Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands – 21 March 2018 – A Steering Committee of Baptist leaders is establishing a theological seminary in Cayman and inviting the public to join them on Sunday, 25 March at 10am, at the Cayman Islands Baptist Church, to celebrate the official launch and dedication of the institution. Northwestern Caribbean Baptist Theological Seminary (NCBTS) will be a SWBTS-GTI Consortium school of distance learning located on CI Baptist’s campus in Pedro Castle Road, Savannah. It is a non-profit theological training institution whose mission is to provide biblical, theological and pastoral training for Caribbean pastors and local church leaders that is affordable, accessible, and applicable in the Caribbean setting.

The birth or concept for the establishment of NCBTS arose from an initial discussion between Dr Charles Kelly, President of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and Pastor Randy Von Kanel in October 2016. That seed conversation gave way to a vision for a theological school in Cayman which would serve both the local churches as well as the Caribbean region.

A short time later, Pastor Von Kanel and Mr. George McCarthy, Chairman of the Steering Committee, accepted an invitation to visit the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. There, arising out of a series of meetings, the vision was shared with Dr Paige Patterson, President of Southwestern, and his wife Dr Dorothy Patterson. They embraced the vision and pledged their support to bring it into reality, with personnel and resources being made available to enable the beginnings of the new seminary in Cayman.

“This is a momentous and joyous occasion for the Baptist community here in Cayman. The opportunity to help people understand the Bible better and grow in their faith by applying its principles, as well as equip them with the tools necessary to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others is one that we do not take lightly,” said Pastor Von Kanel. “We are grateful to God for trusting us with this responsibility and we look forward to seeing a generation of pastors and church leaders emerging here in Cayman and around the Caribbean.”

Northwestern Caribbean Baptist Theological Seminary is being established as a partner institution of the Patterson Centre for Global Theological Innovation of Southwestern Seminary. Courses are presently being taught through an online-cohort class arrangement, providing core subjects in the Master of Theological Studies degree programme. Additionally, extension work has been launched in Trinidad in the Certificate of Pastoral Ministry programme in a partnership effort with the Caribbean Baptist Fellowship, with plans to expand to the northern Caribbean with a second site in the Bahamas.

Special guests at the ceremony on 25 March will include Dr. Paige Patterson, President, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and his wife Dr. Dorothy Patterson; Dr. Leo Day, Dean of the School of Music, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; and Rev. Everton Jackson, Executive Secretary and Treasurer of the Caribbean Baptist Fellowship who will bring greetings from the Caribbean Baptist family.

The programme for the event includes worship followed by the official launch and dedication at 10am and a tour of the NCBTS Library and Classroom facilities immediately following the service. A Night of Praise will be held in the evening at 6pm featuring the Jubilate Choir and Orchestra, the Cayman Islands Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir and Dr. Leo Day.

For more information about the Northwestern Caribbean Baptist Theological Seminary or the Cayman Islands Baptist Church, please contact Pastor Randy Von Kanel on [email protected] or 946.2422.