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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (Oct. 18, 2018) — Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan’s faculty returned to campus this fall after a busy summer. Many professors traveled to various cities, abroad and around the United States, for academic research, lectures and ministry over the summer months.
Jason Bembry, professor of Old Testament, led a group that traveled to Litomerice, Czech Republic, to run an annual softball camp for kids, ages 6-18, in partnership with a local church. While this summer marked Bembry’s fifth consecutive trip, it was his first time leading the camp that builds relationships with kids through sports, and this year, 95 youth participated. Bembry’s son was able to accompany him for the first time, as well as current Emmanuel student, Michael King.
Paul Blowers, the Dean E. Walker Professor of Church History, traveled to the Catholic University of Leven, Belgium, and to Oxford University during a year-long sabbatical. Blowers received the Henry Luce III Fellowship for 2017-18 and spent the year completing research for an upcoming book, “Salvation’s Folly: Visions and Faces of the Tragic in Early Christian Literature.” Blowers also completed work on two other publications during his sabbatical.
Kip Elolia, professor of theology and world Christianity, and Philip Kenneson, associate dean of the School of Bible and Ministry, traveled to Kenya to teach at Kapsowar School of Theology. Kenneson spent a week sharing pedagogy with lecturers at the college and Elolia taught an ecclesiology course. Kenneson and Elolia also delivered to the college a 40-foot container of books, mostly donated from Emmanuel’s library.
Miriam Perkins, associate professor of theology and society, helped facilitate a summer course on the theology of food for Emmanuel students. Perkins also traveled to several conferences. She preached three sermons at the 2018 Chicago Ekklesia Project, where her sermons focused on beauty in desolation, consolation and courage. She also attended the Holy Friendship Summit in Blountville, Tennessee, which focused on the pressing addiction crisis in the region.
Rollin Ramsaran, dean of the Seminary, represented Emmanuel at the Christian Scholars Conference at Lipscomb University, the 2018 Association of Theological Schools Chief Academic Officers Society and the 2018 Association of Theological Schools Biennial Meetings.
Gary Selby, professor of ministerial formation, traveled for three weeks to Ethiopia to visit and volunteer with Christian Missionary Fellowship (CMF). Selby spent time at the CMF compound in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, before traveling to Nekemte, Ethiopia. Selby’s son and daughter-in-law, Tyler and Katie Selby, are both Emmanuel alumni and work with CMF’s team in Ethiopia.
Mike Sweeney, associate professor of world mission and New Testament, traveled to Papua New Guinea to attend and speak at a dedication service for the translation of the Gospel of Matthew into the Mum language. Sweeney previously worked as a Bible translator with Pioneer Bible Translators and his work focused on the Mum language.
Emmanuel’s faculty returned to a bustling campus. This year, the seminary is experiencing record growth, with a 30 percent increase in enrollment from last year. Faculty remain crucial to fulfilling the seminary’s mission of preparing men and women for effective ministry. Their recent excursions reflect Emmanuel’s commitment to connecting the classroom to ministries and academic research across the globe.
To learn more about Emmanuel, visit ecs-new.milligan.edu.