By Gary D. Myers

NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Chuck Kelley announced the appointment of three faculty members during the fall trustee meeting Oct. 13.

Two of the men, Ian Jones and Damian Emetuche, are part growing number of international-born professors at NOBTS. Jones was born in Australia and spent his formative years in Malaysia and Australia. Emetuche, the first African faculty member at NOBTS, is Nigerian. The faculty now includes Korean-born Deok Jae Lee; Jake Roudkovski, born in Kazakhstan; and Cuban-born David Lema. Kelley said these men are bringing a "global voice" to the seminary's faculty and provide a richer learning experience for students.

Ian Jones, appointed to serve as professor of psychology and counseling, brings a wealth of teaching and counseling experience to NOBTS. He holds two doctor of philosophy degrees -- one from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a second from the University of North Texas. Jones also earned two master’s degrees at SWBTS.

Jones comes to NOBTS from Southwestern where he taught since 1997. Before joining the SWBTS faculty, Jones served for 12 years on the faculty of Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas.

Following the Sept. 15, 1999, shooting at Wedgewood Baptist Church in Ft. Worth, Jones was called on the counsel the survivors. During the shooting, a gunman killed seven people and wounded many others. Research gleaned from his personal experience with this tragedy is included in his book The Counsel of Heaven: Foundations for Biblical Christian Counseling.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Ian Jones to our psychology and counseling faculty,” said Kathy Steele, associate professor of psychology and counseling. “Dr. Jones brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of Christian counseling to our program, as well as an established reputation among evangelicals. He adds to the growing richness of an international presence and world view for our students.”

Jones will occupy the Baptist Community Ministries Chair of Pastoral Counseling.

Emetuche, appointed to serve as assistant professor of church planting and as director of the seminary’s Day Center for Church Planting, comes to NOBTS as a joint appointment with the North American Mission Board. He will lead the Nehemiah Project at NOBTS. The Nehemiah Project church planting initiative places a NAMB-approved professor at each of the six Southern Baptist seminaries.

Though born in Nigeria, Emetuche has served as a NAMB church planter in Ohio and Washington. Before coming to the United States, he served as a pastor in Nigeria and a missionary and church planter in Ivory Coast. He speaks English, French and Igbo.

Emetuche earned a bachelor of theology and master of theology degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary's Nigerian campus and then completed a doctor of philosophy degree in missions and cultural anthropology from Southern Seminary.

"I am very excited that God has brought Dr. Emetuche to this role," said Ken Weathersby, vice president of NAMB's church planting group. "His personal background and his Ph.D. in cultural anthropology have made him well equipped for the challenges of church planting. It helps him understand the diversity and complexity of our land and he knows that our church planting efforts must take on many forms and approaches, while always lifting up Christ as the one and only means to the salvation our land so desperately needs."

Emetuche will occupy the Cecil B. Day Chair of Church Planting.

The third appointee, Christopher Turner, serves as assistant professor of voice. Turner earned bachelor of music and master of music degrees at Mississippi College in Clinton, Miss. This year Turner completed a doctor of musical arts degree with emphasis in vocal performance at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

Currently serving as the minister of music at First Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Turner has 15 years of experience in local church music ministry. Turner taught at NOBTS as an adjunct professor during the 2009-2010 school year and gained classroom experience as a graduate teaching assistant at LSU from 2006 to 2009.

Kelley also announced the following faculty appointments:

- Allen England as director of doctor of educational ministry program;
- Jerry Pounds as acting chair of Christian education division;
- Reggie Ogea to the Perry Sanders Chair for Pastoral Leadership;
- Lloyd Harsch to the Cooperative Program Chair of SBC Studies;
- Steve Lemke to the McFarland Chair of Theology;
- Kathy Steele to the James H. and E. Brown Chair of Christian Counseling.

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