Cowen to begin new Bible institute and seminary in Central America
Posted by lacrane on April 11, 2008
from staff reports
Dr. Gerald Cowen, senior professor of New Testament and Greek at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and former dean of Southeastern’s undergraduate college, will begin a new Bible institute and master’s level school at Vida Nueva Baptist Church in San Salvador, El Salvador.
It is hoped that the school will open in the fall, and the plans are for a fully accredited program of study to be implemented in the near future. Cowen will serve as the school’s first president.
Southeastern will partner with this new theological initiative by assisting the school financially in building its library, as well as sending professors to teach on an annual basis.
“The group in El Salvador with whom I will be working has the vision and the leadership to impact all of Latin America,” Cowen said. “This is our goal.”
Southeastern President Daniel Akin said that Cowen is well prepared and equipped for this new assignment.
“Gerald Cowen has a passion for evangelism and theological education,” Akin said. “I have seen him weep for lost souls, and I have watched him train students out of his Greek New Testament for 20 years. He has a great heart for Mexico and all of Latin America. Having served as dean of our college for more than a decade, Gerald also has the administrative skills and experience to make this institute and seminary a success. We are delighted to partner with Dr. Cowen in this exciting adventure.”The prospects for providing theological training for ministers in El Salvador and beyond to all of Central America is an awesome
prospect. Gerald Cowen is the right man at the right place at the right time,” Akin said.
Bruce Ashford, director of Southeastern’s Lewis A. Drummond Center for Great Commission Studies, noted that Cowen has worked in Central and South America for many years, leading mission trips that have led to thousands of professions of faith.
“The Lord has blessed the work of his hands, and will continue to do so as he builds a Great Commission Bible college and seminary in San Salvador,” Ashford said.
David Nelson, dean of the faculty at Southeastern, also expressed a vision for theological education in this part of the world.
“Southeastern has an ongoing commitment to helping to provide theological education in strategic locations around the globe for the sake of the Great Commission, and this partnership enables us to extend that ministry even further,” Nelson said. “We are delighted to work with Dr. Cowen in this new venture.”
Cowen will be commissioned along with others heading to the mission fields of North America and internationally in chapel on April 15. Cowen came to Southeastern in 1992 from Criswell College in Dallas. He received his Th.M. and Th.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
