Dr. David Watson: Together on Mission

Dear Alumni,

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ.

One of my greatest joys this season has been traveling and having the opportunity to meet with many of you. These gatherings have deeply encouraged me. Your faithfulness to Christ and to Asbury reminds me that our alumni are among God’s greatest gifts to this Seminary.

You play a vital role in our mission. Time and again, it is alumni who encourage prospective students, recommend Asbury Seminary to their churches, and help us extend our reach. You truly help us send and receive students as we continue taking the whole Bible to the whole world. I look forward to continuing these conversations soon in Tulsa.

This spring, we are grateful for steady enrollment, with 1,571 students, including 110 new students who have joined our community. We also celebrate new opportunities ahead, including approval to begin teaching in Texas through a partnership with The Woodlands Methodist Church in the coming academic year. The Lord continues to open doors for faithful service.

I would also love to invite you back to campus April 16–18 (6:30–8:30 p.m.) for our Tent Meeting: Renewal for the People of God. This three-evening gathering is rooted in the historic Wesleyan-holiness tradition that has shaped Asbury from the beginning. It will be a time of heartfelt worship, prayer, and proclamation as we seek the Lord together.

Each evening will focus on a distinct theme of renewal:

Thursday, April 16 – Renewal of Our Personal Connection with God
Dr. Matt Reynolds

Friday, April 17 – Renewal in Our Experience of the Holy Spirit’s Work
Dr. Kim Maas

Saturday, April 18 – Renewal of Our Callings and Mission
Dr. Luther Oconer

Whether you are able to join us for one evening or all three, it would be a joy to welcome you back to campus. For more information visit asbury.to/tent.

I want to thank you for the many ways you strengthen Asbury Seminary — through prayer, encouragement, financial support, and by commending Asbury to prospective students. Institutional health and enrollment are not the responsibility of one team alone; they are shaped by our shared witness. Your partnership matters more than you know.

We face both opportunities and challenges with realism and hope. By God’s grace, we continue to move forward in faithfulness. The Holy Spirit is at work among us, and it is a privilege to serve together in this shared mission of theological education for the Church and the world.

It is a privilege to serve Christ together.

Yours in Christ,

David F. Watson
President
Asbury Theological Seminary