In ten days, the first ever Youth Aflame North will begin at the SandhillFree Will Baptist Church in Sandusky, Ohio. Students from Ohio and neighboring states will join together for a week of life-changing preaching from some of the most effective youth preachers in the country. College students who sing in the Sounds of Praise Ensemble from Southeastern Free Will Baptist College will help direct the conference through singing, fellowshipping with students and serving to make the event go smoothly.
This year’s theme is “Breakthrough.” Youth today are confronted with constant sinful temptations. It seems that today’s youth are presented with more addictive behaviors than ever before. Addictive behaviors trap youth and thwart their spiritual progress as they search for the call of God on their lives. This year, we are preaching for a breakthrough in all of our lives.
Youth Aflame exists to see a generation of young people be the light of the world. It is a gathering for 7th grade through high school students to come together to worship the name of Jesus. Through preaching, teaching, music, and maybe even some friendly competition here and there, your students will have fun serving the one true God. This is more than just a youth conference. It is a time when students will choose to dedicate their lives to GOD, desire to see HIS presence, and ultimately have a soul on fire for Jesus Christ. Decisions will be made. Lives will be changed. It is time to light the FLAME.
Noah Taylor will kick off the conference on Monday night. He is the pastor of the Evergreen Free Will Baptist Church in Erwin, Tennessee. A native Oklahoman, he has a wit and humor that students will enjoy during his messages. Having lost his mom early in life gave him many challenges to overcome. Despite these many challenges, he was able to break through and find victory and is today living his dream of touching others for Christ.
Cindy Berry will speak to all the female students in a split session on Wednesday morning. Cindy was born in South Carolina and has had the pleasure of living and serving the Lord in many different states. Her engaging way in sharing how God gave her a spiritual breakthrough as an older teenager will challenge and offer hope to those who hear her.
Steve Berry will serve as director of the conference as well as speaking to the guys in a split session on Wednesday morning. Steve was born in West Virginia although he grew up mostly in Virginia. His most significant breakthrough came when he was met by a church bus captain who was visiting in Steve’s neighborhood. After attending church for the second week in a row, Steve trusted Christ, and soon his family began to change as one by one, they too, believed in Jesus as Lord.
Christian Powell is the pastor of Faith Free Will Baptist Church in Goldsboro, NC. Christian has experienced not only personal breakthrough but the breakthrough in the lives of hundreds of teenagers who he ministered to during his many years as the Youth Pastor of Faith Church. He has been used around the country as a favorite camp and youth speaker. Youth seem to bond immediately with Christian seconds after he enters the pulpit.
Nate Ange serves as the pastor of the Landmark Free Will Baptist Church in Cary, NC and President of Southeastern Free Will Baptist College. Nate is the son of Dr. Joe and Hazel Ange who served the Lord powerfully in the Free Will Baptist movement. Nate has preached over 500 revival meetings and remains one of the favorite preachers of Youth Aflame South. Literally, hundreds of young people have surrendered to the call of God on their lives after listening to Bro. Nate preach.
Arron Howard is a native of Erwin, TN and a 2019 graduate of Southeastern Free Will Baptist College. As a pastoral student at Southeastern, Arron had the opportunity to preach to youth around the country. His connection to students is almost instant, and his message is life-changing. While attending public school in Tennessee, Arron committed his life to preaching God’s Word. Today, he is doing precisely that. Arron serves as the recruitment coordinator at Southeastern College.
Southeastern Free Will Baptist College President Nate Ange announces a “Call for Resumes” for two full or part-time positions.
Teacher Education Professor
We are seeking a full-time professor for the Teacher Education department. This position requires a minimum of a master’s degree from an accredited institution with eighteen hours of graduate work in either math or science and the intention to complete a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction as soon as possible. Additionally, it is preferred that applicants have already earned a doctorate or education specialist degree.
Bible Professor
Southeastern is also seeking a full-time professor in the general areas of Bible, theology, or Greek language. A combination of two or more of these areas is preferred. We are willing to fill the need with a few part-time faculty, but would prefer someone in a full-time capacity. This position requires a minimum of a master’s degree from an accredited institution with eighteen hours of graduate work in Bible, theology, or Greek language and the intention to complete a doctoral degree as soon as possible. The ideal candidate will already have a D.Min. or Ph.D.
All applicants are encouraged to read and consider our Cooperating Board Statement (follow this link: https://bit.ly/2wrzaaV) to measure your philosophical unity with the College before pursuing these teaching opportunities.
Please email a cover letter expressing your availability and resume to Marc Holloman at mholloman@sfwbc.edu.
Financial Aid Is Now Available To Southeastern Students
Another step forward in the accreditation process brings financial aid approval to Southeastern. This past December, Southeastern was officially granted approval to accept financial aid. During the spring semester, our students applied and received financial aid through Pell grants and Stafford student loans. You may now click on the link below and begin your application for student aid for the 2019/2020 school year.
The board of directors has worked diligently to keep Southeastern’s tuition as affordable as possible. It is the board’s commitment to making a Christian education a reality for students of all socioeconomic backgrounds. The board is thrilled that qualifying students may now receive as much as $6,100 per year in Pell grants.
Commencement 2019 was a celebration of what God is doing in the lives and hearts of eighteen graduates of Southeastern. The Sounds of Victory Choir began by singing, “Wherever He Leads, I’ll Go.” From their seats, the graduates could be observed singing the words with tears puddled in their eyes as they each understood their love and commitment to Christ and willingness to go anywhere for Him.
You may watch the graduation service by clicking the link below.
All four dormitories will receive new carpet during May and June. Last Wednesday, May 8, the new carpet began being installed in the first of 40 dormitory rooms. With the students moving our last Friday, demolition and carpet removal will begin this Monday. The carpet installers are confident that they can have the job completed in thirty days.
These renovations are directly connected to our successful end of the year fundraising campaign for scholarships and renovations. In February, 28,000 square feet of carpet was purchased at a highly discounted price. Director of Development and Donor Relations, Steve Berry, wishes to thank each of our 20/20 Vision Club Partners who donated to the End of Year Matching Gift Campaign. “This fall our students will arrive and be overwhelmed when they step into their newly renovated dormitories. A fresh place to study, sleep, laugh and pray will then be their home for the next nine months. It overjoys my heart to be able to provide this wonderful space for our students. 20/20 Vision club Partners, you are the best!”
$142,000 In Scholarships Offered To Current And Incoming Students
In combination with the End of Year Matching Gift Campaign and the Southeastern Alumni Association, President Ange was excited to share $29,500 in scholarships to nineteen students. These scholarships ranged from $500 to $2,000 each and were based on merit and need.
The Southeastern Promotional Department has offered a total of $112,500 in scholarships to potential students.
SACS Leadership Scholarships – High school seniors who competed in the annual SACS competition and won 1st, 2nd or 3rd place in an event received a Southeastern scholarship for their effort.
1st place certificate = $1,000 scholarship. This scholarship is awarded at $500 per semester in the 2019/20 school year.
2nd or 3rd place certificate = $500 scholarship. This scholarship is awarded at $250 per semester in the 2019/20 school year.
Note: Your SACS award certificate is your scholarship and must be presented to the college financial office to receive the scholarship.
Note: These scholarships are for your senior year in high school only and may not be added to certificates awarded in previous years.
Note: Only one SACS award certificate per person may be used for a scholarship in the 2019/20 school year.
Pastoral Student and Christian Leadership Scholarships Offered – Recently, over 50 scholarship certificates were offered to young preachers and Christian leaders who have distinguished themselves as Christian leaders among their peers.
Pastoral Student Scholarship = $1,500 scholarship. This scholarship is awarded at $750 per semester for the 2019/20 school year. If you know of a young preacher who is considering preparing for his ministry with a Christian education, please contact Steve Berry at sberry@sfwbc.edu.
Christian Leadership Scholarship = $1,000 scholarship. This scholarship is awarded at $500 per semester for the 2019/20 school year. If you know of a Christian young person who has distinguished himself/herself among peers as a committed Christian and is interested in Christian education, please contact Steve Berry at sberry@sfwbc.edu to request a scholarship on their behalf.
Financial Aid Is Now Available To Southeastern Students
Another step forward in the accreditation process brings financial aid approval to Southeastern. This past December, Southeastern was officially granted approval to accept financial aid. During the spring semester, our students applied and received financial aid through Pell grants and Stafford student loans. In just a few days we will be posting information for students to apply for financial aid for the fall semester.
The board of directors has worked diligently to keep Southeastern’s tuition as affordable as possible. It is the board’s commitment to making a Christian education a reality for students of all socioeconomic backgrounds. The board is thrilled that qualifying students may now receive as much as $6,100 per year in Pell grants.
Youth Aflame North And South
Youth Pastors and students are invited to begin registering now for Youth Aflame North and Youth Aflame South. This year’s theme is “Breakthrough.” Youth often make commitments to God only to be swallowed back up by complacency and worldliness. Yet, some youth make a commitment to Christ and follow through consistently for the entirety of their lives. Why do some youth seem to have a “Breakthrough” and others don’t? This year we will be preaching and ministering for “Breakthrough” at Youth Aflame North and South.
Click on the appropriate postcard link to be directed to your Youth Aflame of choice.
Southeastern To Sponsor Summer Camp Week At Harvest Time Bible Camp In Summer Of 2020
Plans are being made for a Southeastern week of teen camp at Harvest Time Bible Camp on August 3-7, 2020. Your youth will enjoy a dynamic camp evangelist selected by President Ange and spending time with Southeastern college student sponsors. Youth camp is a place where students get away to a location with other youth and Christian sponsors where they can be challenged spiritually through God’s Word and spend time learning new and fun things. Harvest Time Bible Camp is a premier camping experience and is directed by Southeastern alumnus, Stephen Brackeen. If you are interested in a dynamic Christian experience for your youth at a location equipped with horseback riding, swimming, canoeing, archery, and many other great activities, please reserve these dates on your youth calendar. Space is limited to 120 campers.
Kid’s Fest 2019 – Save The Date September 19, 2019
Make plans to bring your third through sixth-grade students to Kid’s Fest 2019 at Southeastern College. Last year we had a great time with kids from several youth groups. Come see Nicodemus, have a great lunch, hear a great kids sermon and play some great games led by our college students.
Early in November, two donors issued a matching gift challenge to our Southeastern partners. Donor #1 committed a matching gift of up to $50,000 with a desire to see it used toward annual fund needs. Donor #2 committed a matching gift of up to $50,000 with a desire to see it used for pastoral student scholarships. The stage was set, and we began to make our partners aware of the challenge and opportunity.
During December, Director of Development and Donor Relations, Steve Berry, was brought to tears multiple days as he returned from the post office and began opening letters and gifts from our partners. Currently, the business office has recorded $225,374.55 toward this campaign.
“Southeastern donors have always connected their Southeastern giving to the great commission. A gift to Southeastern transforms lives and extends the gospel.” – Steve Berry
Campus Renovations
Last summer, the dormitories experienced a makeover with renovated bathrooms and the dorm rooms being painted. More renovations are scheduled for this summer. We are planning to replace the old dorm room carpet with new carpet tiles. This will allow us to later replace one carpet tile at a time when there is small area damage.
Prior to the new carpet being installed, the maintenance department is repairing the sill damage to the bottom of our buildings. The damage has occurred as the caulking deteriorated during the last 31 years. All of the roofing bolts are being replaced as well. These water intrusion repairs must be completed before we install new carpet.
How Can You Help?
The maintenance department is in need to borrow a tractor with a front-end loader to help move the river rock that we will install around the perimeter of all dormitories. Prior to Hurricane Florence, the maintenance department used an excavator to dig out drainage areas around the campus that had silted in over time. We are confident that these efforts mitigated our water damage during the storm. The college has need and use for a tractor full-time, but for this project, if anyone could allow us to borrow a tractor for several weeks, it would be much appreciated.
Our friends and partners may now begin contributing donations towards the “Summer Renovations.” We are still gathering prices as we search for the best deals on the carpet. We hope to outfit all four dormitories with new carpet.
Cuba Pastor’s Family Retreat
For over a decade, Southeastern College has enjoyed a partnership with the Cedars of Lebanon Seminary in Pinar del Rio, Cuba. On January 21, President Ange and Steve Berry will lead a team of pastors and professors to teach and preach at the annual pastor’s family retreat. 100 attendees will gather at the annual retreat for an inspirational time of instruction, preaching, and fellowship. Dann Patrick and Wayne & Laurie Johnson will also be part of the team ministering during the retreat. Keith Holmstrand, a recent Southeastern graduate, completes the team. It is Keith’s second trip to minister in Cuba.
President, Rev. Nate Ange and College Dean, Dr. Danny Baer are pleased to announce that as of Friday, December 7, Southeastern Free Will Baptist College has been approved for Federal Aid. This means our students will be able to apply for aid under Title IV in the form of Pell Grants and student loans. It will take a few weeks to get all of the details worked out, so we hope to have our Virtual Student Aid Office available through our website around the first week of January for students to begin the application process. Students SHOULD NOT apply before notice is given that all is ready. Until then students are welcome to explore studentaid.ed.gov and fafsa.ed.gov to learn more about aid and the Title IV program. They can even go through a process to estimate how much financial aid they will receive.
Arron Howard Hired as Recruiter
The promotional office is pleased to announce the hiring of Arron Howard in the recruitment office. Arron is from Erwin, Tennessee. He has served in the promotional department for two years as the sound technician for the Sounds of Praise Ensemble. As president of the student body for the second year in a row, Arron has gained respect from his peers. Many of our churches have enjoyed Arron’s preaching ministry.
His duties will begin part-time in January and become full-time after his graduation in May. He is excited to begin recruiting students to the school he loves. If you know of an interested student prospect for Southeastern you may contact Arron at arron.howard@sfwbc.edu.
Year-End Fundraising Challenge
We are thrilled to announce an end-of-year challenge. Two donors have issued a matching grant challenge of $50,000 each. That’s right. If we can raise $100,000 by the end of the year, your gift will be matched by $100,000. We intend to designate $100,000 for student scholarships and $100,000 to the annual fund.
The lack of financial scholarship help for students continues to be one of our challenges in recruiting students. Many students would love to prepare for ministry at Southeastern, but they cannot afford it. Your gifts this Christmas season will help us recruit next year’s students.
Please consider a special year-end matching gift donation for Southeastern College. We need your help! We can now receive your gifts of highly appreciated stocks and bonds which you can donate tax-free. If you are not a 20/20 Vision Club Partner, please consider becoming one today.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Steve Berry at 919-365-7711 (work), 321-917-2376 (cell), or sberry@sfwbc.edu. Thanks for all you do to support Southeastern College!
Upon returning today from our eleven-day mission trip to Moldova and Romania, I have been gripped again first hand as to the purpose of Southeastern College. We exist to train workers for the vast harvest fields at home and abroad. “Theharvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few”- Jesus Christ.
We have seen firsthand how our graduates are bringing in a great harvest on these fields. Along with other members of Landmark Church, senior student, Vadim Popovici, and alumnus, Dustin Smith, and their wives accompanied us on this mission adventure 5,500 miles from home.
We were met on the mission field by three Southeastern alumni missionaries. Evangelist and Camp Builder (Camp Christ’s in Romania) Pavel Clipa, Church Planters Shanna Pascaru and her husband Victor and Church Planters, Nick and Candy Corlata, who both pastor soul-winning churches.
Our team conducted four evangelistic crusades in places where the gospel is not proclaimed. The team preached and shared testimonies in seven local churches, encouraging the pastors and their families. Our team led a three-day Vacation Bible School in a poor village, with 70 children attending.
A clinic was conducted to train pastors and missionaries in local church ministry. A meeting was held with the administrators of the Baptist Theological University in Chisinau, Moldova to discuss joint missionary ventures in the future. A local church that was planted by Southeastern alumni, Chip and Elizabeth Henley, is completing a new sanctuary and educational facility outside the capital city of Moldova, and we were able to encourage the pastor and his wife.
All in all, Christ was glorified, over 150 souls publicly professed faith in Christ for the first time, believers were encouraged, and scores of commitments were made for service to Christ.
Southeastern exists for this purpose and may the Lord add His blessing upon our passion to produce more workers for the field.
It is not too late to send us students! Start pursuing your purpose today at Southeastern! Contact our registration office today. https://sfwbc.edu/apply
Every decision of any significance that I have made in my life as a believer has had the counsel and the clear leading of the LORD. Such is the case now as I have accepted to serve you, and most importantly the Lord, in this capacity at the college. On July first, I joyfully begin this great opportunity, with dependence upon the Lord for both strength and wisdom. Since my acceptance before the students and faculty in late April, I have been working behind the scenes, along with our College Dean, Dr. Danny Baer, to assemble a great team of professors to join our present faculty.
As you will see in our new personnel, the Lord has directed in an amazing way to orchestrate in bringing together a great team of men and women for this fall semester. Dr. Tom Malone said, “When God is going to do something wonderful, He starts with the difficult. When God is going to do something miraculous, He starts with the impossible.” I am more thrilled than ever about the bright future of our Southeastern College. The need is greater than ever before to produce dedicated, consecrated young lives for the great mission that lies before us, the mission of glorifying our great God and Savior by bringing the gospel to the nations through local church ministries. We are not “ashamed of the testimony of our Lord” (2 Tim. 1:8).
I am looking forward to the students that the Lord will direct to us for training, sharpening, and equipping this fall and into the future until Christ returns. Southeastern is just a small part of the Kingdom, a kingdom that shall never fail. What part do we all play? The lives of these young people (and some, not so young) are precious pieces of clay. We must be faithful to our calling from the Lord not to cause one of them to stumble.
How can you help us? There is no substitute for prayer! Pray for us. Use your influence to send us students. Support us with your finances, as the Lord, by His grace, enables you. Southeastern is not a replacement for the local church. We are simply a partner, a tool that the Lord has used, and will use, to teach and train hearts and minds for the greatest cause on earth. Please join us in the great cause.
Every decision of any significance that I have made in my life as a believer has had the counsel and the clear leading of the LORD. Such is the case now as I have accepted to serve you, and most importantly the Lord, in this capacity at the college. On July first, I joyfully begin this great opportunity, with dependence upon the Lord for both strength and wisdom. Since my acceptance before the students and faculty in late April, I have been working behind the scenes, along with our College Dean, Dr. Danny Baer, to assemble a great team of professors to join our present faculty.
As you will see in our new personnel, the Lord has directed in an amazing way to orchestrate in bringing together a great team of men and women for this fall semester. Dr. Tom Malone said, “When God is going to do something wonderful, He starts with the difficult. When God is going to do something miraculous, He starts with the impossible.” I am more thrilled than ever about the bright future of our Southeastern College. The need is greater than ever before to produce dedicated, consecrated young lives for the great mission that lies before us, the mission of glorifying our great God and Savior by bringing the gospel to the nations through local church ministries. We are not “ashamed of the testimony of our Lord” (2 Tim. 1:8).
I am looking forward to the students that the Lord will direct to us for training, sharpening, and equipping this fall and into the future until Christ returns. Southeastern is just a small part of the Kingdom, a kingdom that shall never fail. What part do we all play? The lives of these young people (and some, not so young) are precious pieces of clay. We must be faithful to our calling from the Lord not to cause one of them to stumble.
How can you help us? There is no substitute for prayer! Pray for us. Use your influence to send us students. Support us with your finances, as the Lord, by His grace, enables you. Southeastern is not a replacement for the local church. We are simply a partner, a tool that the Lord has used, and will use, to teach and train hearts and minds for the greatest cause on earth. Please join us in the great cause.
