Dear Friend,

The founding of Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary in 1976 is a testimony to the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ, and passion for sharing that life-changing message with a needy world.

Our founder experienced first-hand the life-changing effects of the gospel message. His life journey left him hardened and skeptical: from growing up in a Midwestern orphanage, to living the terrors of combat aboard a battleship in the Pacific theater of WWII,  E. Robert Jordan emerged as a hard-drinking, hard-fighting, hard-living sailor. Then, by God’s marvelous grace, he entered into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and found a new purpose for living. This joyful purpose was something he just could not keep to himself.

“Chief,” as he is affectionately called by those who know him well, nurtured a vision for gospel ministry far larger than just the congregation of Calvary Baptist Church in Lansdale, where he was called to serve after completing seminary training. He longed to see gospel-preaching churches established all over the eastern seaboard. These churches would need men to found them and subsequently to lead them. Hence, Pastor Jordan and a group of visionary laymen collaborated in the founding of a school to train this next generation of leaders.

Now over thirty years later, the seminary has graduated more than 430 servant-leaders. Their ministries, and the seminary’s influence, extend literally around the globe. More than one hundred gospel-preaching churches have been founded in the United States, and many more in the international locations where our graduates serve.

The current leadership team in the seminary wants to build on this wonderful foundation and continue to advance the mission into the next generation. To that end, we have thought deeply and strategically about how God may be leading us into the future.

Each May in the days following commencement, representatives from all quarters of the seminary community gather for a strategic planning retreat. Student body officers, trustees, administrative staff, faculty and administrators provide valuable input as we evaluate the previous year and prayerfully look toward the year to come.

The five-year plan proposed here is a direct result of those retreats. This plan will act as a guide as we make strategic decisions and entrust the whole to the Lord’s faithful leading. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the plan, and prayerfully anticipate with us just how God will bless and expand our opportunities for ministry in the days ahead.

We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of every member of our community whose input is reflected here. We are growing together to a greater usefulness for God’s glory, that men and women in our needy world might also have opportunity to hear the wonderful good news of the gospel.

Sam Harbin, President