October 2, 2026
MOUNT VERNON, Ga. – Large numbers of Georgia pastors who work full-time jobs while also leading churches could benefit from a partnership between Brewton-Parker College, the Georgia Baptist Mission Board and local Baptist associations that will provide in-depth training in key areas, including theology and preaching.
“Literally hundreds and hundreds of Georgia’s bi-vocational pastors could benefit from this initiative,” said Ricky Thrasher, the state Mission Board’s liaison to Baptist associations. “This initiative is intended to provide an avenue for some of our busiest pastors to be able to work college courses into their very, very hectic schedules.”
The pastors could earn educational certificates from the Mission Board by completing classes offered by their local Baptist associations, or they could choose an accredited route that would allow up to 30 class credits to transfer to Brewton-Parker College and be used toward an academic degree. The initiative has been dubbed the Baptist Bible Institute.
Brewton-Parker President Steven Echols said protocols are being closely followed to ensure the for-credit portion of the program meets the requirements of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
“Our bi-vocational pastors are typically working two very demanding, very full-time jobs,” Thrasher said. “For eight or 10 hours a day, they may be working as teachers, lawyers, farmers, carpenters, or some other vocation after which they change hats, so to speak, and give another eight or 10 hours as ministers. For people this busy, adding anything else to their schedules can be a burden, even something as important as ministerial education. But we think we’ve found a way to make it work for them, and a way to help them be better pastors.”
Echols said Brewton-Parker recognized the potential benefit to bi-vocational pastors and agreed to get involved. He said counties in South Georgia nearest his campus have the highest concentrations of bi-vocational pastors in the state.
“There are about 1,600 Georgia Baptist churches south of Macon, and I’d venture to say that perhaps 60 percent of those have bi-vocational pastors,” Echols said.
Once students have finished training for ministry certification, Echols said Brewton-Parker will offer a free class to help them transition to online courses that would lead to a ministry degree.
“We’re facing a crisis in terms of young people accepting the call to ministry,” Echols said. “It’s a dearth. It's as low as I’ve ever seen in my lifetime. And we’re committed to doing everything we can to help with that.”
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