Meet Our Late Director BILL VINSON Dr. Bill Vinson became the director of Seminary Extension in Nashville, Tennessee in 2001. Before that he had earned a Ph.D. in Theology with minors in Philosophy of Religion and Church History at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas and had been teaching at Southwestern and directing its Undergraduate and Lay Theological Studies Department. He created a multi-course series on discipleship. Each course was incorporated into a single book. Thus the name Classroom in a Book Discipleship Series. Each course is designed for independent study with no time limitations. Over his years of teaching these courses on 4Disciples he did so to benefit the disciples to the fullest. There are no unit tests or papers required. We have developed these courses for delivery by Internet download. They are designed to be independent study at your own pace. They have also been designed to guide you, so that you may teach them to your church, Bible study class, or small group. May God sustain us all in our studies during this time, and may He bless you with knowledge and understanding which will enhance your pilgrimage. MORE RECENTLY ABOUT DR. WILLIAM EDWARD VINSON August 23, 1941 - July 18, 2025 FORT WORTH - Dr. William Edward "Bill" Vinson, Jr., age 83, of Fort Worth, Texas, was called home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on the morning of July 18, 2025. Bill was a devoted servant of God, known for his friendliness, strength of faith, and evangelism. He touched countless lives through his service at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, as director of Seminary Extension, and as the director of the 4Disciples online ministry after his retirement, where he continued freely to teach all interested in being disciples of Jesus Christ until his passing. Born on August 23, 1941, in Palatka, Florida, Bill confessed Christ and was baptized at Lemon Heights Baptist Church in his teenage years. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1964 and worked for Southern Railroad for more than a decade, but then moved his family, including his wife Kathryn and three children, to Texas, where he attended Southwestern. Vinson completed his Master of Divinity in 1981 and Doctorate in 1987. While still a student, he began to serve the institution as a teaching assistant and then an adjunct professor, before being elected to the faculty in 1999. He would serve as director of Southwestern's department of undergraduate and lay theological studies. Starting in 1984, Vinson began teaching classes for the Seminary Extension, a ministry of the Council of Seminary Presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention that provides ministers and lay persons with the opportunity to take classes from home. Vinson also served as pastor of the house church Freedom Baptist Fellowship beginning in 1995. From 2001 to his retirement in 2007, Vinson was the executive director of Seminary Extension and played a key role in offering classes on the internet and not just via CD. "Bill Vinson and I were classmates at Southwestern more than four decades ago," Southwestern President David S. Dockery recalled. "He was a faithful follower of Christ, who invested deeply in the lives of Southwesterners, always with a desire to serve the seminary and the churches well." Upon his retirement in 2007, he co-founded the 4Disciples online ministry, which he directed, and gave graciouly of his time and teaching. He freely offered his instruction, books, experiences, and life to teaching people what it means to be disciples of his Lord Jesus Christ. Dr. Bill Vinson set an example for us all by following the Lord’s sacrificial kenotic walk found in Philippians 2:1-11 until he entered eternal glory with his Lord. "Well done, thou good and faithful servant... enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." - Matt. 25:21

Meet Our Late Director BILL VINSON Dr. Bill Vinson became the director of Seminary Extension in Nashville, Tennessee in 2001. Before that he had earned a Ph.D. in Theology with minors in Philosophy of Religion and Church History at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas and had been teaching at Southwestern and directing its Undergraduate and Lay Theological Studies Department. He created a multi-course series on discipleship. Each course was incorporated into a single book. Thus the name Classroom in a Book Discipleship Series. Each course is designed for independent study with no time limitations. Over his years of teaching these courses on 4Disciples he did so to benefit the disciples to the fullest. There are no unit tests or papers required. We have developed these courses for delivery by Internet download. They are designed to be independent study at your own pace. They have also been designed to guide you, so that you may teach them to your church, Bible study class, or small group. May God sustain us all in our studies during this time, and may He bless you with knowledge and understanding which will enhance your pilgrimage. MORE RECENTLY ABOUT DR. WILLIAM EDWARD VINSON August 23, 1941 - July 18, 2025 FORT WORTH - Dr. William Edward "Bill" Vinson, Jr., age 83, of Fort Worth, Texas, was called home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on the morning of July 18, 2025. Bill was a devoted servant of God, known for his friendliness, strength of faith, and evangelism. He touched countless lives through his service at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, as director of Seminary Extension, and as the director of the 4Disciples online ministry after his retirement, where he continued freely to teach all interested in being disciples of Jesus Christ until his passing. Born on August 23, 1941, in Palatka, Florida, Bill confessed Christ and was baptized at Lemon Heights Baptist Church in his teenage years. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1964 and worked for Southern Railroad for more than a decade, but then moved his family, including his wife Kathryn and three children, to Texas, where he attended Southwestern. Vinson completed his Master of Divinity in 1981 and Doctorate in 1987. While still a student, he began to serve the institution as a teaching assistant and then an adjunct professor, before being elected to the faculty in 1999. He would serve as director of Southwestern's department of undergraduate and lay theological studies. Starting in 1984, Vinson began teaching classes for the Seminary Extension, a ministry of the Council of Seminary Presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention that provides ministers and lay persons with the opportunity to take classes from home. Vinson also served as pastor of the house church Freedom Baptist Fellowship beginning in 1995. From 2001 to his retirement in 2007, Vinson was the executive director of Seminary Extension and played a key role in offering classes on the internet and not just via CD. "Bill Vinson and I were classmates at Southwestern more than four decades ago," Southwestern President David S. Dockery recalled. "He was a faithful follower of Christ, who invested deeply in the lives of Southwesterners, always with a desire to serve the seminary and the churches well." Upon his retirement in 2007, he co-founded the 4Disciples online ministry, which he directed, and gave graciouly of his time and teaching. He freely offered his instruction, books, experiences, and life to teaching people what it means to be disciples of his Lord Jesus Christ. Dr. Bill Vinson set an example for us all by following the Lord’s sacrificial kenotic walk found in Philippians 2:1-11 until he entered eternal glory with his Lord. "Well done, thou good and faithful servant... enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." - Matt. 25:21

Meet Our Late Director BILL VINSON Dr. Bill Vinson became the director of Seminary Extension in Nashville, Tennessee in 2001. Before that he had earned a Ph.D. in Theology with minors in Philosophy of Religion and Church History at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas and had been teaching at Southwestern and directing its Undergraduate and Lay Theological Studies Department. He created a multi-course series on discipleship. Each course was incorporated into a single book. Thus the name Classroom in a Book Discipleship Series. Each course is designed for independent study with no time limitations. Over his years of teaching these courses on 4Disciples he did so to benefit the disciples to the fullest. There are no unit tests or papers required. We have developed these courses for delivery by Internet download. They are designed to be independent study at your own pace. They have also been designed to guide you, so that you may teach them to your church, Bible study class, or small group. May God sustain us all in our studies during this time, and may He bless you with knowledge and understanding which will enhance your pilgrimage. MORE RECENTLY ABOUT DR. WILLIAM EDWARD VINSON August 23, 1941 - July 18, 2025 FORT WORTH - Dr. William Edward "Bill" Vinson, Jr., age 83, of Fort Worth, Texas, was called home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on the morning of July 18, 2025. Bill was a devoted servant of God, known for his friendliness, strength of faith, and evangelism. He touched countless lives through his service at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, as director of Seminary Extension, and as the director of the 4Disciples online ministry after his retirement, where he continued freely to teach all interested in being disciples of Jesus Christ until his passing. Born on August 23, 1941, in Palatka, Florida, Bill confessed Christ and was baptized at Lemon Heights Baptist Church in his teenage years. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1964 and worked for Southern Railroad for more than a decade, but then moved his family, including his wife Kathryn and three children, to Texas, where he attended Southwestern. Vinson completed his Master of Divinity in 1981 and Doctorate in 1987. While still a student, he began to serve the institution as a teaching assistant and then an adjunct professor, before being elected to the faculty in 1999. He would serve as director of Southwestern's department of undergraduate and lay theological studies. Starting in 1984, Vinson began teaching classes for the Seminary Extension, a ministry of the Council of Seminary Presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention that provides ministers and lay persons with the opportunity to take classes from home. Vinson also served as pastor of the house church Freedom Baptist Fellowship beginning in 1995. From 2001 to his retirement in 2007, Vinson was the executive director of Seminary Extension and played a key role in offering classes on the internet and not just via CD. "Bill Vinson and I were classmates at Southwestern more than four decades ago," Southwestern President David S. Dockery recalled. "He was a faithful follower of Christ, who invested deeply in the lives of Southwesterners, always with a desire to serve the seminary and the churches well." Upon his retirement in 2007, he co-founded the 4Disciples online ministry, which he directed, and gave graciouly of his time and teaching. He freely offered his instruction, books, experiences, and life to teaching people what it means to be disciples of his Lord Jesus Christ. Dr. Bill Vinson set an example for us all by following the Lord’s sacrificial kenotic walk found in Philippians 2:1-11 until he entered eternal glory with his Lord. "Well done, thou good and faithful servant... enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." - Matt. 25:21

Meet Our Late Director BILL VINSON Dr. Bill Vinson became the director of Seminary Extension in Nashville, Tennessee in 2001. Before that he had earned a Ph.D. in Theology with minors in Philosophy of Religion and Church History at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas and had been teaching at Southwestern and directing its Undergraduate and Lay Theological Studies Department. He created a multi-course series on discipleship. Each course was incorporated into a single book. Thus the name Classroom in a Book Discipleship Series. Each course is designed for independent study with no time limitations. Over his years of teaching these courses on 4Disciples he made each of them to benefit the disciples to the fullest. There are no unit tests or papers required. We have developed these courses for delivery by Internet download. They are designed to be independent study at your own pace. They have also been designed to guide you, so that you may teach them to your church, Bible study class, or small group. May God sustain us all in our studies during this time, and may He bless you with knowledge and understanding which will enhance your pilgrimage. MORE RECENTLY ABOUT DR. WILLIAM EDWARD VINSON August 23, 1941 - July 18, 2025 FORT WORTH - Dr. William Edward "Bill" Vinson, Jr., age 83, of Fort Worth, Texas, was called home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on the morning of July 18, 2025. Bill was a devoted servant of God, known for his friendliness, strength of faith, and evangelism. He touched countless lives through his service at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, as director of Seminary Extension, and as the director of the 4Disciples online ministry after his retirement, where he continued freely to teach all interested in being disciples of Jesus Christ until his passing. Born on August 23, 1941, in Palatka, Florida, Bill confessed Christ and was baptized at Lemon Heights Baptist Church in his teenage years. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1964 and worked for Southern Railroad for more than a decade, but then moved his family, including his wife Kathryn and three children, to Texas, where he attended Southwestern. Vinson completed his Master of Divinity in 1981 and Doctorate in 1987. While still a student, he began to serve the institution as a teaching assistant and then an adjunct professor, before being elected to the faculty in 1999. He would serve as director of Southwestern's department of undergraduate and lay theological studies. Starting in 1984, Vinson began teaching classes for the Seminary Extension, a ministry of the Council of Seminary Presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention that provides ministers and lay persons with the opportunity to take classes from home. Vinson also served as pastor of the house church Freedom Baptist Fellowship beginning in 1995. From 2001 to his retirement in 2007, Vinson was the executive director of Seminary Extension and played a key role in offering classes on the internet and not just via CD. "Bill Vinson and I were classmates at Southwestern more than four decades ago," Southwestern President David S. Dockery recalled. "He was a faithful follower of Christ, who invested deeply in the lives of Southwesterners, always with a desire to serve the seminary and the churches well." Upon his retirement in 2007, he co-founded the 4Disciples online ministry, which he directed, and gave graciouly of his time and teaching. He freely offered his instruction, books, experiences, and life to teaching people what it means to be disciples of his Lord Jesus Christ. Dr. Bill Vinson set an example for us all by following the Lord’s sacrificial kenotic walk found in Philippians 2:1-11 until he entered eternal glory with his Lord. "Well done, thou good and faithful servant... enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." - Matt. 25:21