Dr. Timothy Tennent: Fifteen Years, One Million Miles, and a New Centennial
Dear Alumni/ae:
It has been the singular honor and joy of my life to serve as President of Asbury Theological Seminary. I cannot even begin to express how meaningful it has been to steward this sacred mission of “spreading scriptural holiness throughout the world.” We have experienced an amazing abundance of God’s grace during this pivotal time in the history of the seminary. Yesterday, I announced to our community that June 30, 2024 will bring my Presidency at Asbury to a close. This will mark fifteen years of serving this beloved ministry. It is a well-rehearsed point of history, which we as Wesleyans love to tell, that John Wesley and Francis Asbury both traveled 250,000 miles on horseback to spread scriptural holiness in their day. I have never ridden a single mile on horseback for Asbury, but, in the spirit of the amazing founders of our movement, I have had the privilege of traveling one million miles on airplanes in service to Asbury and the larger mission of the church. In all my travels, one of the most meaningful privileges has been that of meeting thousands of our alumni/ae all over the world. I have preached in churches on every inhabited continent, most pastored by our alumni. Asbury now offers degrees on four different continents! What a blessing this has been in my own life, and I am at awe of the grace of God towards Asbury in these years. Asbury Seminary was founded in 1923, so it has been a particular joy to bring Asbury to 2023 and the celebration of our first centennial as a “planting” of the Lord. H. C. Morrison, the founder of Asbury said back in 1923 that there was no greater need in the world today than a seminary committed to the grand depositum of Wesleyan faith: universal grace, full salvation, and the full Trinitarian vision of historic faith. This is just as true today as it was 100 years ago.
During a recent extended time of prayer, the Lord brought me to John 21 which records the third time Jesus appeared as the Risen Lord to his disciples. This is the moment when Jesus gives them a new direction in their lives. The Lord met them in the morning and told Peter to cast his net on the right side of the boat. The result was 153 fish! God gave them a new calling to serve Him, and their full apostolic ministry was launched. We don’t believe they ever fished again. Isn’t it amazing that the last day of their fishing career was the greatest day of their fishing career! But God had a new plan for them. God spoke to me and told me that the time had come for me to cast my net to a new side of the boat. I asked the Lord what was the next calling for me and he told me, “We’re not going to talk about that right now. Just abide with me and I will reveal it to you.” In July I will continue during the interim period as the Professor of World Christianity until a new President is named. I have never lost my love for teaching and forming students. I know that my calling has always involved three core things: preaching the gospel, helping to bring the gospel to those who have not heard, and training leaders for the church. I believe that my next calling will somehow involve those elements, but I do not know how or when it will fully unfold. Julie and I are still young (at least we feel like we are!) and want to dedicate at least a decade or more in full time service to the Lord. But we don’t yet know what that will be. Regardless of what my next assignment is, my love for Asbury and for the mission of Asbury remains undiminished. Serving Asbury has been God’s greatest gift to me, and I am humbled beyond words that he entrusted the stewardship of this wonderful ministry into my hands, along with countless leaders throughout Asbury whom I admire and am privileged to work with, whether Trustees, faculty, staff, our supporting friends, or alumni/ae.
I would go so far as to say that despite the blessings of God on Asbury during this season, the greatest days of Asbury still lie ahead. As the first American missionary, Adoniram Judson, famously said, “The future is as bright as the promises of God!”
As Alumni/ae, please keep the following in your daily prayers:
- Pray for our Trustees, and a healthy transition leading to God’s choice for the next President of Asbury Seminary
- Pray that God’s grace and blessing will continue to guide and flourish at Asbury Seminary.
- Pray for us (Tim and Julie), that God might clearly reveal to us what our next assignment is.
- Pray for the blessing of God on the wider Wesleyan movement, which is so needed in our day.
Thank you so much for the joy of these fifteen years walking together!
Timothy Tennent
Thank you, President Tennent, for your years of fruitful service to ATS! We are praying for you as you discern God’s calling for the next chapter of your ministry. The peace of Christ to you!
Thank you for your faithful service to God and to His people – your influence will long remain within the ATS community.
YOU HAVE BEEN ON MY DAILY PRAYER LIST ALONG WITH YOUR COHORTS SINCE YOU ARRIVED. BLESSINGS ON YOUR FUTURE!
With sadness I greet the news of the closing of Dr. Tennent’s Presidency. He has served so effectively and winsomely. My sadness is trumped by joy in knowing that as Tim came to his decision through the guidance of Scripture and Prayer, he will “wait” expectantly on the Lord ‘til the next GO comes. And as he is obedient to that call blessings for the Church and Kimgdom will come. I will guard myself against praying selfishly, because I am already imagining wonderful ways I see him serving.
Tim, you have left an amazing mark on ATS and the worldwide communion of saints. I speak for many who are so grateful for your gifts and willingness to serve our Lord in this way. We are better because of your 15 years with us. Thank you!
Dr. Tennent, you have left an indelible mark upon Asbury that will continue to impact the world until that glorious morning when the dead in Christ will rise. Thank you for serving and I can hardly wait to see where God is leading you.
Your service to Asbury has been God’s greatest gift to us, the alumni. I am so grateful that I had a chance to follow your presidency as an alumna and I am humbled beyond words what God entrusted to you and how Asbury changed on so many levels. I am sad, yet truly grateful for your’s and Julie’s ministry to us!
Dr. Tennent has been a gift from God to the Asbury Theological Seminary extended community. His devotion to Jesus Christ and the stated mission of ATS has inspired both confidence and conviction in the core values and theological foundation of our beloved seminary. His demeanor in leadership, articulation of the faith we hold so dearly, integrity of life all radiate the very principles H. C. Morrison envisioned for all of us. I give thanks to God in every remembrance of you and pray lead on King eternal.
From our time together in Georgia over thirty years ago, your life and ministry have been a superlative inspiration to me and my ministry. Today my heart overflows with praise to God for His investment of your remarkable leadership in my alma mater the last fifteen years! My prayers for your future.
Waw, we will forever thank God for you and your family and for your time in Asbury. Asbury still remains the place for building Godly leaders for his church.
God bless you for all your contributions and be assured of our continued prayers for you all.