Journal: Masters Seminary Journal
Volume: TMSJ 03:1 (Spring 1992)
Article: Editorial
Author: Richard L. Mayhue

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MSJ 3:1 (Spring 92) p. 1

Editorial

Richard L. Mayhue

God has wonderfully blessed the training of men for an expository ministry at The Master’s Seminary. I thought that you might be better prepared to praise God for His grace if you read this short history of our school. It goes forth to the glory of God.

A Short History of The Master’s Seminary

The Master’s Seminary is a young seminary, having first opened its doors in the fall of 1986 under the leadership and vision of Dr. John MacArthur, known worldwide as a master Bible expositor, church leader, and author. For a number of years, the elders of Grace Community Church, pastored by Dr. MacArthur, had envisioned a seminary program that would train men for ministry right in the context of a local church. In 1977 Talbot Theological Seminary helped to bring partial fruition to that vision by initiating an extension center offering seminary courses at the church campus.

Several years later Dr. MacArthur was chosen as President of The Master’s College (1985). The college had a history of involvement with seminary education, having originally opened its doors in 1927 as the Los Angeles Baptist Theological Seminary. Building upon these foundations—the heritage at the college and the extension seminary courses at the church—the time seemed right in 1986 for the birth of a new seminary. The Master’s Seminary came into existence for the purpose of building men of God, thoroughly equipped for Bible Exposition and local church ministry, through emphasis on careful biblical scholarship, pastoral training, and personal spiritual growth. Initially, this was accomplished through a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree program.

The seminary launched its inaugural year with ninety-five students and four full-time faculty members on the campus of Grace Community Church. These included Doctors Irv Busenitz and Marc Mueller, both of whom had been full-time professors at the extension campus of Talbot Seminary and who made significant contributions to its advancement. They were joined that same year by Dr. Charles R. Smith and by Prof. Donald G. McDougall. Dr. Smith, appointed as Dean of the seminary, had completed sixteen years of teaching at Grace Theological Seminary in Indiana. Prof. McDougall, Professor of New Testament, brought a rich background in Missions and Education, serving for five years at Nigeria’s Igbaja Theological Seminary and thirteen years at Talbot Theological Seminary.

The following year, four additional faculty members joined the seminary. Prof. David Deuel arrived from Cornell University where he had taught for four years in three different departments while finishing

MSJ 3:1 (Spring 92) p. 2

his Ph.D. in Old Testament. Dr. Jam...

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