Couple invests in Southwestern to help raise up future leaders

As long-time members of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Bud and Wanda Crow have benefitted from the proximity of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and their faculty and alumni over the years, and as a result decided in the past 10 years to invest in the seminary financially as it trains future church leaders.

“Going to Sunday school and church over there at the First Baptist is like getting a seminary degree for free,” Bud shared a comment from a fellow church member, adding that he heartily agrees. “You get to hear all of these great teachers and speakers.”

“That’s how we became aware of the great work that Southwestern is doing.”

Bud grew up in the small town of Anson, north of Abilene, Texas, and attended Hardin-Simmons University before moving to Dallas, where he worked as a commuter pilot and then for Delta Airlines for about 30 years as a captain on a 767, clocking more than 20,000 flight hours.

He joined FBC Dallas in the 1960s, where today he serves as a deacon, prayer partner, and part of the baptism team.

Over those decades of membership, Bud recalls numerous current and previous Southwesterners and Southwestern faculty who served at the church as members, teachers, guest preachers, and interim pastors, including Southwestern chancellor O. S. Hawkins, who served as the church’s pastor from 1993 to 1997, former professor of evangelism Roy Fish, and former presidents Paige Patterson and Kenneth Hemphill, who was once an interim pastor.

Wanda, who grew up in Dallas and worked for a consulting firm for the leisure and entertainment industry for 45 years, joined FBC Dallas in 2007. Bud and Wanda met in a Sunday school class and married in 2009. Over the past almost 16 years of marriage, they have continued to experience Southwestern’s connection with their church.

Bud said Jim Wicker, professor of New Testament who previously served as chairman of the deacons, teaches discipleship classes he and Wanda enjoy attending, pointing out they never know what kind of props he will use during the lesson. Wanda recalled a time when he came wearing a fedora and carrying a bull whip, similar to Indiana Jones, and other times when he used magic tricks as part of his instruction.

But despite the often-humorous antics Wicker uses to teach, Bud and Wanda said he always brings an important lesson that he shares in an understandable way and is ready to speak with them after the class if there are further questions.

Currently, the Crows enjoy having Craig Blaising, a senior professor of theology, as their Sunday school teacher, while Robert Jeffress (’83), a former Baylor roommate of Wicker and a Southwestern alumnus, serves as pastor.

“They had a strong presence,” Bud said of Southwestern at First Dallas. “We’re impressed, they’re all top-caliber people.”

But even while they witnessed the ministry of these Southwesterners as leaders and teachers in their church, Bud said they began to think about the need to raise up the next generation of pastors, professors, and teachers who would follow them. So, within the past 10 years, Bud and Wanda made the decision to support Southwestern as a way to invest in those being equipped for ministry.

“Obviously, the church will continually need new leaders to get the Word out for future generations,” Bud said. “And what a great place Southwestern is for training tomorrow’s leaders. And we enjoy being a part of that effort.”

Bud said they believe in the work being done at Southwestern and are grateful for the opportunity to help in the process of financially supporting students while they prepare for areas of ministry.

“The moral decline of this nation over the last several decades and the turmoil around the world is concerning,” Bud said of the reason theological education is so important. “And we believe that the only real solution is a spiritual one. We believe that if people would base their lives on the principles of the Bible, it would solve many of the world’s problems. And, if they do, they will have the abundant life now and eternal life later.”