Shalom and blessings prospective student! Thank you for taking time to review this catalog. As you prepare for the ministry that God has called you to and as you seek wisdom in the pursuit of your education to that end, I am pleased that you are considering us. May I be straightforward? I believe that our schools offer some of the best educational values anywhere – both monetarily and spiritually! The Southwest Institute for Messianic Studies and the SWIMS School of Theology were established with service to you, the student, in mind. Our overarching desire is to deliver a quality education at an affordable price. Quality, in that we prepare you to teach, minister, and deal biblically and effectively with the culture at a solidly postsecondary level. Affordable, in that expenses are kept to an absolute minimum so that anyone has access to this education. It is our conviction that true biblically-based education should be accessible to every believer. This is one way we seek to minister to the student. In this, we have a threefold purpose:
Biblical – knowledge of the Bible is essential for the believer. Unfortunately, we find ourselves in a time when the body of Messiah is becoming increasingly detached from the scriptures. We believe that if this trend continues, the faith may eventually cease to exist. As such, we place supreme emphasis on studies in both the Tanakh (Old Testament) and the Brit Chadasha (New Testament).
Hebraic – we hold to the centrality of Yeshua (Jesus) and believe He should be at the heart of all that we do as believers. As the Hope of Israel and the Light of the world, He is the Jewish Messiah and the One from Whom salvation comes. As such, we seek to help the student learn of the Hebraic roots of his or her faith, and to engage in studies from this perspective.
Ministerial – consistent with the admonition of Yaakov (James) that we be “doers of the word, and not hearers only . . .” we provide a venue that will allow the student to learn, not just the teachings of scripture, but their practical application in ministry. Our schools, then, teach students how to do ministry as they make preparation for ministry!
Whether it's the institute you are considering or the seminary, it is my hope that you will be led to join us! May the blessings of Yeshua follow you as you seek God's direction for your education as well as your ministry!.
B’shem Yeshua,
Russell T. Cruzan, MCM
President – Southwest Institute for Messianic Studies and Theological Seminary
