Prayer on Seminary Hill
Friends of Southwestern Seminary, thank you so much for partnering with us in prayer.
- David S. Dockery, president
Prayer Requests from the Deans
Pray for complete and total dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ and for every member of the Southwestern community to abide deeply in Him.
Pray for the President, Senior Leadership Team, and campus leaders as they seek the Lord’s guidance in seminary decision-making.
Pray for Board of Trustee officers—Bob Brown, Tim Williams, and Angela Duncan—as they serve and lead. Pray also for the October board meeting.
Praise the Lord for His presence, movement, work, and blessing (Psalm 126:3).
Praise God for the removal of SACSCOC sanctions at the June board meeting.
Pray for wisdom, knowledge, discernment, and instruction (Proverbs 2:1–9) for seminary leadership.
Pray that the campus community would be sanctified in truth (John 17:19) and live in unity as a testimony to Christ (John 17:20–21).
Pray that the community would live out Southwestern’s core values and virtues.
Pray that Southwestern maintains its renewed commitments to institutional stewardship.
Pray for ongoing recruitment and retention of students.
Pray for God’s continued provision for the seminary’s financial needs.
Pray that all things on campus will honor and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ.
Give thanks to the Lord for his abundant blessings on Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Texas Baptist College.
Give thanks for the faithful generosity of our SWBTS and TBC supporters and friends.
Please pray the Lord will give us favor in the sight of those who could support SWBTS.
Pray for the Lord’s provision for the needs of SWBTS and TBC.
Pray for comfort as the school grieves the death of Dr. Ernest Graham, whose influence will be long remembered.
Pray for godly wisdom in communicating the importance of developing qualified leaders for discipleship ministries across all ages.
Praise God for Dr. Terri Stovall’s installation in the fully endowed Parnell Chair.
Pray for additional endowed chairs to support future ministry of the Terry School.
Pray that our students would be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit in their studies, their ministries, and in their relationships.
Pray that our faculty would be refreshed and looking forward to all the ministry and educational opportunities that await us this semester.
Pray that our student worship bands would lead in chapels and other ministry venues with humility and authenticity.
Pray that donors would catch the vision for the SCMW and give to fund SCMW student scholarships.
Pray for Global Missions Week (Aug. 31–Sept. 4): for visiting missionaries speaking in classes and events, and that God would call students to serve overseas.
Pray for chapel speakers David Page and Todd Lafferty.
Pray for Fall trips to Central Asia and New York: for team unity, logistics, and gospel opportunities.
Pray for weekly Everyday Evangelism efforts in Fort Worth: for participation and open doors.
Pray for new freshmen arriving on campus, that they may feel welcomed, supported, and encouraged as they begin their academic and spiritual journey.
Pray for seniors, that they may lead by example, offering mentorship and inspiration to younger students.
Pray for all students, that they develop strong, Christ-centered relationships built on love, respect, and mutual encouragement.
Pray for clarity and insight, that students recognize how their classes, lectures, and events contribute to their growth as faithful followers of Christ.
Please pray for our organizations as they serve various groups of our community:
- Metochai (Student Wives)
- Sigma Theophilia (TBC Ladies)
- Society for Women in Scholarship (Grad & Doctoral Women)
Please pray for our new team in the Women’s Center to have a heart of service for Southwestern Women.
Please pray for the women who will be graduating in December as they seek out next steps.
Departmental Prayer Requests
Institutional Advancement
- Pray for the Lord to bless supporters and expand their capacity for sacrificial generosity.
- Pray for development staff to be led by the Holy Spirit in connecting donors to the mission.
- Pray for key partnerships to fund student scholarships and endowed faculty chairs.
- Pray for alumni to celebrate renewal, reconnect in unity, and invest in future gospel leaders.
Online Learning
- Pray for online students balancing studies with work, church, and family responsibilities; ask God to empower them with energy and focus.
- Pray for Teaching Assistants to serve joyfully and energetically as they support residential and online students.
- Pray for the online office team to work strategically and prayerfully, depending on God’s help.
Riley Center Hotel and Events
- Please pray for every guest and event that comes through the Riley Center, thanking God for each one, and pray that our team would offer a grace-filled welcome that points each person to Christ.
Campus Police
- Pray for safety, wisdom, discernment, and spiritual strength for campus police officers.
- Pray that the department leads with integrity, compassion, professionalism, and a spirit of service.
- Pray for God’s protection over students, faculty, staff, families, and visitors throughout the academic year.
- Pray that officers have opportunities to positively impact others and reflect Christ in their daily interactions.
- Pray for unity, strong leadership, and God’s guidance as the department supports the seminary’s mission.
Student Life
- Pray for wisdom for Student Life Interns as they lead weekly ministry opportunities.
- Pray that students connect through Student Organizations, Ministry Opportunities, and semester events.
- Pray that staff continue connecting with students and helping them grow in their walk with Jesus.
Language Programs
- Please pray for our degree programs, thanking God for the growth in many of them, especially in the Mandarin and Portuguese programs.
- Please pray for our staff as we work on proposals for possibly three new degrees.
- Please pray for many of our students who live and serve in closed countries or in difficult situations.
- Please pray that God will open the door for more students in Latin America to enter our DMin program. For many, the cost is prohibitive.
Center for Writing and Rhetoric
- Please pray that the Center for Writing and Rhetoric would help students grow into clear and compelling writers for the kingdom.
- Please pray that students would become confident self-editors and grow to love writing. We ask that the skills they learn here will help them in every season of ministry.
- Please pray we can give hope and practical help to students who are struggling or discouraged in their writing.
Student Success
- Student Support: Please pray that the Office of Student Success would be equipped to meet the academic and personal needs of students and provide the resources, guidance, and encouragement they need to thrive.
- Disability Accommodations: Please pray that Southwestern would be able to appropriately accommodate students with disabilities and have the necessary resources and services in place to help them succeed academically.
- Student Success and Ministry Preparation: Please pray that students would take full advantage of the support available through our office and other campus resources, successfully complete their programs, and graduate prepared to faithfully pursue the work the Lord has called them to do.
- Enrollment and Persistence: Please pray that Southwestern would meet its headcount goals for the academic year and that student persistence rates would continue to increase each year.
- Wisdom and Discernment: Please pray that the Student Success staff would have wisdom, discernment, and compassion as they work with students facing academic and personal challenges, and that the Lord would guide them in providing meaningful support and encouragement.
World Missions Center
- Please pray for our mission trips that are happening through this next summer, that they would bear gospel fruit, that our students and faculty would be edified and safe, and that the name of Jesus Christ would be made known.
- Please pray for the World Missions Center to be integrated into what we do at SWBTS/TBC so that we can focus on being globally engaged, reaching the nations with Christ.
- Please pray that God would raise up more young men and women with an interest and desire for missions work so that the name of Jesus Christ might be known across the world.
- Please pray for students who have recently gone out to the mission field, for their fruitfulness, protection, and perseverance.
- Please pray for our activities that are coming up for the rest of this semester, that we would be a blessing to the campus and that everyday evangelism would be fruitful.
International Student Services
Government:
- Please pray for wisdom and discernment for the US government regarding the Duration of Status ruling and CPT rule interpretation. Both of these have distinct effects on how long our students can study and the practical training they can take part in.
- Please pray that our students would live at peace as these rulings and interpretations are in court hearings, knowing that the Lord is in control and sets forth all political leaders, knowing that nothing catches Him off guard.
Office/Students:
- Please pray that the ISS office would bring clarity in immigration counseling and have the wisdom and knowledge to understand clearly what the US government says.
- Please pray that the ISS office would continue to find creative ways to serve our international population and provide a comfortable environment in the midst of culture change.
- Please pray that ISS students would enjoy their time at SWBTS, be prepared for ministry, and be sent out to serve the nations with the Gospel.
World:
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- Please pray for the conflict in Myanmar and other war-torn countries.
- Please pray for the travel bans to be lifted from countries that are deeply desiring Christian education.
Alumni
- Pray for wisdom and clarity as we seek to develop an alumni strategy that supports the varied work of Southwestern and TBC alumni.
- Pray for alumni either to continue their commitment or renew their commitment to the work of Southwestern and TBC.
- Pray for alumni to actively recruit future Southwesterners from among their areas of influence.
- Pray for alumni to commit to be donors, helping to support the ongoing theological education of our students.
Pastors and Churches
- Pray for pastors to be encouraged no matter the current season in which they are ministering.
- Pray for the Spirit to bring revival and revitalization to churches that are currently plateaued or declining.
- Pray for pastorless churches to remain encouraged as they continue to minister to their communities.
- Pray for churches that are currently experiencing growth as they disciple believers for the work of the ministry.
Campus Housing
- Please pray that our residents will find a true home here, and that God will give our housing and residence life team His wisdom as they care for every student, staff, and family.
Communications
- Pray for faithfulness in the mission to tell the Southwestern story through excellent, creative, and effective news, editorial, public relations, video, photography, digital, graphic design, advertising, audio-visual production, and social media platforms of the Seminary and College.
- Pray for marketing strategies seeking to engage prospective students through Preview Day and campus visits in collaboration with the Office of Admissions.
- Pray for Karen Garcia, news writer, whose mother passed away last week, and for Savannah Cheatham, lead designer, whose grandfather passed away recently.
Human Resources
- Please pray for wisdom and discernment as we make important decisions related to the Campus Modernization Initiative 2027. Our desire is to improve systems that serve our faculty, staff, and applicants, while being faithful stewards of the resources entrusted to us.
- Pray for guidance in developing strong time management skills and clear, grace-filled communication, so that we may serve our academic community with excellence, integrity, and unity.
Land Center
- Pray for strong turnout for the Land Center/Higgonbotham lectures featuring Thomas Kidd in September.
- Pray for encouragement during four scheduled faculty “book talk” events.
- Pray for traveling mercies and spiritual fruit from the director’s speaking and writing.
- Pray for God to open doors for grant funding for future projects.
Auxiliary Services
- For the RAC, Post Office & Dining Services: Please pray for the teams who keep our campus fed, active, and connected, thanking God for them, and pray that He would give them strength and kindness as they serve students each day.
- For all Auxiliary Services: Please pray that God would unite our team in the truth we confess, and that He would use our quiet work behind the scenes to bless and equip students to serve Him here and around the world.
Campus Technology
- Please pray that God would grant us wisdom and insight as we secure student data, and that He would providentially protect our institution from cyber-attacks and our students’ information from bad actors.
- Please pray that our Lord would send well-qualified and mission-minded men and women to serve in all areas of Campus Technology, and in our campus community as a whole.
- Please pray that God would sustain the technology we rely on, give us skill and wisdom in supporting it, and provide the funding opportunities to improve it for future needs.
- Please pray that we would be attuned to and ready for what God is calling us to as a campus community, not growing weary but increasing in joy as He works in our midst.
Download Prayer Reminders
Click here to download a free wallpaper for desktop or mobile device, featuring our current theme Scripture passage for prayer on Seminary Hill:
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you." (Matthew 6:33)
Thank you.
We are so grateful for your partnership in prayer.
