Mike Wilkinson serves as associate professor of theology, where he teaches a little bit of everything, but mostly in the areas of theology and church history. Though he loves all aspects of systematic and historical theology, Dr. Wilkinson’s primary interests include the doctrines of Scripture, the Atonement, and Ecclesiology. For Church History, his main interests are the Reformation, particularly early sixteenth century Anabaptism, and Baptist History. Dr. Wilkinson’s dissertation, A Necessary Smelting: Leonhard Schiemer’s Theology of Suffering, addresses the significant contribution of Leonhard Schiemer, an early sixteenth century Austrian Anabaptist leader martyred for his faith. Dr. Wilkinson’s paper “Suffering the Cross,” an essay on Leonhard Schiemer’s theology of suffering, will be included in the upcoming The Anabaptists and Contemporary Baptists, the Festschrift for Dr. Paige Patterson. Dr. Wilkinson’s current research interest centers on the importance of the sufficiency of Scripture as the foundation, content, and pattern for effective local church ministry. Also of research interest is the examination of early Anabaptism’s use and understanding of the written Word of God.

Prior to coming to Southwestern to teach, Dr. Wilkinson invested 22 years serving on the staff of three great churches—Geyer Springs First Baptist in Little Rock, AR, Central Baptist in Bryan/College Station, TX, and First Baptist in Rockwall, TX. For seventeen of these years he served as a Single Adult Pastor, where he learned the meaning of Scripture’s sufficiency in ministering to some very challenging circumstances. For most of these years Dr. Wilkinson also doubled as a Missions Pastor. In addition, he has a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and loves baseball, keeping a glove in his office for anyone who needs to toss a ball around.