BBS Online Students Connect for Careers
Published October 26, 2018 in Summit Magazine
During his first online Baptist Bible Seminary class, Josh Carpenter decided to reach out to the classmate who lived closest to his home in California. That classmate was Luke Johnston. A friendship quickly grew as they prayed for one another. Both their wives were expecting, and they were balancing family, work, ministry and academics.
The two men stayed connected as they studied online at BBS, both graduating in 2018. “It was a joy to not only share studies together but also life,” recalls Carpenter. Building Christ-Centered Community Online Johnston appreciates how CSU professors incorporate a section for prayer requests in the online classes and how they responded to students’ requests quickly. Supporting one another is a vital aspect of the CSU online learning experience. “This focus on the individual builds relationships that transcend physical distance.” Johnston continues, “Though it was long distance, by the time we reached the last couple of semesters I felt like I knew the guys in my classes really well.”
Carpenter says he grew closer to God through his BBS experience, and the program’s deep sense of community also helped him grow closer to his “seminary brothers.” The program introduced him to like-minded classmates who understood what he was going through as a young pastor. “Luke and I used to remind each other that…God led us here. We were in this together. From the first day to the last day we would choose to be ministry co-workers in one capacity or another.”
Working Together Beyond Graduation
When a position opened at Involve Church, where Johnston serves as executive pastor, he knew Carpenter would be a great fit for the job. Carpenter accepted the position and moved his family from the West Coast to serve as Church Planting Resident at the church in Nampa, Idaho.
“Never discount what God may do through what seems like a simple connection,” says Johnston. “When Josh and I were in classes together, I would never have thought that, five years later, God would have moved him and his family from Northern California to Nampa, Idaho, to join us in our church planting efforts. We get to work alongside one another in ministry, reaching people together for the glory of God. God is amazing in how He moves people to accomplish His good purposes, and I’m excited to see what the future holds as we serve Him together!”
-Jessica Eddy is a senior Communications-Writing major from Worthington, Pennsylvania
