International Baptist Seminary
History and Seminary Ministry
In 1950, Baptist Mid-Missions (BMM) pioneered the Dominican Republic (DR) as the first Baptist mission board. BMM missionaries were in the DR until 1993 when the last couple retired, with the fruit from 1950-1993 being 30 churches planted. In 2007, a single BMM missionary started serving in the DR. In September of 2016 the Roys landed in the DR, and in January of 2017, their co-workers, the Peavys then arrived. So when the Roys arrived in the DR, they worked standing on the shoulders of prior missionaries and based off of their prior relationships with the Dominicans. That is why they were welcomed to work with the Dominicans upon landing there.
Upon arrival in the DR, the Roys started working in the existing institute in the one location of La Romana, which had two professors with Bible institute degrees, roughly 15-20 students, and very little academic requirements. As of their departure, there are five campuses in the DR (in Santo Domingo x 2, Hato Mayor, La Romana, and Bávaro), and in addition to that there are scattered students in a few other Dominican cities (Baní, San Cristobal, and Puerto Plata), and there is campus in Grand Rapids, MI. There now are 13 Dominican professors and 2 missionaries qualified with graduate and post-graduate studies, 60-80 students, and two rigorous undergraduate level programs in theological education.
As they leave the DR for medical reasons, the Roys leave on good terms and have taken measures to transition well out of this ministry. They have done what they could so that the seminary may continue fruitfully as the leadership baton has been passed on. The Roys are so thankful for a remarkable spirit of unity that God put in the Dominicans for this work to come together, and for the blessed years they have had serving there. It is God's doing, and to Him alone be the glory. They trust and pray that God will continue to strengthen and multiply this work for His glory, and they covet your prayers to that end.
Psalm 115:1a "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory"
Upon arrival in the DR, the Roys started working in the existing institute in the one location of La Romana, which had two professors with Bible institute degrees, roughly 15-20 students, and very little academic requirements. As of their departure, there are five campuses in the DR (in Santo Domingo x 2, Hato Mayor, La Romana, and Bávaro), and in addition to that there are scattered students in a few other Dominican cities (Baní, San Cristobal, and Puerto Plata), and there is campus in Grand Rapids, MI. There now are 13 Dominican professors and 2 missionaries qualified with graduate and post-graduate studies, 60-80 students, and two rigorous undergraduate level programs in theological education.
As they leave the DR for medical reasons, the Roys leave on good terms and have taken measures to transition well out of this ministry. They have done what they could so that the seminary may continue fruitfully as the leadership baton has been passed on. The Roys are so thankful for a remarkable spirit of unity that God put in the Dominicans for this work to come together, and for the blessed years they have had serving there. It is God's doing, and to Him alone be the glory. They trust and pray that God will continue to strengthen and multiply this work for His glory, and they covet your prayers to that end.
Psalm 115:1a "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory"