Weekly Email: October 7, 2024
Before starting this week, please take a moment to pray for those impacted by the recent hurricane. Many communities have been devastated, and some of our fellow students are among those affected. Let's keep in our prayers not only those who are personally dealing with the aftermath but also the people providing resources and relief to these areas.
Student Tip: Emailing Your Professor or OTA: Three Key Tips
As the new fall term kicks off, let’s dive into some practical advice on email etiquette when reaching out to your professor or OTA. These tips are rooted in real-life scenarios that I’ve encountered or heard about from professors.
Check the Syllabus and Announcements First. It’s tempting to shoot off a quick email when you’re unsure about something, but often the answer is right in front of you. Many students ask questions that are clearly addressed in the syllabus or recent announcements. Before you hit send, take a moment to double-check the syllabus and announcements. Even if you’ve reviewed them before, a quick glance can save both you and your professor time.
Recommendation: Start your emails with, “After reviewing the syllabus and announcements, I still have a question about…” This habit not only shows initiative but also ensures you’ve done your homework before reaching out.
Use the Correct Title. Addressing your professor or OTA with the right title is crucial. You might be surprised by the variety of titles students have used—some quite informal, like “Dude…” which is never appropriate.
Recommendation: When emailing a professor, use “Dr.” or “Professor.” For a OTA, if you’re unsure of their academic credentials, “Mr.” or “Ms.” is a safe bet.
Ensure Clarity in Your Email. What seems clear to you might not be clear to your professor or OTA. After drafting your email, read it over to make sure your question is straightforward. Many students tend to write lengthy emails, burying their actual question in several paragraphs. This can make it difficult for the professor or OTA to quickly grasp what you’re asking.
Recommendation: Lead with your question in the first sentence, then follow up with any necessary context in a subsequent paragraph. This structure helps your professor or OTA immediately understand your main concern.
Program News: Mission Trips with the Bevin Center at SBTS
Did you know that The Bevin Center for Missions Mobilization at Southern Seminary offers short term mission trips throughout the year? These trips are available to both on-campus and online students. You can find more information here.
Upcoming Mission Trips:
Theological Education and Evangelism in Nairobi, Kenya (May 20-June 3, 2025): This trip will have a dual focus–theological education and evangelism through community development projects.
Religious and Cultural Exploration in South Asia (May 23-June 6, 2025): Explore and engage with the diverse religious practices of this area while visiting important sites. While meeting with field personnel seeking to share with the lost in the region.
Evangelism, Church Planting, and Revitalization in Chile (August 8–22, 2025): You will join alongside the ministry of the IMB and local leaders to participate in evangelism as part of their church planting strategy. Also, the team will have the opportunity to experience the historic setting of the Chilean Baptist Seminary and see what theological education looks like in other settings.
If you have any questions you can email The Bevin Center for Missions Mobilization: missions@sbts.edu.
Faculty Devotional
This week’s faculty devotional is from Dr. Bill Cook, Professor or New Testament:
The Gospel of Mark is often overlooked in favor of one of the three other Gospels. The likely reason for this is its brevity. Yet Mark’s Gospel clearly presents the person and work of Jesus in powerful and memorable ways. For example, the Gospel is bracketed by two key events. These events are Jesus’ baptism, when Jesus saw the heavens “splitting apart” (1:10) and at Jesus’ death, when the temple curtain “was torn in two, from top to bottom” (15:38). The same Greek word is used for the sky splitting apart and the tearing of the temple veil. At Jesus’ baptism he identifies with sinners – like you and me. At Jesus’ death, he dies for sinners – like you and me. At Jesus’s baptism, God acknowledged Jesus to be his beloved Son. At Jesus’s death, he opens the way for us to enter the holy of holies into God’s presence. Let’s not hesitate to avail ourselves of the great privilege of entering God’s presence today and live our lives before him and for his glory.
That’s all for this week! Thanks for reading and check in next Monday. You can find an archive of each week’s email here.
