History : The New York Divinity School

The Beginning Vision and Motto

Following the “Beginning Vision and Motto” of the NY Evangelical Seminary Fund in 1996 and 1997, there were continued discussions and the formation of an ongoing Governing Board. A wonderful Godly person donated $200,000 to the future of excellent Bible-based, Christ-centered, Spirit-led leadership and ministry training for men and women. Many others donated lesser amounts. Acquiring tax-exempt status aided that part of the ministry development. The Evangelical leaders were joined by Evangelical business leaders to incorporate the New York Evangelical Seminary Fund. The New York State Government would not allow a corporation to use the term “School” unless the state controlled or accredited that “School.” Nevertheless, later on, the “working name” for the school still became the “NY Divinity School.”

The Collaboration between the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and NYDS

At about the same time as the legal incorporation, a surprising, providential meeting of the new Academic Dean of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary [SBTS] and Dr. Paul deVries turned into a 3-hour intense discussion of the Spiritual needs and opportunities of NYC — and how an excellent, Godly, Bible-based, Christ-centered, Spirit-led seminary cooperation could make a huge difference. The new Academic Dean of SBTS and Dr. deVries were both in a conference for excellent seminaries.

What happened was truly a God-encounter. The new Academic Dean of SBTS, Dr. Akin, wondered why his seminary’s extension courses drew no more than 9-10 students at a time. Dr. Paul deVries was glad to carefully articulate to him some reasons for those failures and what could be done to serve the Spiritual needs in NYC more effectively. Dr. Paul’s deVries’ knowledge base included decades of leadership in Christian higher education at Wheaton College where he was an assistant dean from 1983-1989, at The King’s College in NY where he held an Endowed Chair in Buseness Ethics from 1989-1994, and at the Seminary of the East where he was the extension Dean for the NYC area from 1994-1996 where Dr. deVries grew the student body from 34 to 57 students in just two years. In addition. Dr deVries had published studies of more than 100 Bible institutes in and around NYC based upon research he completed in 1996-1998 for the Pew Foundation. He loved to talk about the realities and needs for Bible-based, Christ-centred, Spirit-led education for NYC.

At the end of more than two hours of deep discussion, Dr Akin asked Dr. deVries to please write a detailed memo outlining those 9-10 important points that they had discussed for hours, and to fax that memo to his Louisville SBTS office as soon as possible. The Academic Dean and Dr. deVries were attending a theological education conference that ended that evening. Early the next day, Dr. Akin was flying back to Louisville, Kentucky, and Dr. deVries was flying back to NYC.

Dr. deVries was a very close friend of the main leader of Southern Baptist Association for all the Metro NYC area, which included 250 churches, the Rev. Dr. David Dean. Dr. Paul had served on the Metro NY Baptist Association’s Ministry Education Committee. As soon as Dr. deVries returned home from the theological education conference, he called Dr. Dean to share with him the wonderful news that Dr. Akin, the new Academic Dean of SBTS and he had discussed together for hours of very God-blessed agreement and hope!

However, Dr. Dean did not believe Dr. deVries at all!! Even faxing to him a copy of the memo he had now written and faxed to Dr. Akin did not help! Dr. Dean said that he had argued some of the same points with his contacts at SBTS, but always with absolutely no positive results. Nevertheless, after a few days and some phone conversations with Dr. Akin and other SBTS officers, Rev. Dr. Dean was finally won over!

A new era for the NY Baptist Association – and for the NY Evangelical Fund’s path – had begun. The NYDS Board members could work as advisors and fund-raisers, while SBTS would certainly control policies. Dr. Paul deVries was authorized as one of the coordinators. Also, he was given a lovely office in the Metro New York Baptist Association Building and also a large adjacent room for starting a quality library – all without rent. Thank you, LORD.

For the designated library room, many hundreds of precious books were immediately added through generous gifts from the late Dr. Frank E Gaebelein’s personal library. For decades, Dr. Gaebelein had been a noted New York Evangelical theologian, a prolific writer of 70 books, the founding headmaster of Stonybrook Prep School, and a giftedly leader to found and co-edit with Dr. Carl Henry the journal Christianity Today (CT) from 1956-1968. Through Dr. Gaebelein, CT gave consistent, positive Evangelical support for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, and the Civil Rights Movement, and other very important Bible-based, Christ-centred, Spirit-led public causes. Years before, as a mere high school student, Dr. Paul deVries had been profoundly moved by Dr. Gaebelein’s articles in CT. A youth minister had given him several CT issues. And now, meeting that awesome writer’s family and receiving his personal library 35 years later was a very special encouragement from the LORD for the Evangelical Seminary project.

Meanwhile, the Academic Dean at SBTS immediately and wonderfully followed through with many of Dr. Paul deVries’ memo suggestions. Among the many changes that he immediately supported were:

The NY extension of SBTS was allowed to promote the seminary training to Evangelical prospective students outside the Southern Baptist Convention (and still prospective students’ pastors had to endorse any students, just as with Southern Baptists).
Advisors for the SBTS extension program could be any truly Evangelical Leaders (not only Southern Baptists, but other types of Baptists, Presbyterians, Charismatics, and other Evangelicals – as long as the standards were set by the SBTS leaders.
The NY extension classes could be held during weekday evenings (not just on Friday evenings and Saturdays). Friday evening and Saturday classes had been an accommodation for the SBTS regular faculty needing to fly from the Louisville campus to NYC and back to Louisville.
Weekday classes could be taught by NY-based, thoroughly qualified, degreed, scholar-teachers, and if they were also pastors, all the better. Blending scholarship and ministry should be a winning combination to attract and motivate many students to take courses.
NY classes could be taught in Spanish (and not just in English) by qualified professors who were also fluent in Spanish.
Faculty members did not have to be Southern Baptists or even Baptists of any sort. Nevertheless, each faculty member was required to agree to and to sign the SBTS’s own doctrinal statement annually.
NY students who wanted to earn degrees from SBTS could transfer 33% of their credits from another approved accredited seminary – such as NY’s Alliance Theological Seminary or NY Theological Seminary. Alternatively, those students would need to take a series of 5-day intensive courses or move for a full semester at SBTS in Louisville, KY.
With most of the students being Southern Baptists, 60 Southern Baptist students, at four times as many as there ever were before.

Starting in the Fall of 1998, these and other changes produced their remarkable effects. Enrollment in courses grew each term from 10 to 25, then 39, then 47, then 53, then 69, then 76, then 89! That was also more than 29 students by full-time equivalent measurement. By the Spring of 2001, there were 80 students enrolled in one or more NYC extension classes sponsored by the NY Evangelical Seminary Fund. Of the students at the NYC extension of SBTS, 60% were Southern Baptists; 40% were other Baptists as well as representatives from several other Evangelical denominations. Each student had been endorsed by his or her own pastor. Each faculty member had to be endorsed by the SBTS administration.

Also, at that time, the NYC extension of SBTS had now become the largest SBTS extension ever. It was even larger than all the other extensions of SBTS added together in 2001! Leaders from non-Baptist Churches openly praised the quality of Biblical teaching that the NYC extension of SBTS demonstrated. Truly, praise the LORD!

This success proves that there is a large hunger in NYC for Gospel-oriented education. Bible-based, Christ-centred, Spirit-led ministry and leadership training was ready to serve the LORD and the City. There was such spiritual hunger in 2001, and even more so now.

In May 2001, Dr. Paul deVries was planning to honor Dr. Carl Henry and his awesome lifetime of superb Divine service at a formal luncheon, and to support Dr. Henry’s long-time vision of a vibrant Evangelical divinity school right in NYC, the beloved city of his birth. The president of SBTS demanded that Dr. deVries cancel that luncheon. Dr. Mohler wanted to “reserve” Dr. Henry for promotion of the Louisville campus of SBTS only! But he was not interested in knowing about Dr. deVries and Dr. Henry’ deep and long-standing admiration and friendship, and also Dr Henry’s vision of an Evangelical Seminary in NYC. And, besides, the descendants of Dr. Frank E Gaebelein, Dr. Carl Henry’s long-time colleague, played crucial parts in the planning and successes of the formal luncheon.

The formal luncheon honoring Dr. Carl Henry was an awesome and rewarding success. Both Dr. Carl Henry and Mrs. Helga Henry deeply loved it, and they both articulated wonderful praise to the LORD because of it.

When the terrorist attack of 9/11/2001 tragically transpired, Dr. Paul deVries and his team of both Louisville and NYC faculties were able and ready to spring into action, along with additional highly qualified volunteer teachers of trauma counseling drawn from the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) and other excellent trauma counselor teachers from First Baptist Church of Atlanta, GA (FBCA), and the Texas Baptist Men’s Victim Relief Ministry (VRM). While NYC set up trauma counselling centres all across the City, Mayor Rudy Giuliani would not allow Evangelical ministers in to counsel the hurting people, because he assumed that we Evangelicals were not well-trained. The AACC, FBCA, and VRM leaders issued certificates to signify completion of courses. The AACC, FBCA, and VRM courses drew hundreds of Evangelical ministers and lay leaders. More than 3,500 men and women participated in one or more kinds of quality crises counseling training and coordinated by Dr. Paul deVries and his office team. No other professional crisis-counselling training at 5 months after 9/11 compared to other NYC area educational institutions.

/PERSONAL

The Academic Dean of SBTS, Dr. Akin and his team were exemplary. However, the president of SBTS unbiblical rejections of women in ministry – including his requirement that all the faculty agree with him on [See Dr. deVries’ www.womeninministry.net.] His favorite “proof texts” do not say what he wants them to say. Besides, he also rejected the gifts of the Holy Spirit. However, consider.

More than 30% of all Southern Baptist missionaries are single women.

Charlotte “Lottie” Moon (1840-1912) is still the most celebrated Southern Baptist missionary of all time. She grew up in Scottsville, Virginia, and was a baptised member of the very same church where Dr. Paul deVries decades later was the Senior Pastor (1970-1975). He was reminded of that precious heritage every Sunday, because the platform furniture in the church sanctuary came from Lottie Moon’s own Scottsville home, “Viewmont.”

And in Lottie Moon’s name, half of the entire missionary budget from Southern Baptists is raised every year. Thankfully, repeatably in the month of December, all Southern Baptists are honoring at least one, very courageous, Bible-based, Christ-centered, Spirit-led woman in ministry: Lottie Moon herself. May there be even more called and courageous women in missions and other kinds of Gospel ministry. All thanks to the Living LORD-GOD, who still calls and equips outstanding women and men in His service.

All Biblical exemplars of women in Godly ministry are inspiring. For example, the Apostle Paul especially commends 25 church leaders in the last chapter of his Letter to the Romans. Twelve of those leaders whom Paul commends (about half) are women! And Paul additionally comments that four of his especially recognized leaders are also “hard workers.” And all of those “hard working” leaders in Paul’s writing to the Church in Rome are all women. See Romans 16:6 and 16:12 for such deeply inspiring women!

In addition Dr. Mohler also urges people to reject the “gifts of the Holy Spirit.” In his office in Louisville, he tried to argue with Dr. deVries – but Dr. Paul deVries just resorted to his Godly testimonies, and also the crucial question: Since God is sovereign and since the Holy Spirit is fully God, why not let the Holy Spirit sovereignly choose the awesome spiritual gifts to give to each person? Such good Biblical theology definitely should make a tremendous difference.

In his personal life and ministry walk, Dr. deVries has experienced many giftings of the Holy Spirit. Dr. Paul deVries is thrilled that he is a Walking Temple for the Holy Spirit, wherever he is in service to GOD, and whatever he is doing for the LORD. And the gifts from the Holy Spirit are consistently welcomed – and bring him unmatched joy. For example,

As a teenager, Paul deVries was personally called by the Holy Spirit to memorise most of the New Testament and substantial portions of the Old Testament as a part of an International Youth for Christ competition. While maintaining A’s in every class, achieving the top honors in math, science, and public speaking, and graduating as salutatorian in a high school class of 200, Paul deVries sustained on average two hours a day in Bible study and Bible memorisation for five years. Those victories were made possible by some marvelous Holy Spirit gifting to Paul deVries as a teenager.

In his first pastoral appointment, and with a Southern Baptist ordination, Rev. Paul deVries accepted the calling to Scottsville Baptist Church [SBC], in Virgina, a church of 300 people. It was Loitti Moon’s church, and it was a large church for that region of Virginia. Since there was no welcoming party among the local pastors, within a month he himself invited all the pastors in that area to the Parsonage for monthly breakfasts, getting acquainted, and prayer. Half of the pastors were Black, and half where White. Soon the monthly pastoral meetings at Rev. deVries’ Parsonage were attended by most Black pastors and boycotted by most White pastors.

By the way, the Parsonage was merely 2,000 feet from the KKK headquarters for a three-county area – where many white racists gathered frequently in an old southern plantation mansion to pump-up their evil lies and schemes. Nevertheless, the pastors bonded through Christ’s grace and gifts or the Holy Spirit. For example, only Scottsville Baptist Church had a Daily Vacation Bible School [DVBS], and with 65 children in attendance. But when the monthly pastors’ prayer group in Rev. deVries Parsonage chose to minister together for the next summer’s DVBS at SBC, there were 265 children in attendance, including 135 from his church, then and each year following. His church alone had doubled the children that attended, and the total attendance had more than quadrupled. Imagine that – more than 4-times the number of Bible verses memorized; more than 4-times the number of Bible stories leaned, more than 4-times the number of worship songs learned and sung with holy joy, and much more! God the Holy Spirit was gifting the pastors, the teachers, the children, the parents, the community, and more. There were threats of violence from KKK members, but God, the Holy Spirit, was active. The Spirit surrounding the Scottsville joint DVBS through his precious protections.

Alongside victorious battles for Godly ministry in the Scottsville area, Dr. deVries received many joys of the Holy Spirit’s gifting for him for the many battles he had to endure in the PhD in Philosophy program at the University of Virgina, just 20 miles away from the church that he served. Most of the Philosophy faculty were anti-Bible, while at least two were practising witchcraft arts. They were stunned when they found out that a devoted Christian minister was in their classes. Nevertheless, Dr. deVries completed his research and writing in record time. He loves to tell his testimonies of the Holy Spirit’s giftings for his doctoral degree successes.

We should add another aspect of Dr. deVries’ ministry life – being an underground missionary in places where religious freedom does not exist, such as in East Berlin in 1965 and Romania in 1986, and Moscow in 1990. So much Divine wisdom and courage is needed to cope with all the risks, dangers, and opportunities every day in those places. Truly, the Holy Spirit is a necessary companion. Objecting to the gifting of the Holy Spirit is truly senseless and un-Biblical.

Sometimes the gifts of the Holy Spirit are interwoven with each other. For example, Paul deVries was arrested while ministering in East Berlin. While the police were arguing about what to do about him, the Holy Spirit helped him to be completely calm through reciting from memory the entire Gospel of Mark. Shortly after that, the silent recitation was complete, the band of policemen showed him to go out of the Police station door — without any charges or penalties.

A Winkle

Although he is a life-long Baptist, Dr. deVries has also been a full member of the social service and counselling board – the Beth-Hark Board – at the Bethel Gospel Assembly in Harlem, from 1990 until 2025. Bethel is a leading Bible-based, Christ-centred, Spirit-led church in NYC – and it takes up a full city block. As the church name suggests, Bethel Gospel Assembly is a Pentecostal church, and was and continues to promote “anointed expository preaching” – also “Word-Preaching.” Members of Bethel believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but Bethel worship services do not empisize gifting in supernatural knowledge, or speaking in tongues, or any other of the several gifts from the Holy Spirit.

It was not a good sign when a Southern Baptist leader called Dr. Paul deVries to quiz him about his service on the Beth-Hark Board. He accused Dr. deVries of not being a Baptist because he spoke in tongues. Dr. deVries explained that the leadership of Bethel saw other gifts of the Holy Spirit in Dr. deVries life and ministry. That leader became angry and called Dr. deVries a liar. Then, suddenly, a one-line email was sent to Dr. deVries on Good Friday afternoon, 2003, from an assistant to SBTS’s President saying that the SBTS cooperation with Dr. Paul deVries and his Board would end immediately.

The local Southern Baptists were deeply disappointed and made that disappointment known at the next Metro New York Baptist Association Meeting. Dr Akin, the academic dean of SBTS, coincidentally resigned to become the president of another seminary. As a result, nothing remained of the 1998 reforms. NYDS opened in the Fall of 2003 in Times Square, at Lamb’s Church, with a smaller enrollment.

The forward history of the NYDS can be written now in segments partly defined by the locations of the main offices of NYDS, and the cooperative ministries that were built up as a result.

Outreaches from Times Square [2003 – 2007]

With the location at The LAMB’S CHURCH at Times Square, the classes were easy to find and cooperative organisations were able to maximise their own footprint. Cooperative organisations included the New York City Intercessors, Christian Actors Fellowship, Models for Christ, “Gigrapha” (a fellowship of Christian journalists), and more.

The NYDS curriculum was more oriented to urban concerns – both in the lives of students and faculty, and in engagement of more urban themes of the Bible, actively following Christ and His Church in the missions of grace, and gifted by the Holy Spirit to shine His Light wherever we are.

Truly, the experience of “Graduation” is not a distant thought, but appropriate at the end of every class period – when students and faculty immediately apply new Biblical wisdom, more leadership of Jesus the Christ, and more gifting of the Holy Spirit.

Also, the ethnic diversity of the faculty and the student body was true to the Heavenly Standard – “red and yellow, black and white.”

Outreaches from Lower Manhattan [2007—2009]

When the Lamb’s Church was sold, NYDS needed to store its precious library and find appropriate locations for classes – such as classrooms in cooperating churches. The NYDS offices utilised some spare office spaces in Lower Manhattan.

Excellent classroom space was provided by churches, and those churches were rewarded with scholarships for some of their members. Cooperating churches included Calvary Baptist Church on 57^th Street in Manhatton [partnering also with the NY School of the Bible], Faith Exchange in two locations in Lower Manhattan, Grace Tabernacle and Bethel Gospel Assembly in Harlem, Unity Temple Baptist Church in Brooklyn, Brooklyn Tabernacle, Crossroads Tabernacle, Bronx Baptist Church, Wake Eden Community Baptist Church, and Mt. Hermon Baptist Church in the Bronx, Gateway Church on Staten Island, and the World Impact Church in Newark, NJ. Twelve very helpful churches in total.

The model of partnering with host churches has had amazing benefits – both for the churches and NYDS – and especially for the students.

Outreaches from Turtle Bay, close to the United Nations. [2009—2012]

When spare office space ran out in Lower Manhattan, excellent space near the United Nations campus opened up. Most of the NYDS library remained in storage, but the partnership with churches continued to thrive through more classroom space and increased enrollment.

During this time, Dr. Paul deVries was explicitly led by the LORD to connect with the Jewish leadership in the NYC area:

For one thing, his namesake – the Apostle Paul – constantly spoke in synagogues. However, Dr. deVries and his family went to their neighborhood synagogue near where he lives to pray to the LORD, and also to encourage his Jewish neighbors, such as when Israel was attacked.
Dr. deVries’ favorite subject in seminary was Hebrew because, as a dyslectic, he naturally read from right to left. Besides, reading the Hebrew Scriptures in the original text is more vibrant than even a good translation.
Jesus Christ himself was a Jew, and he was raised in an exemplary kosher family.
And so much more: All of the Bible was written by Jews, except for the two books written by Dr. Luke, the beloved physician.

When Dr. deVries contacted Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, the CEO of the New York Board of Rabbis, there were obstacles to even having a meeting. Nevertheless, after one hour of grilling Dr. deVries, Rabbi Potasnik said that he appreciated that Dr. deVries [1] clearly spoke what he personally believed and that [2] he cared deeply about Jewish people, and [3] other rabbis should meet Dr. deVries and other Evangelicals.

Soon there was a “RoundTable” of 8 Rabbis and 8 Evangelical Leaders meeting at 5th Ave Synagogue at 5 E 62 Street, listening to each other. This Round Table is committed to honesty of divergent faith commitments — and love of the Bible. The beginning group of Evangelical Leaders was also very multicultural, similar to the Evangelical Leaders who started NYDS.

The second meeting was at Calvary Baptist Church at 123 W 57th Street – a short distance from 5th Ave Synagogue! Meetings have continued since 2010, generally alternating between Evangelical Churches and Synagogues. Leaders are always listening to each other, and there is no dumbing down of our differences. And Jesus always shows up, and he is represented well in excellent Evangelical witness. From the first meeting, points of agreement and contrast were freely made.

For example, at the first meeting, the Rabbis had just led Yom Kippur services at their synagogues. One of the Evangelical leaders commented that the most important Day of Atonement was a Friday just before Passover, 2000 years ago. This led to a lively conversation with strong, respectful comments from Rabbis and Evangelicals.

The Jewish-Evangelical RoundTable has joint projects that unify our purposes. For example, when Evangelical people were martyred in Pakistan, Jewish and Evangelical leaders together made two friendly visits to the Pakistani Embassy at the UN, and others to Iraq, Egypt, and other embassies — jointly making strong points about Freedom of Faith in God. And there have been numerous other projects over the years.

Outreaches from NYC and Newark, and joining with World Impact ministry [2012—2021]

The curriculum for NYDS had been a standard seminary curriculum. However, a very creative urban curriculum has been designed by Dr. Don Davis, PhD, a double graduate of Wheaton Collage [summa cum laude BA (1988) and summa cum laude MA (1989), and PhD from U. of Iowa School of Religion, where his dissertation made clear the Biblical foundation of Dr. Martin Luthar King, Jr.’s ministry and teachings.

By 2012, NYDS had adapted a modified version of Dr. Don Davis’s Urban Ministry Institute [TUMI] curriculum. And also, NYDS accepted a rent-free location to house and make available thousands of NYDS library books at Dr. Don Davis’s World Impact Building in Newark, along with an urban Christian elementary school, and other ministries. The rent for a library and a classroom in Newark was free.

Based at that office in Newark, NYDS was able to continue to offer NYDS classes in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Newark. However, in 2022, Dr. Don Davis and his World Impact Ministry and TUMI decided to close the elementary school, discontinue some other ministries, sell the building, and shift to building up some other parts of their World ministries.

In the meantime, large portions of the NYDS Library have been set up in the large balcony of Unity Baptist Church in Brooklyn, and more in a very nicely designed library room at the Children’s Bible Fellowship Camp just outside of Carmel, NY – about an hour north of NYC. The Library at the camp is for staff, pastors, and/or Christian leaders on retreats. Pastors’ retreats might be enhanced with NYDS courses available through continuing NYDS education.

Outreaches through Zoom & CVU.edu [2022—2026]

The closing of four very important, established, New York-based, Bible-focused institutions has caused major concern among Godly people in the last 2-3 years. This is very TRAGIC!! Even SHOCKING!!! Those venerable, now closed, New York institutions are:

The King’s College

Nyack University

Alliance Theological Seminary

Biblical Seminary — (also called NY Theological Seminary).

By far, most NYDS students take courses in a continuing-education mode more than a degree-seeking mode. Motivated people care about ‘continuing education’ for themselves and also for other leaders of their churches.

The new way is continuing education through NYDS classes in Fall, Winter, and Spring and then degree seeking students should contact City Vision University (CVU) to see how many more classed they can still transfer from NYDS to complete their desired CVU degree.

As a fully accredited Christian university, CVU offers 4 Associate’s, 4 Bachelor’s, & 4 Master’s Degrees.
- Associate’s Degrees: Addiction Counseling; Nonprofit Management; Business Administration; Ministry and Leadership. Up to 45 transfer credits allowed.
- Bachelor’s Degrees: Addiction Counseling; Nonprofit Management; Business Administration; Ministry and Leadership. Up to 90 transfer credits allowed.
- Master’s Degrees: Addiction Counselling; Nonprofit Management; MBA; Ministry and Leadership. Up to 30 transfer credits allowed.
CVU will gladly transfer any NYDS’ completed courses at 2-credits each.
2025 Tuition Rates with CVU are dramatically reduced for all who we confirm are NYDS students, at just $550 for 3 credits, instead of CVU’s $800 for a 3-credit course. Also, students who qualify for aid—such as Pell Grants & Veterans Benefits—can receive the complete CVU tuition plus spending money. Furthermore, NYDS-completed courses are transferable toward CVU-accredited degrees—Master’s, Bachelor’s, or Associate’s—according to each student’s own achievement levels.

Let us continue to pray for a bright future for NYDS as it serves men and women to grow in Godly knowledge, Christ-inspired ministry skill, and Spirit-filled wisdom, through the Bible-based, Christ-centred, Spirit-led teaching of our highly trained and committed NYDS faculty. Thank you, God!