Thanking the Lord for His Loyal Love: Celebrating 2019—Our FBS Year in Review

Bob Kellemen |

As we reflect on all that the Lord did for Faith Bible Seminary in 2019, our thoughts go to Psalm 107:8-9.

“Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.”

We are, of course, first and foremost thankful for the steadfast love of God demonstrated through the life, death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. At FBS, we’re also thankful for our heavenly Father’s wondrous workings in 2019. Our FBS team has collated some of those areas of thanks, and we invite you to celebrate with us, thanking the Lord for His blessings on us in 2019.

Celebrating 2019

  • We’re thankful for 28 M.Div. graduates in 2019.
  • We’re thankful for 6 MABC graduates in 2019.
  • We’re thankful that since our launch, we now have 76 M.Div. graduates and 44 MABC graduates.
  • We’re thankful that we currently have 154 MABC students enrolled at FBS.
  • We’re thankful that we currently have 37 M.Div. students currently enrolled at FBS. Of those 14 are Faith Church interns, and 23 are from other churches locally and around the country.
  • We’re thankful that in 2019, FBS received accreditation from the Association of Biblical Higher Education.
  • We’re thankful for our new seminary location at the Northend Community Center(NCC). (See President Aucoin’s article below.)
  • We’re thankful that in 2019, we received approval from 26 states (and counting) to educate out-of-state students.
  • We’re thankful that in 2019, through your generous giving, that The Race for Hope raised $30,000 for FBS and The Friends Banquet Raised $75,000.
  • We’re thankful that in 2019 and into 2020, our FBS professors have published the following books:
  • We’re thankful for two new FBS professors.
    • Pastor Cody Podor, teaching Hermeneutics in our M.Div. program.
    • Pastor Josh Greiner, teaching in both our MABC and our M.Div. Josh is an FBS M.Div. graduate who is now working on his Ph.D. at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Celebrating and Enjoying Our New Seminary Location: By President Brent Aucoin

In 2019, FBS completed our first full year located at the Northend Community Center (NCC). The location has provided new classrooms, a new library space (The Goode-Smith Theological Library), administrative offices, and intern desks all in the midst of an urban environment. The new location strengthens FBS’s effort in preparing students to boldly engage in biblically-based Christian ministries to build the body of Christ through the development of leadership, discipleship, counseling, and community outreach skills.

As one example of community outreach, the NCC built a large model railroad layout (8 foot X 20 foot) for the holidays. The train display is a traditional Lionel-style design that uses six separate tracks. The trains travel across bridges and through tunnels around a snowy mountain scene. There’s even a high alpine lake that the trains circle, giving the railroad its ‘Bear Lake Route’ slogan. “Bear” is a nickname for Faith’s Senior Pastor’s, Steve Viars, son Drew.

FBS Alum and NCC director commented, “As soon as we turned on the first train, people began appearing in the Innovation Corner room to watch them operate. There’s just something about trains that attract people of all ages. What’s been fun is having a number of our young north end neighbors help us complete the scenery on the layout. They’re pretty excited watching the layout begin to take shape.” Faith’s Senior Pastor, Steve Viars, said, “With Greater Lafayette’s railroad heritage, we thought this would be a fun way for families to celebrate the holidays. We love being a blessing to this great community.” The holiday train display is just one fun way to be a blessing to our neighbors at the Northend Community Center.

Celebrating a New Role

We’re excited to announce that as 2019 closes and 2020 launches, our Academic Dean, Dr. Bob Kellemen, is adding a new role/title at FBS: Dean of Students. Bob will be focusing on ministering to current FBS students as well as FBS alum in the areas of ministry mentoring, ministry placement, personal mentoring/encouragement, and class/program advising. (Kirk Fatool will continue his excellent work in these areas as Registrar and Dean of Enrollment Management. Bob will come along side Kirk to supplement FBS’ ministry to our students and alums.)

As an example of how desired and beneficial this role is, Bob announced to students that he had two dozen time slots open at the Faith Church BCTC in February. Within 24 hours, all 24 slots were taken. If you’d like to connect with Bob before or after the BCTC, email Bob at: bob.kellemen@gmail.com.

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Bob Kellemen
Bob Kellemen, Th.M., Ph.D.: Dr. Kellemen is VP of Strategic Development and Academic Dean at Faith Bible Seminary in Lafayette, Indiana. Bob is also the Founder and CEO of RPM Ministries through which he speaks, writes, and consults on biblical counseling and Christian living. Dr. Kellemen served as the founding Executive Director of the Biblical Counseling Coalition. For seventeen years, Bob was the founding Chairman of and Professor in the MA in Christian Counseling and Discipleship department at Capital Bible Seminary in Lanham, MD. Bob has pastored four churches and equipped biblical counselors in each church. Bob and his wife, Shirley, have been married for thirty-eight years; they have two adult children, Josh and Marie, one daughter-in-law, Andi, and three granddaughters. Dr. Kellemen is the author of eighteen books including Equipping Counselors for Your Church, Gospel-Centered Counseling, and Gospel Conversations.