Why Fuller Seminary

**Updated**

Growing up in Texas, I had only attended Texas institutions for my education - kindergarten through seminary. Furthermore, I have always attended Southern Baptist Churches and earned my masters of Divinity at an SBC school in Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

When thinking about doctoral work, I decided that I wanted to get out of Texas and out of SBC circles.

I examined a few schools based on a few things:

1) Is the institution evangelical and orthodox?

2) Will the professors equip me to lead a church to engage the culture with the gospel, make an impact locally and globally for the kingdom, encourage the body of Christ to move deeper into a relationship with Christ, and become a transformational leader and preacher?

3) Do the alumni reflect #2?

I decided upon Fuller Theological Seminary as it impressed me the most on all three levels. A few friends have derided that decision - funny enough - because the program is challenging. They encouraged me to look for an easier and shorter program just like they did. Their goal is to earn a DMin - my goal is to become a better leader/preacher/missionary/etc.

In order to prove my point on #2 and #3 from above, I'd like to provide a list of professors and alumni from Fuller.

Professors in the DMin program:

Dave Gibbons - (this Dave Gibbons, not this Dave Gibbons) pastor of Newsong and author of The Monkey and The Fish: Liquid Leadership for a Third-Culture Church, speaker at Leadership Summit in 2009.

Alan Hirsch - missional thinker and leader, his books, the Forgotten Way and The Shaping of Things to Come have made an incredible impact on the missional movement among evangelicals.

Reggie McNeal - member and leader in the Leadership Network, his books, The Present Future and A Work of the Heart are widely regarded as encouragement for changes needed in the western church.

Alan Roxburgh - consultant, teacher, speaker, author on all things missional. Roxburgh's books, The Missional Leader and The Sky is Falling – Leaders Lost in Transition are important books in the missional discussion.

Bishop William Willimon - a Bishop of The United Methodist Church since 2004...For twenty years he was Dean of the Chapel and Professor of Christian Ministry at Duke University...A 2005 study by the Pulpit and Pew Research Center found that Bishop Willimon is the second most widely read author by mainline Protestant pastors.

Bishop N.T. Wright - Bishop of Durham, England...is one of today's best know and respected New Testament scholars...has written over thirty books, both at the scholarly level and for a popular audience.

Alumni:

Rob Bell (M.Div), author of the acclaimed Velvet Elvis, founding pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church.

Bill Bright (B.D), founder of Campus Crusade for Christ and commissioner of the Jesus Film.

John C. Maxwell (D.Min), evangelical Christian author, speaker, and pastor who has written more than 50 books, primarily focusing on leadership.

John Ortberg, (M.Div & Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology), teaching pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, and author of several books including The Life You've Always Wanted and If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat.

Les Parrott III, (Ph.D.), professor of clinical psychology for Seattle Pacific University, author, and motivational speaker.

John Piper (B.D), author of works such as Desiring God and Future Grace, theologian and senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church.

Bob Roberts (D.Min), pastor of Northwood Church in North Richland Hills, TX. Author of Glocalization and leading authority on all things Glocal.

Rick Warren (D.Min), pastor of Saddleback Church and author of The Purpose Driven Church and the best-selling hardback book in U.S publishing history, The Purpose Driven Life.

The opportunity to learn from Alan Hirsch, Reggie McNeal, and William Willimon as well as to be counted as alumni along side Rick Warren and John Piper sealed the deal for why I choose Fuller Theological Seminary.