Back to School

By Dave Benner

This week marked the start of another year for the Southeast Institute of Biblical Studies. Formerly known as the East Tennessee School of Preaching and Missions, Karns Church of Christ has been training preachers for 50 years. This is largely due to the foresight and leadership of our first elders, Harold Duncan and Frank Huber. Over the years, Karns has invested millions of dollars for the important work of training Gospel preachers.

We train preachers as one way to answer Christ’s command to spread the Gospel. The scriptural basis for the school is found in II Timothy chapter 2. Here Paul instructs Timothy to take, “the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

Our excellent full-time teaching staff includes Director Will Hanstein, Dean of students Dale Babinsky, Dean of Academics Mark Hanstein and Director of Development Greg Wanderman. They are assisted by several others including Steve and Justin.

I recently met with the new students for this year. This is a wonderful group of Christians who are willing to dedicate the next two years to equipping themselves to spread the Gospel.

Cornell and Nichole Coats from Ladson, South Carolina Ethan and Gabriella Foister from Maryville, Tennessee Robert and Reanna Lupo from West Palm Beach, Florida Mitchell Rutherford from Latrobe, Tasmania Andrew and Hannah Young, with daughters Vivien and Olive, from Munno Para,

Australia

Please welcome and get to know these new members and their families. To facilitate meeting these folks, the school is hosting a “Pie Fellowship” in the large fellowship room after evening services.

Please also pray for all the students and their instructors that this academic year will be another

successful step towards spreading the Gospel around the world.