. Burnett and Dr. Richter are recipients of the Outstanding Faculty and Student Honoree Award from the Mississippi Higher Education Appreciation Day Working for Academic Excellence (HEADWAE).

HEADWAE was established in 1987 to annually honor the academically talented students and faculty members of Mississippi’s higher education institutions. Ms. Burnett and Dr. Richter join students and faculty members from 34 Mississippi public and private universities and colleges.The Appreciation Day is hosted by the Legislature as a way of saying “thank you”.

Ms. Burnett and Dr. Richter were welcomed by the Lieutenant Governor and recognized in each chamber of Legislature. A luncheon was held afterwards to recognize by name the honorees in front of institution leaders, corporate sponsors and legislators. A tour of the state capitol was held afterwards.

Wesley Biblical Seminary would like to congratulate Ms. Julianne Burnett and Dr. Sandra Richter for their commitment to academic excellence.

Previous WBS recipients of the HEADWAE Award

Wesley Biblical Seminary is partnering with the AME Zion Church to pray for revival and renewal in the church and our seminary. President Jim Porter and Bishop Darrell Starnes announce a united prayer vigil for the week of February 19 through 25.  All seminary faculty, staff, students and alumni have been challenged to take an hour during this week to fall before the Lord in worship and petition for His healing and power in our churches and our land.

“God not only gives us answers to our prayers, but with every answer gives us something of Himself.”

Mr. Stephen M. Smith, a 2007 honors alumnus of Wesley Biblical Seminary, died last week. Stephen had just returned to the country in which he had served as an intern when an undergraduate at Kingswood University (graduated 2004). He had overcome many challenges in order to enter this long-anticipated ministry. We rejoice that Stephen is with Jesus, but he will be sorely missed by his colleagues, by his friends in the country where he was serving, and by his many friends among the faculty and alumni of Wesley Biblical Seminary, as well as by his family. He joins the company of Henry Martyn and David Brainerd who shone brightly but died young in the service of Christ. Please pray for his family and friends, for his colleagues, and for those he was serving. May Christ be glorified even in his death. The question that remains for the rest of us is, “Who will take his place?”