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Monday, May 29, 2000

Baptist Learning Center quietly trains ministers
The center offers seminary certificates and master's degrees through other universities
By Cynthia Hodnett
Caller-Times

Paul Iverson/Caller-Times

The Baptist Learning Center of South Texas is located at 7000 Ocean Drive.

For 22 years, The Baptist Learning Center of South Texas has quietly produced hundreds of ministers and other clergy for churches in South Texas.
   But officials at the center said it's time that more people know about what they call the best-kept secret in South Texas.
   "We have knocked ourselves out to get our name out there, but a lot of people don't know that we exist," said Linn Self, director of the center.
   Through the school, students can earn a seminary extension certificate.
   They also can earn degrees from other universities, such as a Master of Divinity from the Logsdon School of Theology at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene and a bachelor of Arts in Christian studies and a certificate in ministry and lay leadership development from Howard Payne University School of Christian Studies in Brownwood.
   Because of its close proximity to A&M-Corpus Christi and its location on Ward Island, officials at the school said they have found it difficult to get its name out to the public.
   "If you don't drive past the university, toward the (Corpus Christi) Naval Air Station, then you probably won't see us," he said.
   The center already has begun a marketing plan that includes direct mailing, a Web Site and television and newspaper advertising.
   And although it's a Baptist school, the center has worked toward broadening its curriculum to include classes on other Christian groups, such as Catholicism. It accepts students of any denomination.
   "We are trying to communicate with church leaders of all denominations to let them know about what we are doing," Self said.
   "During one semester, there will be 45 or 50 churches represented."
   There were 137 students enrolled at the school during the spring 2000 semester. Last week, 10 students graduated with certificates, bachelor's and master's degrees, Self said. Students come to the school from as close as Corpus Christi and as far away as England.
   Larry Dallas, 41, owner of Pro Power Equipment Service, recently received a certificate in ministry and Christian leadership. Dallas said he decided to enroll in the two-year program at the suggestion of a friend.
   "I had the yearning to learn more about the Bible and to clear up some of the gray areas about the Bible that I had," said Dallas, who attends The Church of Acts. "The faculty and the facility was excellent," he said. "I found I could learn more in three or four hours of classes than I could by sitting in front of a pulpit."
   The Baptist Learning Center wasn't the first Baptist college to be built in the area.
   Established in 1977
   For 25 years, the University of Corpus Christi, now known as Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, had operated as a four-year private institution to train ministers and teachers.
   But the school, supported partially by the Baptist church, was hampered by low enrollments and in 1971, started efforts to become a public university.
   The Texas Legislature approved a measure to make the school an upper-level branch campus of Texas A&I University, but Gov. Preston Smith vetoed a provision requiring the state to pay off the university's $1.5 million debt.
   Corpus Christi taxpayers voted to pay off the debt in a bond issue, and the school became Texas A&I University at Corpus Christi in 1973.
   When the school's name changed to Corpus Christi State University in 1977, it remained an upper-level institution. During that same year, the Baptist Learning Center was established to prepare ministers and other church leaders.
   Funded by donations
   While the school doesn't offer general courses in areas such as math, science and English, students can usually take such courses at any of the area universities and community colleges.
   The school is funded by private donations, Self said. A recent fund-raiser netted more than $20,000 that will be used for operation costs and scholarships.
   "We just had a fund-raiser and a silent auction, and I think we have made some good inroads and contacts in the community," Self said. "As more people are wanting to gain more knowledge about the Bible, I think we will continue to see increases in our enrollment."



Staff writer Cynthia Hodnett can be reached at 886-4334 or by e-mail at hodnettc@caller.com

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