FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
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Of interest to editors/authors covering: 
Florida news, churches/religion, schools/education



Spurgeon College Board Votes To Take A New Approach 
To Educating Future Ministry Leaders

Spurgeon Positions For The Future

LAKELAND, FL - Feb. 21, 2003 /PRnetwire.com/ -- The Board of Directors of
Spurgeon Baptist Bible College of Mulberry (Lakeland, Florida) voted recently to
re-direct the college's approach to educating future ministry leaders.

The New Approach includes: 
**	Focusing more on evening programs for adult
    students, 
**	Re-designing the traditional program with more convenient
    schedules for younger students, 
**	Continuing an excellent Christian
    Education with full-time and adjunct faculty who are credentialed and
    experienced, 
**	Selling the current campus to pay off debt and fund learning
    centers around the state, 
**	Positioning the college as a prime place for
    training Christian leadership in ministry.

Last June, Spurgeon developed a special program for adult students. The PALM
Program (Preparing Adults for Leadership in Ministry) helps adults to complete a
degree in a one-night per week format. Students can receive credit for prior
learning experiences. The program is academically challenging, but is more
convenient than traditional college scheduling. The program has been so
successful that Spurgeon will make the new program a focus of its future
educational planning.

"Traditional college age students are still a large part of what we do at
Spurgeon," said Spurgeon's president, Ted Morter. He went on to say, "Their
program will be re-designed to a newer format that incorporates more convenient
class scheduling and less time on campus. This will allow traditional students
to have more time for studying, working, and volunteering in ministry-related
projects. We're really trying to position for the future so that we can be more
effective at fulfilling our mission."

Spurgeon also plans to develop off-campus learning centers in various parts of
Florida. The current campus will be sold and the proceeds used to eliminate debt
and provide the financial resources to develop the college's new approach. The
college will be re-locating into appropriate facilities in the Lakeland area.

Paul Heier, administrator of the PALM program and consultant to the president of
the college, said "The board's decision to become more adult-student focused
will aid the college in fulfilling its mission. Non-traditional, decentralized
education is becoming the wave of the future in higher education around the
country. I'm thrilled that Spurgeon's board has the vision to plan for the
future. Training Christian leaders is our mission at Spurgeon and now we'll be
able to train more people and make better use of our resources."

CALL TO ACTION

Contact Mrs. Linda Stutzman, Administrative Secretary, at 1-800-245-1271 for
additional details. The college's website can be viewed at
http://www.spurgeon.edu.

CONTACT: 
MRS. LINDA STUTZMAN 
PHONE:	1-800-245-1271 
E-MAIL:	 sbbc@spurgeon.edu

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[source of news = Spurgeon Baptist Bible College]


S2P-REG-FL// Spurgeon College Board Votes To Take A New Approach To Educating
Future Ministry Leaders 
	ref: http://www.send2press.com/2archive/pr_03_0221-spurgeon.txt
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