TEMPLE BAPTIST CHURCH SCHOOL OF MINISTRY AND MISSIONS
MISSION
The Temple School of Ministry and Missions (TSoMM) exists to equip ministers, missionaries, and lay leaders with the theological foundation and the practical experience to be servant leaders in their families and their local churches as they live out their calling in Christ.
MINISTRY EXPERIENCE
Temple Baptist Church is a leading church within the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Located in North Central Louisiana, Temple is a multigenerational congregation of over 3,000 believers that seeks to love Christ fully and follow Him faithfully. It has a rich history of expositional preaching as exemplified by former pastors like Dr. Robert Magee and Dr. Rick Byageron. Its current pastor, Dr. Reggie Bridges, has continued that legacy through his faithful teaching of biblical precepts. The centrality of God’s Word to Temple’s identity is evident not only in its weekly worship gatherings but also in its commitment to take the good news of Jesus to its community and beyond.
Throughout the years, Temple has sought to fulfill the Great Commission locally and globally. Certainly, the church is active in its own community by supporting school partnerships, implementing various ministry projects, sharing the gospel in personal conversations, and promoting racial reconciliation. Even now, the church is seeking to develop a Habitat for Humanity community in an attempt to minister to the physical, financial, emotional, and spiritual needs to some of the most vulnerable of society. In addition, the congregation has both sent and supported various missionaries throughout the state, nation, and world. Currently, the church maintains North American partnerships in areas like Los Angeles, Calgary, Chicago, Baton Rouge, and Boston as it also furthers partnerships across the globe (e.g. Nicaragua, Hungary, Central Asia, South Asia, and East Asia). From its short-term team efforts to its long-term placement of ministers/missionaries, Temple’s commitment to take the gospel to ends of the earth is clearly evident.
With the establishment of a Louisiana Chautauqua in 1889, Lincoln Parish became a center for religious, educational, and recreational development. That cultural pursuit continued with the founding of two universities: Louisiana Tech University in 1894 and Grambling State University in 1901. Today, these institutions add a rich context to the academic and cultural landscape of work and ministry. The TSoMM will complement the ongoing educational endeavors by providing theological and practical components necessary for ministry.
The ministerial staff at Temple reflects a diversity of ministry and mission experience, and collectively, it holds various educational and seminary degrees. Weekly, they lead vast ministry efforts that impact multigenerational, multidimensional discipleship. The Temple staff will encourage the ministry development of each TSoMM student while expecting the student to be involved in church life and work. Whether in daily ministry events, mission trips, and/or church planting efforts; the student will gain insight into church vision and ministry.
FOUNDATIONAL ASPECTS
Each week, the student will meet in his/her class to learn foundational aspects of ministry. The setting will be interactive and will include both theological and practical components. Areas of instruction will include, but will not be limited to, the following: pastoral ministry, missions, church planting, church administration and leadership, discipleship, evangelism, sermon preparation, and worship leadership. Reading and writing assignments will be used to enhance the learning environment, and the student will engage in personal, practical ministry through the local church context.
SEMINARY CREDIT
Through its agreement and partnership with New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, TSoMM offers up to 21 graduate hours of transfer credit (roughly 25% of the desired graduate degree program). Such a program allows the student to experience theological excellence and practical ministry in the local church setting while earning seminary credit that will be applied to his/her academic journey.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who would be considered an ideal student for the Temple School of Ministry and Missions?
The ideal candidate would be a man or woman who has a clear calling to ministry, the mission field, or as a church planter. Furthermore, the school is a great place for a lay leader to further his/her theological and practical skills in order to serve more effectively in the local church.
Is the Temple School of Ministry and Missions a seminary?
No. The TSoMM is not a seminary nor is it in competition with our Southern Baptist colleges and seminaries. Rather, the TSoMM is partnering with New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in an effort to provide theological and practical ministry training to North Central Louisiana while allowing students to earn seminary credit in the process.
What is required to become a student?
All prospective students must complete an application either online here or in-person through the church office. Each application should be submitted with a $25 application fee as well. Deadlines for semester application are as follows:
- Fall — August 25
- Spring — January 8
- Summer — May 22
Fall 2025
Classes Begin on Monday, September 8.
Discipleship and Spiritual Formation (3 hrs) - Mondays, 3:30-5:30 p.m., with Jason Walsworth
This course is designed to equip students for leading discipleship ministries in a local church by exploring a variety of methods and approaches used in a response to the Great Commission mandate in churches today. Students are exposed to select and different materials and methods of discipleship in correlation to the Bible Study programs in local churches to provide a basis for future adaptation. The student is also introduced to developmental processes currently available. Students also will comprehend a variety of Christian devotional practices by completing specific assignments on basic spiritual disciplines.
Proclaiming the Bible (3 hrs) - Tuesdays 3-5 pm, with Dr. Reggie Bridges
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the fundamentals of sermon construction. As a basic course in homiletics, attention is given to understanding the biblical definition of preaching, the history of preaching, practical aspects of sermon preparation, various resources for sermon development, and learning how to plan for regular preaching opportunities based on challenges related to a contemporary preaching ministry. While students are exposed to a variety of approaches to sermon development, primary emphasis is given to the expositional process which undergirds the preaching event.
Following the submission of the application, the student will be contacted to schedule an interview with the Senior Pastor, Dr. Reggie Bridges.
How much is tuition, and what does it cover?
Tuition for members of Temple Baptist Church is $100 per credit hour while tuition for nonmembers is $200 per credit hour. This cost covers books, instructional materials, and resources necessary for the course. (NOTE: If a student chooses to audit a course for non-credit, there will be a $25 flat fee for each course.)
Will the program be offered in a semester format?
Yes. The TSoMM will observe a semester format in its course offerings. Semesters will include Fall (September-December), Spring (January-April), and Summer (May-July).
What would a typical course look like?
Each course will include class discussion, instruction, guest speakers, book assignments, writing assignments, and practical ministry responsibilities/projects. Theological foundations and experiential opportunities will be highlighted. Faculty members (e.g. ministers) will serve as facilitators, mentors, and encouragers for the student.
How will students be evaluated in each course?
The TSoMM follows the grading procedures of most other educational institutions. In other words, a student who is enrolled for credit will be assigned a letter grade (A-F) upon completion of each course.
How will the program help me later in my ministry and/or missionary work?
The TSoMM will equip each student with both biblical and practical knowledge and skills that will enable the student to serve more effectively in ministry. Indeed, the curriculum will provide a wonderful foundation for future study and ministry. Even more so, the student’s connection to Temple Baptist Church and its staff will enable him/her to have lifelong ministry partners which will serve as continued mentors, references, and friends as the student moves through kingdom opportunities.