Mike Fuhrman teaches preaching at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri. Several weeks ago he called to inquire about the Festival of Young Preachers. He had read about the Academy in a Baptist Press new article. Since then, two of his students have registered for the Festival: Joshua Johannes, of Forsyth, Missouri,
And Chris Dotson, of Kearney Missouri (who will be a first-year student at Truett Seminary at Baylor University this fall).
Today I received this email inquiry from Dr. Fuhrman: “I have four current students or graduates who are either enrolled for the January event or are seriously considering it. Most recently Sarah Lewis, who now lives in the state of Washington, has emailed me that she plans to come….Is there anything that prevents me from being listed as the mentor for each one of the four?”
First, this is a splendid endorsement by a professor of the work and vision of the Academy of Preachers. I fully expect Southwest Baptist University to become a Partner with the Academy in the very near future. Second, I commend Dr. Fuhrman for contacting his students and encouraging them to participate in the Festival of Young Preachers. This is the sort of enthusiasm that will make the Festival a great success.
Third, Dr. Fuhrman is right: there is nothing that prevents him from serving as mentor to more than one young preacher. Already several mentors have been registered with more than one young preacher and before it is all said and done, I will also be in that category–and proud of it. It is a good thing for seasoned preachers to have more than one young person in his or her circle of ministerial influence. I do hope, in fact, that many of our mentors at the Festival will be seen hanging out with not one or two, but three, four or even a half dozen young preachers. It is a sign that something good is happening.