GENERAL INFO
STS Texas is located in the beautiful rolling hills of Texas, just minutes from the campus of Texas A&M and all that College Station, Texas has to offer. STS Texas meets on the campus of Emmanuel Baptist Church (Bryan, TX), existing as a partnership between the local church body and Shepherds Theological Seminary. Shepherds is responsible for all academic instruction, and Emmanuel Baptist Church provides a local church setting for discipleship, community, mentoring, and service.
Students at STS Texas will experience both live instruction from our dedicated faculty and highly interactive video conferencing into classes being taught at other STS campuses.
Our programs are built on the belief that living out the Word of God through the power of The Spirit changes the lives of students and those they will minister to for the rest of their lives. Our doctrine comes from the Word of God and it forms the basis for our theological distinctiveness as well as our curriculum and education. Click here for the full STS Doctrinal Statement.
All of our degree programs are accredited by The Association of Theological Schools (ATS). Click here for more information about our accreditation status.
STUDENT LIFE
STS Texas seeks to create a thriving student life for students during their time in seminary. Discipleship is foundational to our philosophy and we seek to offer personal mentorship for our students. Participants in STS’s One-Year Masters Program are invited to participate in regular seminary-family meals along with retreat and events to build community in a life-on-life setting.
Additionally, Through our partnership with the Brazos Valley Baptist Network, students have the unique opportunity at STS Texas to participate in the Local Church Health Cohort. Students who opt to participate in this program will receive additional training on small church ministry and receive hands-on experience in local church plants and revitalizations.
FINANCIAL AID THROUGH STS
We understand the financial obstacles that often hinder students from pursuing seminary. Yet we have also seen the faithful of God to provide for our students countless times. We invite you to reach out so we can discuss any financial barriers you may have. Additionally, we have launched the “Adopt-a-Student” initiative which allows donors to contribute towards students’ tuition in order to offset the cost.
Financial aid comes in many varieties: seminary scholarships and grants, private loans, and veterans’ benefits. One of our primary goals is stewardship and making sure students do not take on more debt than they can realistically handle. All financial aid is administered through Shepherds Theological Seminary. Follow the links below to get more information.
STAFF
Thomas Baber
Director of STS Texas
Dr. Thomas Baber is on the Board of Directors for STS and directs the Texas Teaching Site in Bryan, Texas. He has served as Pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church since 2006. When he is not in the pulpit at Emmanuel, he can often be found training pastors and supporting seminaries in Africa and Latin America.
Thomas, a native of Los Alamos, NM, married his wife, Nancy, in 1994. They have had many adventures in Texas and California raising their six children and balancing an engineering firm and ministry work. Thomas’s interests include hermeneutics, systematic theology, pastoral ministry, theological libraries, gardening, cycling, Biblical study trips, and grilling burgers for the men of the church.
John Davis
Assistant Director of STS Texas
John is currently a Master of Divinity student at STS and intends on pursing pastoral ministry after his graduation in 2026. In addition to serving with STS Texas, John is the young adult minister at Emmanuel Baptist Church. John enjoys the teaching the Bible, working with his hands, and being outdoors. He is married to his wife Beth and they have two young children, Ellie and Charlie.
Nancy Baber
Women’s Discipleship Coordinator
Nancy Baber is a 2025 graduate of STS. She has also been a pastor’s wife at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Bryan, Texas since 2006. She and Thomas, her husband of over 30 years, have six children, with three married and three in college. In addition to being a busy mom and shepherding the women of Emmanuel, she excited about strengthening the STS Texas Teaching Site.
Josh Storey
Recruiter
Josh is a current student in the STS Texas One Year Master of Theological Studies program, with the intention of pursuing overseas missions. He graduated from Texas A&M Mays Business School with a BBA in Accounting August of 2024 and attends Redeemer Baptist Church. In his free time, Josh enjoys hunting, fishing, and reading books.