Waxahachie, Texas – November 30, 2016 – Several Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) students and staff recently attended the Academy of Preachers’ Texas Regional Festival held at Baylor’s Truett Seminary on Saturday, October 8, 2016.
The festival is a multi-denominational celebration in which preachers of several traditions share and showcase their preaching styles and ability. The festival allows students interested in growing their gift of preaching the opportunity to not only receive constructive criticism of their abilities but to meet and fellowship with individuals of like-minded call and purpose. Students participating in the festival prepare a 10-to-15 minute message written in regards to the festival’s theme and receive professional evaluations from esteemed experts in the field of homiletics. This year’s theme was “Jesus: Rabbi, Radical, Redeemer, Risen Lord.”
Dwight Moody, President of the Academy of Preachers says, “The 2016 Texas Festival of Young Preachers was a smashing success because of the participation of SAGU. Dr. Magruder delivered a fabulous keynote sermon and his students came prepared professionally and spiritually to preach their own messages.”
Our very own Dr. Jeff Magruder, Professor of Bible and Church Ministries, headlined this year’s festival as its keynote speaker. Along with speaking, Dr. Magruder served as a mentor to our participating SAGU students who he says have done “a very fine job of preparing and representing the school.”
Andre Grey, a student who participated in this year’s festival, said, ” Dr. Magruder opened up the festival by exhorting all the young preachers in the room on ways that we can be most effective in our preaching ministries. It was a blessing to have Dr. Magruder mentor me and I have no doubts he was a tremendous blessing to the fellow young preachers that day.”
“This festival has shown me that it’s possible for a Pentecostal, Baptist, Methodist, Roman Catholic, and everyone in-between to gather together under the banner of the gospel and encourage each other in the work we’re trying to do as disciples of Jesus to fulfill His great commission,” Grey said. “We’re not simply a part of a denomination or fellowship, but a vast, growing, vibrant global church that the Lord Jesus has built and is continuing to build.”
Dr. Magruder says the festival is open to any student interested in “exploring the call to preach or growing in their call to preach.” Moody said, “The Academy of Preachers rejoices in our continuing collaboration with SAGU. We look forward to SAGU students preaching at the National Festival in January and also at the 2017 Texas Festival in Ft. Worth.”
About SAGU:
Southwestern Assemblies of God University is a private, Christian university located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas. The university was established in 1927, and now offers more than 70 associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees on campus or online. More information is available at www.sagu.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-SAGU.
