Voices: Letter from a Logsdon Seminary student

When I received the news of the new changes Logsdon Seminary would face, my heart broke. I remember at the same time there was a feeling of hope, that same feeling professors always planted in my heart.

I also remembered at that moment what I said to my daughters some time ago: “When you grow up and can help with resources to an educational institution, never forget Logsdon. They have helped us to be where we are.”

They did not say many words. I knew their answers in their smiles and in the brightness of their eyes.

My introduction to Logsdon Seminary

Logsdon is the place I met four years ago in San Antonio. I was studying in a university there, and one day in one of the halls, I saw a person promoting the seminary programs, Dr. Goodman. He spoke to me with such passion about Logsdon that I began the admission process with them.

Months later, Vicki Hollon, minister of older adults at Trinity Baptist Church, showed me a large place within the church where the seminary would be. I could see in her vision, and that of the church, the impact this would bring to leaders and pastors from San Antonio and surrounding cities. Her joy with which she shared what the church and Logsdon were going to create together showed me the purpose it would bring to join forces to impact generations. Those facilities were a reality sometime later.

When I was in one of my first classes, I was surprised how one of my professors, Dr. Weems, was more interested in my growth as a person than in the weaknesses I saw in me. His knowledge and compassionate look showed me what my journey would be through the seminary, and so it has been through the years with each professor and staff at Logsdon.

Logsdon vision and legacy

Just one year ago, Feb. 7, 2019, I interviewed Mrs. Rosa Lee Hemphill, the step-daughter of Koreen Logsdon Hemphill. She emphasized the purpose for which Charles Logsdon donated resources to Logsdon Seminary.

She said that Charles Logsdon and her sister worked to support Hardin-Simmons, giving money, being in committees and things like that. Charles served as a trustee. As a trustee, he became concerned about the “young preacher boys.” He became interested in the preacher boys and wanted to do something to help them. He was starting to give his money to Hardin-Simmons to start the seminary and to help the preacher boys in their education, but he became ill and passed away.

Though he didn’t see a building, Koreen was aware he wanted to give his money to Hardin-Simmons to preacher boys, and so, she carried out his dream of helping ministry students.

My gratitude and love for Logsdon

For leaders, pastors and servants who take the form of professors, staff who serve with their lives and students who take the path of service, it is difficult to understand the weight of a decision.

Maybe we can go back and remember with gratitude what the institution did for us to make us better people, servants and apprentices who proudly will bear the name of an institution that not only changed the path of many of us for good, a seminary with love for serving us no matter what our nation is, our language or what we carry in our pockets. They loved us for who we are and for what they saw in us.

I will always carry Logsdon in my heart.

Javier Vargas is a senior student in the Master of Arts in Family Ministry and in Clinical Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy at Logsdon Seminary. Javier has dedicated his career to helping others through ministry, compassion and advocacy at Area Agency on Aging of West Central Texas as a volunteer Ombudsman. He currently serves as a counselor intern at McMurry University. Vargas has provided Spanish translations of articles published in the Baptist Standard. The views expressed are those solely of the author.