Growing up in Mendenhall, Mississippi, Scottye Holloway (ThM, 1991) never heard about Dallas Theological Seminary. When a DTS graduate interviewed for a youth pastor position in the little Mississippi town, Scottye was fascinated by the graduate’s description of the seminary in Dallas. In that small interaction, the Lord planted a seed of calling.
But Scottye had other plans. Beyond the logistical nightmare of seminary, he was intimidated by the thought of speaking in front of others and the arduous reading made more difficult by his dyslexia. Like Jacob in the book of Genesis, Scottye wrestled against the Lord.
After a year of this spiritual struggle, Scottye surrendered and left behind the little Mississippi town and traveled to Dallas. Scottye became a ThM student in pastoral ministries. After graduation, Scottye again wrestled with his calling—he had taken the step of faith to move to Dallas. Why was the Lord calling him to go back to where it all started?
In the 1960s, a man named John Perkins started a ministry aimed at sharing the love and life of Christ among those facing poverty in central Mississippi. This soon grew into The Mendenhall Ministries, an interconnected web of programs. After DTS, Scottye moved back to Mendenhall to serve with the ministry Perkins started.
Now, years later, Scottye Holloway serves the president of The Mendenhall Ministries, cultivating the community of Mendenhall for the glory of Christ.
Scottye takes the Lord’s words in Luke 4:19-19 seriously: “the spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoner and the recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
The Mendenhall Ministries does not preach in a revolving door. Scottye and his team see the value of wholistic ministry—serving the entire person spiritually, physically, emotionally, psychologically, and financially. They live among those they serve and work to eliminate the impact of poverty through several ministries.
The Genesis One Christian School offers Christian education to those who would not otherwise be able to afford a private education. In conjunction with the school, the ministry offers summer enrichment and youth leadership programs to instruct soft skills and stewardship principles.
Their health clinic has seen over 500,000 visitors, offering a sliding pay scale for those who cannot afford insurance yet face stark medical needs. The ministry also has a 120-acre farm that offers fresh food and the R.A. Buckley Christian Center, a recreation center that has become a staple in the community. Another critical ministry is Harper Village, a HUD-subsidized apartment complex for individuals 62 and over with an income of less than $16,000.
When Scottye looks back at his wrestling, he remembers the Lord’s faithfulness to him.
I cherish my time at Dallas Theological Seminary. The professors that I had modeled trained heads and consecrated hearts. God used this place to change my life.