May was a season of sending. Seven men crossed the platform at our 4th Annual Commencement, a Presbyterian brother shared what the Lord did in his heart over his years here, and our calendar fills quickly with a Summer Intensive, the Head & Heart Conference, and an October gathering of our accrediting body.
Graduation 2026: Seven Sent Out
Attending graduates (left to right): Travis West, Chris Johnson, Brandon Henderson, Cory Messerschmidt. Photo credit: Karla West.
Grace Bible Theological Seminary’s 4th Annual Commencement Ceremony brought family and friends together to celebrate seven graduates. Four of the seven were able to travel to Conway to receive their diplomas in person.
Congratulations to our 2026 graduating class:
Certificate of Ministry
Daniel Scott Graves
Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies
Nathaniel John DeCoste
Troy Christopher Johnson II
Travis Matthew West
Master of Divinity
Brandon Clay Henderson
Cory J. Messerschmidt
James Edgar Pharr III
(If Cory’s name looks familiar — he was our Graduate Spotlight in last month’s newsletter. The Lord has now carried him across the finish line.)
The Service
Rev. Tommy Walls, GBTS Board Member, opened the service in prayer, followed by the congregation singing Come, Christians, Join to Sing. GBTS Board Member Rev. Danny Thursby then recounted the seminary’s history, and Dr. Ryan Bush, Associate Professor of Missions, read 1 Timothy 4:11–16.
In his Presidential Address, Dr. Jeff Johnson challenged the graduates directly from that same passage — calling them to set an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity; to devote themselves to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching; and to keep a close watch on themselves and on the teaching, persevering in these things.
Dr. Jeff Moore, Director of Admissions & Enrollment and Assistant Professor of New Testament, presented each graduate to Rev. Preston Kelso, Academic Dean, to receive their diplomas.
The ceremony concluded with the congregation exalting Christ in singing All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name, and Rev. Rob Davis, Dean of Students, prayed for the graduates and pronounced the benediction. A reception at the seminary followed for the graduates, their families and friends, and all guests.
Our GBTS family gives thanks to God for all our donors and supporters who have prayed for these men and their families throughout their years of study. To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus, throughout all generations, forever and ever (Eph 3:21).
Graduate Spotlight: Chris Johnson (MAPS 2026)
Chris & Lindsey Johnson
Reflecting on his time earning his Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies, Chris says:
“Through my studies and interactions with others at GBTS, God has humbled me time and again at how little I know, how glorious and vast His work in the church really is, and how important it is to learn the truth of God’s word among His people. Though I am a theological outlier (being a Presbyterian), the warmth and hospitality of my Reformed Baptist brothers have led to lifelong friendships with both students and faculty and a great appreciation for God’s work in their own segment of the Church.”
His advice to other men considering training at GBTS:
“If you are a Reformed Baptist looking for a solid theological education, you can hardly do better than GBTS. The faculty of GBTS are among the most godly men I know, and faithful pastors, all. If you are (like me) from another theological perspective, you won’t find more welcoming brothers among whom to study, and I can guarantee you will still be thoroughly built up in the faith.”
After graduation, Chris intends to continue serving in his local church under the mentorship of his pastor as he continues to prepare for future ministry — a fitting embodiment of the conviction we hold dear and articulate below.
Looking Ahead: Upcoming Events
The calendar fills quickly after commencement. Three dates to put on your radar:
June 2–4 — Summer Intensive: Man and Sin, with Dr. Brian Borgman.
June 5–6 — Head & Heart Conference: Knowing the Spirit, featuring Drs. Joel Beeke and Brian Borgman. The conference is free, but registration is required.
Register for Head & Heart 2026
October 1–2 — ARTS Annual Meeting at GBTS. We are honored to host the Annual Meeting of our accrediting body, the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries.
A Core Value Restated: Prioritizing the Church
Each month we put one of GBTS’s core values plainly in front of you. This month: the conviction that pastoral training belongs to the church.
Thesis. GBTS assists churches in training the next generation of missionaries, church planters, and pastors under the authority of a local church.
Affirmations. Christ Jesus works in this world through His church. Christ builds His church through His Spirit working through the ministry and outreach of the church. As the head of the church, Christ has entrusted His Word to the church. The church is “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim 3:15).
It is through the administration of the Word, in the power of the Holy Spirit, that the church carries out its mission and brings glory to Christ (Matt 28:19–20; Eph 3:21). And a vital component of the church’s mission is to train faithful men for the ministry of the Word, for the growth and perpetuity of the church around the world (2 Tim 2:2).
Therefore, we heartily affirm that it is the local church’s responsibility to train the next generation of church leaders. We also affirm that before someone is qualified to lead a local church spiritually, he must learn and master what it means to be a submissive and active member of a local church.
Purpose & Implementation. To maintain the centrality of the local church in pastoral training, GBTS operates under the authority of a board of directors that consists of the elders of Grace Bible Church, Conway, Arkansas. Moreover, GBTS will only accept students who are committed churchmen, affirmed and overseen by the elders of their local churches. We require our students to maintain an active church membership marked by practical service to the body.
Recognizing that God has chosen to build His kingdom through His church, we strive to keep the church at the center of all we do. It is no accident, then, that our graduates are not so much “sent out from” the seminary as they are returned to the churches that sent them.
How You Can Support GBTS
Graduates, Faculty, Board, & Students
Pray. Would you lift these requests before the Lord with us?
- For our students to grow in their love for Christ as they pursue their academic studies
- For students and faculty beginning the summer semester
- For our graduates pursuing new ministry opportunities
- For our preparations for the upcoming Head & Heart Conference and all attendees
- For our efforts to build strong relationships with future students and supporters
Visit. We love when GBTS supporters visit our campus. Let us know when your next trip brings you through central Arkansas — it will be our joy to meet you and give you a tour.
Give. Partner with us in training and equipping future pastors and missionaries. Your support helps us develop faithful, godly, and strong servants of Christ, and makes theological education accessible to the men God is calling.
Church-based. Pastor-focused. Missions-minded.
Contact us: info@gbtseminary.org
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