Bethel Seminary

Did you know that Bethel Seminary is the only seminary for Converge (formerly the Baptist General Conference)?

Our connection runs deep—we share the same Affirmation of Faith, and Converge leaders serve on Bethel University’s Board of Trustees (and Bethel leaders serve on Converge’s)!

This summer, Converge celebrated an incredible 170 years of ministry. Bethel was honored to be there to celebrate this landmark milestone!

Learn more at https://converge.org/together/

Together Let’s gather to celebrate 170 years of life change! JUNE 23–25, 2026 – WASHINGTON, D.C. Get away, get connected, and get inspired. Bring the whole family, and join friends from across the world for three days of worship, learning, and celebration.

Staff Spotlight: Meet Ashley Anderson!

The people at Bethel Seminary are truly remarkable—and Ashley is a huge part of what makes our community so special!

Ashley is the Thesis Coordinator for the Doctor of Ministry program and the Administrative Assistant for the Office of Internship & Placement.

We asked Ashley a few fun questions to help you get to know her better:

Favorite spot on campus? Royal Grounds—always bustling with students, energy, great coffee (Dark Chocolate Mocha for the win!), and an amazing bakery case.
Dream dinner date in history? Nicolaus Copernicus, to talk about interweaving faith with controversial scientific ideas. (Though she admits dinner would likely be grilled cheese!).
Favorite hobby? Organizing spaces: The Home Edit style.
Things she loves: Books, great music ("Little Wonders" by Rob Thomas is a favorite!), and our seminary community.

Next time you see Ashley on campus, ask her about her latest book recommendation or organizing project! Drop a comment below to say hi!

Ever feel like the busyness of life pulls you away from experiencing God’s goodness?

Our upcoming Seminary for Everyone course, "Living into the Goodness of God: Spiritual Formation Practices for Everyday Life," is designed to help you hit pause. Led by theologian, author, and podcaster Monica Ritchie, this 4-week online course explores how intentional practices like Scripture reading, prayer, gratitude, and community shape our hearts to reflect God's love in the world.

When: October 5-30, 2026

Format: 100% online, flexible (approx. 5-6 hours/week)

Cost: $195 (Get a $70/person discount if you register a group of 5+ from your church or Bible study!)

No matter where you are in your faith journey, this space is for you. Learn more and sign up today! 👇
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Seminary for Everyone | Bethel University Discover a top Christian university in Minnesota, offering undergraduate and graduate programs with affordable tuition and strong career preparation.

Ministry leadership today requires both a deep faith and sharp cultural discernment. If you’re looking for trustworthy voices navigating big questions—from resilience in ministry to biblical critical theory—check out Bethel Seminary's Whole & Holy podcast. Hosted by Dean Peter Vogt, each episode brings you practical insights to help you grow as a leader and advance the Gospel. 🎧 Listen to the latest episodes on your favorite podcast platform today: https://bethelseminarypodcast.podbean.com/. Already a listener? Let us know your favorite episode or a topic you'd love to hear covered next in the comments!

Whole & Holy: The Bethel Seminary Podcast | bethelseminarypodcast Helping ministry leaders be more effective in advancing the Gospel

Dr. Kaz Hayashi, Associate Professor of Old Testament, is featured in the latest issue of Christianity Today!

Bringing together his background as a biblical scholar raised in Japan and his passion for Japanese media, Dr. Hayashi examines the global explosion of the "isekai" anime genre. While many dismiss these fantasy narratives as simple escapism, he unpacks how the trend actually taps into a profound spiritual reality.

In the article, he demonstrates how a generation's obsession with "another world" echoes the biblical truth that we are exiles on earth, pointing ultimately to a universal longing for our true home with God.

Check out his insightful cultural analysis at the link below.
https://www.christianitytoday.com/2026/07/isekai-anime-trend-true-country-christians/

How an Anime Trend Points Toward Our ‘True Country’ - Christianity Today The popularity of isekai anime may be an unexpected evangelistic opportunity, but its themes express a longing only satisfied in God.

Dr. John Anthony Dunne's summer line-up: A lot of writing, an international itinerary, and a serious wave of nostalgia.

Here’s what he's tackling:
The Writing: A monograph on suffering and early Christian rituals, and study notes on the Greek version of Esther for Oxford University Press.
The Editing: An essay volume on the theology of the show LOST, plus projects on ancient history and biblical cultural traditions.
The Travel: Heading to Adelaide, Australia for the SBL meeting, then to Oxford and Durham, England for the SNTS conference.

All this travel prep has him missing his childhood summers in Las Vegas. Nothing will ever beat having a season pass to the original Wet N Wild water park. It’s long gone, but the nostalgia is permanent! 🌊

What are your summer plans?

Summer is officially here, and it’s shaping up to be a wonderful mix of deep study and family tradition for Dr. Jeannine Brown!

This season, she is focused on writing a commentary on 1 Peter for the New International Commentary on the New Testament (NICNT) series with Eerdmans.

But it’s not all work! She is counting down the days until her annual family vacation to Grand Marais with the kids and grandkids. All this packing has her reminiscing about her favorite childhood memories—spending endless days at the family lake cabin, swimming, water skiing, and fishing with her cousins.

What are you working on or looking forward to this summer? Let us know in the comments!

Summer is in full swing, and the campus might be quiet, but Dr. Kaz Hayashi’s desk certainly isn't! Here is a little peek into what he is up to this summer:

What he’s working on: He’s deep into several writing projects, but his main focus is a new commentary on the Book of Ezra. He also just submitted a short piece to Christianity Today—it should be out by the end of the month, and he/we will be sure to share the link here once it goes live!

Best summer memories: Aside from marrying his wife back in 2011 (they are celebrating their 15th anniversary this summer!), his absolute favorite memory is traveling to Israel for an archaeological excavation.

Upcoming fun: He’s stepping away from the books soon to head to the Japan vs. Sweden World Cup match!

What about you? What are your favorite summer memories, or what fun plans do you have lined up for the coming weeks? Drop them in the comments!

Welcome home to Dr. Sara Sosa! Our Associate Director of Global Initiatives recently returned from Nairobi, Kenya, representing Bethel’s Cory Center.

Partnering with the Global Children's Forum and ACTEA, Dr. Sosa advocated for the inclusion of children as a vital topic of theological reflection in higher education.

Do you enjoy listening to podcasts on ministry related topics?

Recent graduate Erica Stricklen and current student Kelly Hensley are hosting the Nurturing Faith Collective Podcast.

This project is a unique collaborative partnership between these two leaders, Bethel Seminary, GrowthRings, and Entre Niños. Together, they are diving into vital conversations about strengthening the connection between church and home.

Listen and subscribe on Spotify today! 👇
https://open.spotify.com/show/36YbPzEX1N3P7QYQK5Ntm6

Nurturing Faith Collective Podcast Podcast · Nurturing Faith Collective Podcast · The Nurturing Faith Collective Podcast is a conversation with innovative ministry leaders, parents and faith influencers who are fostering a strong partnership between the church and the home. Hosted by Kelly Hensley and Erica Stricklen in partnership...