Paraklesis | Fall 2005

Lengthy Path Leads to Quality Education

Baptist Bible Seminary student Joe Parle travels over a thousand miles from Texas to Pennsylvania three times a year to attend doctoral modules as he works on his Ph.D. degree. One of the reasons he comes so far to attend seminary is because of the convenience. “I decided to attend BBS because of the conservative evangelical and dispensational approach as well as the opportunity to pursue my Ph.D. without having to leave my current job as a professor in Houston,” he said.

Currently, Joe serves in a variety of settings in the Houston area. “I am an Assistant Professor at the College of Biblical Studies (the largest nationally-accredited Bible College in North America) and a Sunday School teacher at Houston’s historic First Baptist Church.” He added, “I also have a television show in Houston called “We Speak Inglés y Español” as well as being featured on the “Up with the Son” program on KETH Channel 14.”

Both now and in the future, the things he has learned at BBS are enabling him to be more effective in ministry. “My teaching has been significantly impacted. I have become a much better professor as a result of the advanced studies. My Th.M. and Ph.D. will also give me the credibility I need for accreditation and ministry purposes,” he said.

During his time at BBS, Joe has grown through his interaction with the faculty and their families. “Dr. Stallard has had a significant impact on my life and thinking. He has really challenged me on the way I derive, develop, and articulate my systematic theology.” He added, “Drs. King and Bixby have also given me a better understanding of missions and leadership.”

His family has also benefited from his studies at the Seminary. “Dr. Stallard and Dr. Arp’s wives were also very helpful in my marriage as they spent time mentoring my wife on how to support a professor. My wife Suzan has been blessed by my experience at BBS as well as by the faculty wives,” he said.

Looking toward the future, Joe hopes to continue to expand his ministry opportunities. “I would like to be a professor at both the Bible college level and the seminary level. We have the Houston extension of Dallas Theological Seminary here as well as Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. I would also like to expand my Hispanic ministry by speaking at conferences and teaching at Latin American seminaries like Seteca Seminary,” (the largest evangelical seminary in the Spanish speaking world) he said in closing.