News & Pix
If you have any Grace News, please contact Kathy Smith at 207-947-1665 or email at ksmith@gecs.us
Theology of Pastoral Care Conference
Grace Evangelical College & Seminary
Sat. Feb. 11th. 9am-3pm
-Fulfilling the Call to Feed, Lead and Breed Disciples of Jesus Christ-
Feed – John Kasten – Helping Practices that Empower
Lead – Dr. Terry Smith – Leadership Principles that Work
Breed – Dr. Chris Gnanakan – Evangelism that Reproduces
Cost: Just $10 and Includes a Homemade Lunch!
* Special Gifts for Pastors *
John Kasten, MA, LCPC - Adjunct Professor at GECS and Counselor at Grace Christian Counseling.
Terry Smith, Th.D. – Professor of Ministry & Theology, & Dean of Studies at GECS.
Chris Gnanakan, Ph.D., D.Min.. – Adjunct professor at GECS, Director of Outreach to Asia Nationals and Missions Pastor at Bangor Baptist Church.
To Register please call 947-1665, or email Kathy at
ksmith@gecs.us
Grace Evangelical Awards its First Divinity Master’s
By Judy Harrison, Bangor Daily News May 13, 2011
Pictures by Michael C. York
OLD TOWN, Maine — A decade after it was founded in the conference room of a Bangor church, Grace Evangelical College and Seminary on Wednesday awarded its first Master of Divinity degree to John Leslie Buhr. Buhr, 46, of Orono is being considered for the pastorship of a Newport church, he said after being awarded his degree. The graduation service was held at Buhr’s home church, United Baptist in Old Town.
A Master of Divinity degree, known as an M.Div. in theological circles, is required by most denominations for ordination. Buhr works as a certified nursing assistant in Orono. He began taking classes at Grace Evangelical in 2006.
“I went to the seminary because it was in a practical location for me,” he said. “I also felt we shared a lot of the same ideas, beliefs and theology.”
Two men also were awarded their Bachelor of Arts degrees in biblical studies at the service. Phillip Gene Dow Jr., 39, of Burlington and Douglas Edmund Towle 42, of Palmyra plan to continue their education but on different paths. Dow is a Bangor firefighter-paramedic based at the station on Hogan Road and a member of theMaine Army National Guard. He plans to take online courses from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., to earn his M.Div. and become a military chaplain.
“I felt this would be the best way for me to serve,” Dow said. “I can’t go against what I believe, but as a military chaplain, I’d be serving people of all faiths.”
Towle is a truck driver, who took six years to earn his degree.
“I’ve felt a call from God often in my adult life, but it’s taken me a long time to get around to answering it,” he said. “Grace [Evangelical] really was an answer to a prayer because it gave me an opportunity to pursue this.” Towle said he wants to pursue the ministry, but is unsure whether that means serving as a pastor or looking in another direction.
“It feels good,” President W. Lyman “Terry” Phillips said of the Grace Evangelical’s 10-year milestone after Wednesday’s graduation service. “It feels as if we are finally getting into the task.” Grace Evangelical was founded as a mission of Bangor Baptist Church, an independent congregation, on Outer Broadway. The church in 2001 gave the fledgling school and seminary $25,000 in seed money and use of classrooms at Bangor Christian Schools.
The college and seminary was organized in an effort to offer a more conservative theological education than is offered at Bangor Theological Seminary, Phillips said in 2001.
Over the past nine years, the seminary has grown from offering a few classes to a handful of students to 50 students enrolled in a dozen classes this spring, according to Phillips. Three years ago, the school bought 1.8 acres and a 5,000-square-foot building at 502 Odlin Road, where it now is located.
Grace Evangelical’s vision statement includes increasing enrollment to between 200 and 250 students each semester and faculty from six part-time to 10 full-time members, adding extension sites and a Doctor of Ministry degree, developing an endowment, and gaining full accreditation from the Association of Biblical Higher Education.
GECS Application for Accreditation Approved
As of the February session of the Association for Biblical Higher Education (also known as ABHE, an accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education), Grace Evangelical has been awarded official Applicant Status. Within the next four years, GECS will make every effort to step into the next phase of accreditation which is the Candidate phase, a probationary accredited status, the last necessary step before becoming fully accredited.
GECS is on the radio
Listen to Ministry Spotlight every Wednesday at 6:15 pm on WHCF 88.5 FM
Low Low Tuition!
Undergraduate tuition at GECS is only $600 for a full 3 credit hour course and $650 for 3 graduate credits! It is rare to find tuition that low, especially graduate tuition! There are also no additional fees (with the exception of late fees and course extension fees, and of course textbooks which generally only run about $50 per course)! Financial aid is available for those who qualify, up to $400 per course based on need, and $250 for pastors and Christian School Teachers.
GECS Library Ready
As of September 2010, the library building (Maguire building) has the majority of its books in place and is fully functional. The building is a new model home which has never been occupied. The first story is completely finished with three large rooms, one small room, and a full bath and the second floor has a large unfinished room for future expansion.
Many thanks go out to the people and businesses who have contributed to the project, especially Vaughn Thibodeau (TB Equipment), Nick Higgins (Lindsey Foundations), Brent Washburn (Washburn Electric), Mark Chadbourne and Deb and Steve Nadeau.
Click on a picture to enlarge
Professor's Book Available
Communicating Like Jesus, A Discovery of the Master's
Methods, by GECS Dean and professor, Dr. Terrence W. Smith
is based on the methods of the most masterful of communicators--
Jesus Christ, following His earthly ministry chronologically, learning
how He preached, taught and counseled people, and what made Him so effective!
"To preach and teach well, the place to start is with the preaching and teaching of our Lord. That's the place to start, the place to end, and the place to visit often in the middle. Terry Smith takes us to that place." - Jeffrey Arthurs, Ph.D., Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
"Our Savior is definitely the MASTER COMMUNICATOR ... a superb job in presenting Him in this light ... well presented and summarized." - Wendell Calder, Evangelist, Local Church Evangelism.
Order your copy today! Call GECS at 207-947-1665, or click on the image to read more or to order online.
GECS Shirts Available
There are various new apparel available for
purchase with Grace Evangelical College &
Seminary embroidered on them. The golf shirts
are $14 and $22 w/pocket. The regular long
sleeved is $20 and $26 XLT+, caps are $7.50.
Satellite Campus in Northern Maine
Dr. Bob Leland and his wife Ruth (Amber) are teaching Grace Evangelical
courses at State Street Baptist Church in Presque Isle, located on State Street, one block up the hill from Main Street. Anyone wishing to take a course in the Presque Isle area may do so for full credit from Grace Evangelical for the same tuition and fees as at the Bangor campus. We refer to this outreach effort as the Aroostook Project.
Dr. Leland and his wife have been missionaries to Indonesia with TEAM and teachers at Erickson-Tritt Theological College for many years, and most recently Dr. Leland has compiled a Greek lexicon for the Indonesian language.
For more information please call Bob and Amber at (207) 764-4886, or call, email or write us at Grace Evangelical.
Old News Items...
GECS Student Graduated from Liberty Theological Seminary
BA student James Carson graduated from the MA in Religion
program at Liberty University. He graduated, married and started
work at a camp & retreat ministry in Long Beach NJ in May of '06.
Biblical Archaeology Class Visited Archaeology Lab & Dig Site
During the summer, students in the Biblical Archaeology class
visited a working archaeological dig and laboratory at Colonial
Pemaquid. The visit was part of the "hands-on" aspect of the
course providing a scientific approach to the study.
GREECE WITH GRACE Trip (2010)
Dr. and Mrs. Smith and some GECS students returned March 3rd. from visiting the churches of the Corinthians, Philippians, Thessalonians and Bereans, as well as the Acropolis, Parthenon and Mars Hill where Paul boldly shared the Gospel. Everyone was very pleased with such an amazing opportunity and are excited to share about their trip!
"10 Tests" Conference a Success (2010)
GECS hosted a World religions course which began with the Ten Tests for Spiritual Truth Conference, on Sat Jan 9 with about 50 people in attendance. Dr. Jiim Beverley, Associate Director of the Institute for the Study of American Religion and Dr. Chris Gnanakan, Director of Training for Outreach to Asia Nationals were the instructors. The remaining class sessions were held at GECS from Mon to Thurs. Some students saw this event as a highlight in their experience as a student.
ACSI Approves Grace Evangelical
The Association of Christian Schools International has placed GECS on its list of recognised colleges to grant CEU's (continuing education units) for Christian school teachers and administers!
GECS Approved for GI Bill Benefits
Students who have served in the military can now receive tuition assistance from the Veteran's Affairs office as all of GEC/S programs have been approved!
What's going on at GEC/S
View from I-95
The lighthouse in Bass Harbor, ME, represents Jesus Christ's Light and the buoy the faithful believer who helps guide.
Our Mission is to educate, equip and provide servant leaders for the Body of Christ to fulfill the Great Commission.
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Grace Evangelical College and Seminary held its sixth commencement at the Old Town United Baptist Church on Wed., May 1, 2011. Three degrees were awarded to John Buhr (from left), Masters of Divinity, Douglas Towle, BA, and Philip Dow, Jr., BA.
John Buhr receives his official hood signifying a Master of Divinity degree from his wife Karen.
