To the Incoming Class of the American Baptist Seminary of the West:
It is with great pleasure and humility that I extend this welcome to you as incoming seminarians at the American Baptist Seminary of the West (“ABSW”). Rest assured, your life will be forever transformed and your theology developed and honed in preparation for service unto the oppressed people of the world. For this indeed is a blessed opportunity for you to study God’s Word for its application in this 21st Century global economy, where avarice and self-aggrandizement often reign over piousness, relief for the poor, and dedication to Jesus’ mandated recorded in Matt. 25:31-40 of caring for the “least amongst us.” On behalf of the Student Body of ABSW, we welcome you to this sacred academy.
The Student Body of ABSW is a diverse, intimate academic fellowship. Consistent with tradition, we will meet in Chapel for worship every Monday evening, followed by a delicious communal meal. We will also structure activities to interface each others families and loved ones as well as worship together at our respective churches. We will break-bread together, pray together, study together, commiserate together, celebrate together, and, most importantly, laugh together – for a “merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” Prov. 17:22 (KJV). The objective is to forge an impenetrable, everlasting bond within this fellowship for the ultimate success of the collective, which will unequivocally yield fruitful ministries for each individual community member.
Finally, if you have questions or challenges during this scholastic year, please do not hesitate to contact me or a member of my administration. My cellular number is xxx-xxx-xxxx; email: …………@aol.com. My door is always open. If I am unable to address your concern, however, a member of my administration will assist you. Your Student Officers are: LaDonna Harris (Vice President), Michele Austin (Treasurer), Sonia Henry (Secretary), Michael Gilbert (Chaplin) and Beverly Thompson (Special Projects). It is our sincere purpose and intent to make your inaugural year at ABSW a most spirit-filled, enlightening experience. We pray that God will continue bless your journey, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will one day stand in the Temple and declare, like Jesus: “the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the Gospel unto the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, and to preach deliverance to the captives…, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” Luke 4:18 (KJV).
In His Service,
Rev. Richard Carnell Baker, Esq.
ABSW Student Moderator, 2015-2016
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