Origin Of ETSPM
East Tennessee School of Preaching and Missions (ETSPM) was chartered by the state of Tennessee in 1971.
The school is operated under the oversight of the elders of the Karns Church of Christ. ETSPM is, therefore, a work of the church itself. The scriptural basis for such a school is found in passages such as II Timothy 2:2, "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." The Karns church is sound in doctrine and dedicated to evangelism.
Many congregations and individuals cooperate with Karns in providing financial support for the operation of the school. We are thankful that brethren have awakened to the responsibility of the church itself to train preachers. Many communities need churches, and many churches need preachers. ETSPM serves as a tool to meet these needs. It is because of the generous support and cooperation of many that ETSPM can provide quality education without charging tuition.
While ETSPM is a work of the church, its program and curriculum are parallel to what would be found in colleges. The educational advantages are equal to, or superior to, that of similar schools or colleges.