Perfecting God’s Jewels for Every Facet of the Ministry
Stop sending away your church’s most valuable resource
Beth Haven Baptist Seminary is a ministry of Beth Haven Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, OK. We are local and independent in belief and practice. There is no board of directors, no delegation of churches, or governing party that makes decisions about the operations of this seminary other than Beth Haven Baptist Church. The church’s Pastor is the President of the School, and the Vice President, David Frauenhofer, is a member at Beth Haven Baptist church.
Accreditation
Beth Haven Baptist Seminary is legally authorized to operate in Oklahoma and is in compliance with State Regents’ Policy. BHBS is not accredited under rules promulgated and adopted by the Oklahoma State Board of Regents for Higher Education nor by any national or regional accrediting agency which is recognized by the State of Oklahoma or the U.S. Department of Education.
BHBS does not grant degrees per se, but does award diplomas for completion of Undergraduate, Graduate and Post Graduate courses of study. Transfer of courses from BHBS to other colleges or universities is at the discretion of the receiving institution.
It is the position of this college that quality training that is both godly and practical can be provided to students who desire to attend BHBS without the need for academic oversight from any accrediting agencies. Unfortunately, spiritual mandates often collide with society’s expectations in the area of academics and training; therefore, BHBS chooses to maintain its credibility and its commitment to excellence by continuing to stand true to the dictates of the Word of God rather than following after “man’s approval.”
Facilities
On-site seminary students use the facilities of Beth Haven Baptist Church. We are blessed to have a beautiful seven acres on which we are developing our seminary campus.
We moved into the R. M. Hays Biblical Counseling Center with new state-of-the-art classrooms, counseling rooms, offices, library, and living facilities in March of 2017.
Student Living
Housing – Currently BHBS does not have dormitory facilities for on-campus living. However, we do work with nearby apartment complexes to help students come together and rent apartment spaces.
Employment – Oklahoma City is a vibrant, bustling city with lots of job opportunities. Since BHBS holds classes during the evenings, student are able to keep a full time, day job to support themselves and their families.
Our History
The burden to open a school to train preachers and missionaries was put on the heart of the school’s first president, Dr. Ivan G. Casteel, in the mid-1980’s. At this time facilities were not available for him to proceed with this endeavor, so he continued to pray that God would open the door in His time. In the summer of 1988, Dr. Casteel was sent out of Maranatha Baptist Church in Newcastle, Oklahoma to start Beth Haven Baptist Church.
In 1994 Dr. Richard M. Hays became a member of Beth Haven Baptist Church. Together he and Dr. Casteel attended a conference where Bro. Hays was the main speaker. His topic was Biblical Counseling. At this time there were not any other Independent Fundamental Baptist Biblical Counselors. Dr. Hays’ time could only be stretched so far to help those in need of this ministry, and he was being requested by other pastors to move to their area for help. At the close of the conference, Dr. Casteel discussed opening a school to train others with Dr. Hays.
In the spring of 1996, Beth Haven Bible Institute and Biblical Counselor’s Seminary opened for its first semester. In October of 2008 Dr. Rick Carter Jr. became pastor of Beth Haven Baptist Church and the president of the school. In 2017, we opened our first facility to house the school, providing designated class rooms and additional counseling offices as well as lodging facilities for counselees that come from out of town. Since Pastor Carter has become the President, the school has changed its name to Beth Haven Baptist Seminary. The goal of the school from the beginning has been to prepare men and women for the ministry God has called them to do. Through the classes offered on site at the school and the extension of our correspondence program, many have been and continue to be trained all over the world.
In August of 2011 the school moved from Institute status to full Bible Seminary, standardizing the semesters and expanding the curriculum. The name was changed to Beth Haven Baptist Seminary.
What We Believe
For a comprehensive Statement of Faith, please see our online catalog.
Staff
I was raised in a very strong Church Planter’s home, yet I struggled with my salvation for many years. After I graduated from high school I had my plans for my future but they did not include serving God. My Father asked me to attend one year of Bible College and I agreed to do so. While at Bible College I took a personal evangelism class that really shook me up. I had made professions of faith, but in doing so I was always trying to get out of trouble with my parents. I realized I was making professions of faith to please people and not because I believed I was a sinner before a holy God.
Just a couple of months into my freshmen year I was miserable. I knew I was lost but I didn’t want anyone else to know it. During a revival meeting at Southwest Baptist Church in OKC, OK, God turned up the pressure on me, but I refused to walk the aisle. After the service on November 3rd , 2000 I had to ride the college bus back to campus from the church. The people riding with me kept singing “It Is Well With My Soul”. I sat there miserable knowing things were not well in my soul. When I stepped off the bus back on campus I found my roommate who was a senior and talked with him. That night by the grace of God I got saved. Not because I wanted to please men but because I finally realized I was a sinner and I needed forgiveness from a great Savior.
After graduation, God allowed us to serve at Lighthouse Baptist Church in Mustang, OK, serving with my parents, Rick and Eunice Carter. God moved us to the Northwest to pastor Bellingham Baptist Church of Bellingham, WA. In September of 2022, Beth Haven Baptist Church called us to pastor here in Oklahoma City. We are excited to see what God has in store!
His Message
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.”
Bro. Dave Frauenhofer was saved in April of 1980 while serving in the military and called into ministry shortly thereafter. Upon completion of Bible College, he served as teacher and administrator at Temple Christian Academy. In 1992, the Lord led him to Russia and Hungary, where he planted and helped plant 3 churches. In 2009, the Lord led Bro. Frauenhofer to teach and develop the missions curricula at Florida Baptist College in Tampa. While there he assisted the Academic Dean and became the Dean of Students. After helping recover a struggling church, he came to Beth Haven in January of 2019.
His Message
Hebrews 5:13,14 “For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
With the proliferation of the cults and the seemingly endless departure of churches and schools to man-centered, people-pleasing philosophies of ministry, there is a great need for the instruction of tomorrow’s leaders with the meat of God’s Word. Our goal is to lay such a solid foundation of the truths of God’s Word that each student will have their senses exercised and sharpened to immediately see and discern right from wrong and good from evil, in both doctrine and philosophy.
A ministry of Beth Haven Baptist Church since our founding in 1996.
Beth Haven Baptist Seminary has been blessed to receive the sound teaching of the Word of God through men such as Dr. Ivan Casteel and Dr. Mike Hays, and it is our responsibility to commit this to faithful people who will in turn teach others. We believe that there has never been a greater need for sound Bible preachers and Biblical Counselors than there is right now.
As a church, Beth Haven is making a great investment into the future of BHBS as it continually makes investments of time and money. We believe in the purpose and mission of this ministry and are praying for God to help us train men and women who will cover the globe with the life changing message of God’s Word.