Dwayne & Kimberly Baldwin

Biography

Serbia, a country in Eastern Europe (former Yugoslavia) has a population of 7.5 million but self-identifying Evangelicals number only about 5,000 (<0.1%). Of these, 1,500 are Baptists in about 70 churches averaging 15-25 people in attendance. In 2013, Dwayne and Kimberly Baldwin were appointed with Training Leaders International and sent by Heritage Baptist Church of Owensboro, KY to Serbia with the purpose of re-establishing the Baptist Theological School (BTS) in Novi Sad. Years ago, Baptist missionaries started BTS, but the Bible college had disintegrated structurally and theologically over time. By God’s grace, BTS re-opened in 2015 with a Bachelor’s degree program. The school continues today under national leadership and has graduated over 30 students.

BTS also established a publishing ministry and works with one of the few legal publishers in Serbia. Through this partnership, they have translated many books from English. These books serve both school and community and include titles such as Introduction to the New Testament by Carson and Moo, Nine Marks of a Healthy Church by Dever, Introduction to Ethics by Jones, and Our Triune God by Ryken. Kimberly has also authored and published a book, Moralism: Morality, A Warped Reflection.

Prompted by the need for specialized theological training and education for pastors and church leaders, Dwayne and Kimberly partnered with Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana to begin a master’s school called Akademia. It opened in August 2023 with 6 students, with the hope to equip pastors, teachers, writers, and church planters. God has blessed this endeavor beyond expectations by becoming international. Akademia currently has students from Albania and Sicily and is exploring possibilities in other countries.

The Baldwins are praying that the light of the gospel would go throughout the Balkans and into Europe as a result of Akademia, so that the borders of Christ’s kingdom will be expanded.

You may contact Dwayne and Kimberly at dbaldwin@akademia-edu.com. For information or support of the work in Serbia, you can also visit akademia-edu.com or hbcowensboro.org.