“In a culture that is increasingly apathetic and/or hostile to the gospel, it is critical that God raise up leaders for the church and community who are equipped to boldly and comprehensively proclaim the gospel and to think Christianly about their lives, their culture, and their occupations,” shares Dr. Marshall Johnston, the Executive Pastor of BT Church.
Dr. Marshall Johnston is one of the many practitioner-scholars who teach classes at Stark College & Seminary throughout the week. Serving at Stark College & Seminary and at BT Church allows Dr. Johnston to reach the people who call the Rio Grande Valley home. BT Church holds services at four different campuses in McAllen, Edinburg, Sharyland, and Alice. “BT exists to glorify God by leading people to live transformed lives through biblical teaching, relevant worship, global concern, and authentic community,” Dr. Johnston tells us.
BT Church lives by four pillars: biblical teaching, relevant worship, global concern, and authentic community. The church offers discipleship classes, ministries for all age groups, mission trips, and participates in local community outreach. “I have served at BT Church for a little over four years,” Dr. Johnston says. “Over that time, we have been a part of an extraordinary move of God. Even this year, we have already witnessed 69 baptisms and 164 professions of faith.”
Taking his experience of serving at BT Church, Dr. Johnston is able to bring practical, real world knowledge into the classroom. He teaches Stark classes at the BT Church McAllen campus, allowing members of his congregation to receive an accredited education at their church home. “God blessed me to be able to start teaching for Stark many years ago. I am committed to its mission to serve the church and have found that many in the church are hungering and thirsting for deep and rich theological education,” Dr. Johnston shares.
Stark is grateful for partnerships with churches like BT Church and pastors like Dr. Johnston so students have access to an affordable and accredited theological education right where they live. If you live in the McAllen area and feel called to pursue a theological education, make sure to sign up for a class with Dr. Johnston!