ABOUT GRACE BIBLICAL SEMINARY

OUR REASON FOR EXISTENCE IS CLEAR

“To Trust Christ, To Live Christ, To Communicate Christ”

Our Mission

GBS is a catalyst and resource center for the Free Grace community. We offer advanced training for strategic ministry roles. Our unique approach involves biblically based programs and ministry partnerships with like-minded pastors, teachers, Christian leaders, and their churches.

Our Purpose

GBS is unwaveringly committed to training, educating, and equipping the body of Christ for a lifetime of productive service to the Lord Jesus Christ and His Church. We affirm the Bible’s authority, classical free grace soteriology and dispensational theology, and the integration of faith, learning, and ministry.

Our Vision

GBS has a bold vision to partner with pastors, missionaries, evangelists, church leaders, and their churches to advance the gospel of grace and train faithful believers for various vocational and volunteer church-oriented ministries locally and worldwide.

OUR HISTORY

Grace Biblical Seminary is a private, non-denominational institution of higher theological education governed by a dedicated Board of Trustees. The Seminary was founded by Dr. Michael D. Halsey and Dr. William R. (Rick) Whitmire. Twenty-three students met for the Fall Semester of 2004 at a small Church (Hampton, GA), where Dr. Mike Halsey served as pastor.



Today, GBS has more than 200 students worldwide.

Grace Biblical Seminary & Bible Institute was formerly known as Free Grace Seminary (2004) and Grace Biblical Seminary (2013). Our name changed to Grace Biblical Seminary & Bible Institute in September 2024.

Tom Eckman,

Professor of Biblical Languages and Bible Exposition

Th.D. (ABD), Grace Biblical Seminary

Th.M., Grace Biblical Seminary

M.Div., Capital Bible Seminary

B.A., M.A., Criswell College

Postgraduate Studies in linguistics and grammar theory, University of Texas at Arlington

Lance W. Edminster, President

Professor of Bible Exposition and Systematic Theology

D.B.S., Grace Biblical Seminary

M.A., Bethel University

Graduate Studies; Calvary University

B.A., University of Minnesota/Duluth

Butch Entrekin, Academic Dean

Professor of Missiology and Christian Education

D.Min., Grace Biblical Seminary

M.Div., Grace Biblical Seminary

M.T.S., Grace Biblical Seminary

Th.B., Atlanta Baptist College

Michael D. Halsey, Distinguished Professor

Professor of Bible Exposition and Systematic Theology

Th.D., Grace Biblical Seminary

D.Min., Dallas Theological Seminary

Th.M., Dallas Theological Seminary

B.A., Texas Tech University

Al Van Lengen,

Professor of Biblical Studies

Traveling Instructor, Guaimaca & Oropoli, El Paraiso, Honduras

D.B.S., Grace Biblical Seminary

M.T.S., Grace Biblical Seminary

M.S., Georgia State University

B.S., Troy State University

Kathrine Van Lengen,

Associate Professor of Women’s Studies

M.T.S., Grace Biblical Seminary

M.S., Georgia State University

B.A., Emory University

William R. (Rick) Whitmire, Chancellor

Professor of Evangelism and Biblical Theology

D.Min., Grace Biblical Seminary

M.Div., Grace Biblical Seminary

M.T.S., Grace Biblical Seminary

B.S., Liberty University

Florida Bible College, Hollywood Alumni

Dr. Michael D. Halsey, 

Teacher, Hangar Bible Fellowship (Locust Grove, GA)

William R. (Rick) Whitmire

Chancellor

OUR TRUSTEES

Dr. Tom Eckman

Dr. Lance W. Edminster

Dr. Butch Entrekin

Dr. William R. (Rick) Whitmire 

OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Dr. William R. (Rick) Whitmire

Dr. Lance W. Edminster, President

Dr. Butch Entrekin, Academic Dean