Michael L. Copeland
CONTACT
EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy in World Christian Studies, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2018
Dissertation: “Foreign Devils, Familiar Strangers”
Master of Arts in Missiology, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2007
Bachelor of Arts in Cross-Cultural Ministry, Oklahoma Baptist Theological Seminary, 2001
RESEARCH INTEREST
Dr. Copeland’s is interested in research projects in global missionary work from non-Western Christian communities and the spread and use of vernacular Bible translations in Christian history.
Dr. Copeland serves as the Dean of Students, Assistant Professor of Missions, and Associate Director of the World Missions Center in the Roy J. Fish School of Evangelism and Missions. Prior to serving at Southwestern, Dr. Copeland was a missionary with the International Mission Board (2007-2022) in Central Asia. He has also taught adjunctly at Oklahoma Baptist University and several schools and seminaries in East Asia.
Dr. Copeland is married to Jeani, and they have three children: Reese, Kai, and Callie.
2018–2022: Member Care Consultant, Theological Educator
2007–2018: Church Planter and Researcher
July 2007: Appointed as Career Missionary, International Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention
“Monasteries | Non-Western Traditions” in vol. 19, Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception,706-707. Berlin: DeGruyter, 2020. https://www.degruyterbrill.com/database/EBR/entry/MainLemma_8406/html
“‘The Hatred in My Heart’”, Mission Studies, Special edition on Chinese Identity and Christian Mission, 2022. https://brill.com/view/journals/mist/39/3/article-p400_10.xml?ebody=Abstract%2FExcerpt
“Another Reluctant Exodus: China’s Religious Regulation and Chinese Protestant Repression and Respite,” Evangelical Missiological Society, Southcentral Region, Dallas, 2024.
“The Hatred in My Heart,” in Chinese Missiology in Brill’s Theology and Mission in World Christianity series, 2025.
Meet Michael Copeland
The opportunity to “have hands on both sides of the map” is what Michael Copeland heard in the spring 2022 when he was contacted about serving at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary as assistant professor of missions and associate director of the World Missions Center. Alongside his family, Copeland had been serving as a missionary with the International Mission Board...