Fall 2022:

Program Highlight: Pathways for Accelerating Christian Education (PACE) Academy

Pathways for Accelerating Christian Education (PACE) Academy

The Grace School of Theology team conducted a series of roundtable discussions with ordained pastoral leaders and congregational lay ministers around the United States. By listening to their educational challenges and opportunities, our team was able to explore the emerging needs and hopes for the future.

This experience led to the inception of PACE — Pathways for Accelerating Christian Education.

The PACE Academy programming will give future leaders:

Compressed but academically rigorous competency-based learning experiences that incorporate practical application training.
Pathways to accredited degree programs.
Exposure to the depth and richness of traditional theological training.

PACE is modeled on proven pedagogical strategies and current trends in the higher education community and the corporate marketplace. The PACE team is creating pathways to alternative credentialing so that pastors, lay ministers, and especially the upcoming generation of church leaders can be certified at an efficient and expedited rate compared to pursuing a full seminary degree. The micro-credentials obtained through PACE can be stacked to earn badges and endorsements that can then be further stacked to earn certificates.

Pathways for Accelerating Christian Education (PACE) Academy

Dr. Wilbert Baker joins the Grace team

To help develop and offer the type of advanced practical theological education that the PACE Academy will be offering, Grace School of Theology knew it needed a seasoned practitioner who is well-versed in church leadership development and has a solid grounding in the seminary side of academia. God revealed a Houston-area pastor and scholar who shares Grace’s heart for the Great Commission, and who was already working on practical training and equipping church leaders.

As part of our Celebrating 20 Years of Grace milestones, Grace is blessed to share that Dr. Wilbert C. Baker has joined our team as the Director of the PACE Academy.

I am extremely excited to have this privilege and responsibility to direct the launching of another educational pathway to empower disciples with the skill sets to make disciples who will make disciples in all nations.

PACE will create pathways for believers who want to participate in fulfilling the Great Commission by obtaining quality practical theological education and training that can be gained in less time and for less money than the traditional route taken by many seminary students seeking accredited degrees. Let’s be clear, PACE is not an equivalent replacement for the academic programs of Grace School of Theology; neither will PACE require the quantity of academic rigor required by Grace. However, PACE is an ACADEMY with the goal of developing highly qualified church leaders who are theological practitioners.

While PACE will not ignore quality, PACE will reduce the quantity of time necessary to gain mastery of the skillsets needed to do intelligent and effective ministry that is required in contemporary complex ministry contexts. PACE will achieve this by offering church ministers and lay leaders who do not need seminary-level credentials the opportunity to earn micro-credentials in practical ministry skills and theological foundations areas. These credentials have some rigor and require training and assessments because they will have value and application for today’s church leaders.

PACE’s students will be PACE’s most effective advertisements. Yes, PACE will be offered digitally, but PACE will require elements of personal training and personal assessments offered through a variety of modalities.

Thank God that Grace School of Theology exists to develop spiritual leaders in every nation who can teach others about the love of Christ, a love that cannot be earned and cannot be lost.

What a vision! PACE and I are both here by the grace of God. The PACE Academy is committed to continuing the legacy of excellence that Dr. Anderson began in the Free Grace tradition.

Dr. Baker’s credentials include a mix of formal academic degrees and practical certificate-type credentialing from a variety of theological and Bible institutions and programs. In addition to a Doctor of Ministry in Evangelism & Discipleship and a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Master of Arts in Church Ministries from Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary, Dr. Baker has several certifications in Biblical Counseling, Black Church Studies, Theology, and the Bible. Dr. Baker has been a pastor for 30+ years and currently serves as the Founder & Pastor of Lakeland Missionary Baptist Church in Humble, Texas, and is very active in leadership and faculty for several church associations and convention congresses (educational and training extensions). He also has 20 years of corporate management experience and a business administration degree. We are excited to see how Dr. Baker will lead the PACE team in equipping current and future church leaders across the world for God’s glory.

For inquiries or interest in joining the Pastor’s Council, email us at pace@gsot.edu.

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