Feb 20, 2024

Centered on Biblical Preaching

by Larry A. Thompson, Mid-America Alumnus, MDIV, 1995

The Adrian Rogers Center for Biblical Preaching is anchored by legacy and bolstered by recent developments

There was a day when Mid-America was known fondly as a “preacher mill,” rolling out preacher boys in expansive numbers—well trained men who went out into the highways and byways with Bibles firmly in hand, heads filled with solid, conservative theology, and hearts filled with zeal to preach the Gospel “to all the world for Jesus’ sake.”

Today, Mid-America Seminary and College still has that same solid reputation for producing well trained men with a passion for the Gospel. What’s more, the school now has a broad ministry that includes 39 different undergraduate and graduate degree programs in diverse fields of study, such as biblical counseling, church planting, Christian education, worship, apologetics, communication, and business administration—equipping the next generation of biblical leaders.

Mid-America’s mission has not and will not change. We are still a bastion for conservative theology with an emphasis on the Bible, missions, and evangelism. At the heart of the school is still a focus on training men who are called to preach the Gospel, preparing them for a lifetime of ministry in local churches all around the globe, proclaiming the Word.

Our passion for biblical preaching is shared by many who have taught, attended, and supported Mid-America over the past 50 years, and none are more revered than one our school’s most notable benefactors, the late Dr. Adrian Rogers. Dr. Rogers was the long-time pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church, founder of Love Worth Finding, and faithful friend and champion of Mid-America. Referring to our reputation for strong academics plus practical missions and evangelism, he famously referred to our school as “Scholarship on Fire.”

At a recent event attended by Mid-America alumni and friends, our President, Dr. Michael Spradlin, read a letter from the late Dr. Adrian Rogers in which he wrote, “I love our Seminary…I am truly honored to be a Distinguished Professor of Biblical Preaching at Mid-America.” Calling Dr. Rogers a “once in a generation preacher,” Dr. Spradlin recalled a meeting with Dr. Rogers shortly before his death in 2005 in which they discussed a Center for Biblical Preaching and Dr. Rogers shared his “vision for preaching and for teaching preachers at Mid-America.”

Mid-America soon launched the “Adrian Rogers Center for Biblical Preaching,” and the Center was recently revitalized by three momentous events:

  1. Dr. David L. Allen joining the faculty as Mid-America’s Distinguished Professor of Practical Theology and Dean of the Adrian Rogers Center for Biblical Preaching (read article on preaching by Dr. Allen).
  2. The announcement of a new 30,000-volume Preaching Library at Mid-America.
  3. The revival of the Adrian Rogers Preaching Conference, which was held in conjunction with Founders’ Days this year on August 14–17 (see event photos).

These developments have further cemented Mid-America as a premier school for equipping the next generation of biblical preachers. Dr. Spradlin has recently remarked that the world is suffering from the dual maladies of a “crisis of lostness” and a “shortage of preachers.” With its focus on missions and evangelism and its excellent training programs for equipping preachers, Mid-America is poised to contribute an ever increasing army of Christ-centered, soul-winning pastors and missionaries to address the empty hearts and empty pulpits in our world. “Lift high the Cross, His love proclaim, Mid-America bear His name.”

Called to Preach?

Mid-America offers a wide spectrum of options to fit your education level—all available on campus or online:

Start your search for a degree program here