• Praying in Turkey
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The 2019 January-term travel seminar to Turkey included
Usama Malik (with the cat), center, and tour leader, Professor Cynthia Rigby, right. |
For many, Turkey might have been merely a Jan-term travel seminar—educational, enriching, and immersive. But for me, it was a real spiritual experience. Though a secular country, Turkey is a 99% Muslim-majority country that boasts a rich history spanning thousands of years and numerous civilizations. Aside from journeying alongside my classmates over 1700 miles through 8 different cities and 50 different sites, I wanted to make the most out of my trip by enriching my experience as a Muslim in a Muslim-majority country. I accomplished this by visiting over 40 mosques for daily prayers—as well as getting to pet dozens of the lovely cats of Turkey!
I wanted to integrate the spirit and theme of the trip, the Pauline Mission, with my personal faith. I did this by drawing on my experience as the sole Muslim seminarian at Austin Seminary and on the mindset I’ve used to make the past three years some of the most substantive of my life. I kept my obligations and duties as a Muslim alongside my obligations as a student and seminarian, always with an open mind toward all that we saw and experienced. I ultimately tied this newfound knowledge back to my context, pondering over the mutual benefits.
Now, I know what you might be thinking: 40 mosques in fourteen days?! Read More ...
Watch a Slideshow of the Turkey Travel Seminar HERE ...
• Seminary receives $1 million challenge grant for library project
The J.E. and L. E Mabee Foundation of Tulsa, Oklahoma, has issued a challenge grant of $1 million to Austin Seminary toward funding of the Mary and Robert J. Wright Learning and Information Center. The terms of the grant require the Seminary to raise all remaining funds—$6.1 million—for the comprehensive renovation project by January 8, 2020. The challenge grant is designed to inspire potential donors to join their support for the project.The J.E. and L. E Mabee Foundation of Tulsa, Oklahoma, has issued a challenge grant of $1 million to Austin Seminary toward funding of the Mary and Robert J. Wright Learning and Information Center. The terms of the grant require the Seminary to raise all remaining funds—$6.1 million—for the comprehensive renovation project by January 8, 2020. The challenge grant is designed to inspire potential donors to join their support for the project. This $16.5 million project is the final priority of Austin Seminary’s Weaving Promise and Practice into Ministry campaign that has raised almost $50 million to date. Completed objectives include: eleven merit fellowships, three new distinguished faculty chairs, the John and Sue McCoy House student apartment building, and complete endowment of the College of Pastoral Leaders. This $16.5 million project is the final priority of Austin Seminary’s Weaving Promise and Practice into Ministry campaign that has raised almost $50 million to date. Completed objectives include: eleven merit fellowships, three new distinguished faculty chairs, the John and Sue McCoy House student apartment building, and complete endowment of the College of Pastoral Leaders.
• New site for digital collections from Austin Seminary
Austin Seminary Digital Collections, a project of the Stitt Library and Austin Seminary Archives, is a way to share the content created and collected on the Seminary campus. The collection includes lectures and sermons recorded on campus, selected photos and documents from the Archives, and curated topical exhibits. The platform, officially launched in January, provides a user-friendly way to search, find, and share Seminary material with alumni and the wider community.
Librarian John Vinke created the collection. This year during MidWinters he teamed up with AV manager David Perry who recorded each of the 2019 Midwinter Lectures and worship services. For the first time, videos of each lecture and sermon were posted, seemingly within minutes! Find (and share) them here! ...
Come back often—new content is being added all the time!
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