Originally published in the Midwestern Magazine, Issue 36
Recently serving as the director of Student Life and Events, Samuel Bierig was installed in 2017 as the dean of the newly unveiled Spurgeon College, Midwestern Seminary’s undergraduate institution. We asked him to share with us the renewed vision for the college and explain the big heart behind the expanded focus.
Why is Spurgeon College “for the kingdom?”
If you know anything about the Midwestern community, you know we exist For the Church. This is a glorious and appropriate vision and well fits our stewardship here. With the slogan For the Kingdom, we intend to signal a broader scope of educational intentions and possibilities. Bible, theology, missions, and ministry will ever remain the pulsing heart of what we do at Spurgeon College, but we also wish to equip and train Christians to enter into the public square—whether that’s in the business world, or as a public or private school teacher, a banker, marketer, etc.
At Spurgeon College, we want to equip students with a sturdy biblical worldview while tethering them to the local church, wherever that may be, at home in the States or in the Christian world abroad.
What kind of students is Spurgeon College looking for?
Charles Spurgeon said of John Bunyan that if one were to cut him, he would bleed Scripture. That is the kind of student we are looking for at Spurgeon College. We are looking for students who, if you were to cut them they’d bleed Bible—no matter the program or degree. We hope to attract, train, and deploy students who take the truths of the Scripture and the beauties of the gospel wherever they go to advance the kingdom as though the Bible were in their very blood. Furthermore, we seek to train students who push out the frontiers of the kingdom for her king, Jesus Christ.
What degree programs or other emphases make Spurgeon College unique?
We try to give you the A-Team in every course. In regard to Bible and theology, the 2018-19 academic year will afford Spurgeon students the opportunity to take Preaching from our President Dr. Jason K. Allen, Systematic Theology with Dr. Matthew Barrett, Pastoral Care and Counseling with Jared Wilson, Hermeneutics with Dr. Owen Strachan, and Intro to Youth Ministry from Dr. Jared Bumpers.
In other areas, we have Mrs. Candice Scott, who has nearly 12 years as a practitioner in the field, teaching Accounting courses. Dr. Glenn Miller, who is teaching Intro to Business & Finance, has 24 years of teaching experience and even more as a practitioner in the field of finances.
In regard to programs, both Accelerate and Fusion are experiencing banner years. Both broke enrollment records this Fall, and both are exhibiting unprecedented health, strength, and maturation.
What’s something about Spurgeon College that may surprise people?
I don’t know that it would necessarily surprise anyone, but the most notable comment friends and guests often offer is how joyful our students are. Spurgeon students genuinely enjoy each other, their professors, and the intentional life-on-life discipleship opportunities they receive here.
What do you think the future holds for the college?
Just over the horizon for Spurgeon is expansion. The Mathena Student Center has already become an unrivaled campus hub. It provides students with spaces that were previously unavailable to them. The artisan coffee shop, bookstore and reading spaces, and cafeteria are all top notch and provide natural spaces for community. Further, the workout area and gym provide outlets for health and play.
We intend to expand and strengthen faculty, class and degree offerings, as well as campus culture. For those unable to join us in Kansas City, there’s never been a better time to engage in theological education through online platforms. Spurgeon’s online programs continue to expand, allowing for students to receive training in their current ministry post.
