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Evangelical University And Seminary Is Year Old And Growing

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By PAUL CATALA

Tribune correspondent

Published: August 13, 2008

PLANT CITY - It might not exactly qualify as a miracle, but for its founders, the results of the first year weren't far from one.

Students are spreading the word of God around the Tampa Bay area, thanks to an education in Christianity from a Plant City-based seminary that's turning a year old.

Since opening Sept. 4, 2007, Evangelical University and Seminary, an interdenominational, Bible-based educator training school, has had about 60 students pass through its classes, seeking to further their evangelical careers. Besides postgraduate degrees, the school also offers bachelor-degree completion programs for those who haven't finished.

When the university's doors open Monday for the fall semester, officials expect more than 100 students to attend classes - far exceeding what school administrators expected to have by the second year.

Robert Westlake, the school's vice president of student affairs, said the numbers are "miraculous." He said enrollment was so good that more professors were recruited and the library was able to add more than 10,000 volumes in the first year.

"I'm not aware of any seminary or Bible college to grow to 100 students as fast as what we've seen," he said. "When we first started, we thought 10 to 15 students would be great."

Based in downtown Plant City, Evangelical also has campuses in Lakeland, Dover, Bartow and Seffner.

With the main offices at First Baptist Church of Plant City's singles ministry building at 105 E. Baker St., the university has pleased its founders in the way interest has blossomed in the past year.

According to its mission statement, the university focuses on instruction with the objective of "encouraging the understanding, submission to and the obeying of God's Word." University officials say the education that students receive at Evangelical will help them spread the word of God in the Tampa Bay area and beyond.

The instructors in the undergraduate program have a minimum of a master's degree, and all instructors in the graduate program have doctorate degrees.

In its first semester last fall, 66 students - including 14 pastors - took undergraduate and graduate classes. Six of those students were enrolled in the school's seminary, including Claude Walker, pastor of Green Pond Baptist Church, Polk City. He is studying for his master of divinity degree. His wife, Sheila, said his sermons have had a new "freshness" since he began classes.

"It has been a very good experience. The professors I've had have been excellent in their qualifications and teachings," said Walker, 55, who plans to graduate in the spring. "The school is really making some great advances and strides in the area."

For the fall semester, the university will offer undergraduate courses and degrees in Bible, Sunday school teaching, youth ministry, counseling and Christian ministries. Master of divinity degrees are offered in Bible, church leadership and pastor's spiritual life.

Leslie Keylock, vice president of academic affairs, who holds a doctorate degree from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, said even though about 1.1 million people live in Hillsborough County, there has never been a fully accredited seminary and religious university here.

"We're trying to raise the spiritual level, and it doesn't matter what denomination people come from," Keylock said.

Among the students last fall were Barbara Houser of Plant City, who was studying for a master's in biblical studies, and Tommy Westlake, the son of the school's vice president of student affairs.

Houser, 38, has a bachelor's degree in psychology and wanted to further her studies and maybe teach. She said the classes exceeded her expectations.

"I love it. The classes are amazing. It's neat to see how the Bible works and how it all came together," she said.

Tuition is $45 per semester hour, plus a one-time $25 registration fee. Robert Westlake said the cost is relatively low.

"This compares to $200 to $400 per semester hour at other Christian schools," he said.

The school offers students their first course free, helping prompt 80 percent of the first fall class to stay on for the spring.

"This is really amazing. It's not a common occurrence. An 80 percent return rate is very good," said First Baptist's senior pastor, the Rev. Ron Churchill, who is the university's chancellor

Besides Plant City, fall courses also will be offered at the satellite branches in Seffner, Lakeland, Dover and Bartow.

Tommy Westlake, 22, who's working toward a bachelor's in business administration from the University of South Florida, said he has experienced outstanding direction at Evangelical University and the experience has led him to want to pursue a master's in biblical studies.

"I love it here. The classes are amazing. It's neat to see how the Bible works and how it works together with humanity," he said. "All the professors are excited to be teaching, and that speaks to me."

AT A GLANCE

FOUNDED: 2007

HEADQUARTERS: First Baptist Church of Plant City's singles ministry building at 105 E. Baker St.

SATELLITE BRANCHES: Bartow, Dover, Lakeland and Seffner

TUITION: $45 per semester hour, plus one-time $25 registration fee; first course is free.

CALL: (813) 704-4404

WEB SITE: www.evangelical university.org

FALL ORIENTATION

Orientation for all students will be from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Sessions include advice on improving study skills and a Bible exam, and a welcome by the Rev. Ron Churchill, university chancellor and senior pastor at First Baptist Church.

Other orientation topics and speakers include: vision, Gary Williams, president; academic affairs, Leslie Robert Keylock, vice president for academic affairs; financial matters, Robert Westlake, vice president for student affairs; enrollment matters, Barbara Houser, vice president for enrollment management; accreditation, Wallace Lont, assistant to the president; and development, Leslie Williams, director of development.

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