Wives Department and Schedule | Brown Trail School of Preaching

Wives Department Courses and Schedule

The Wives' Program is a vital part of the BTSOP, with classes taught on Monday nights beginning at 6:30 pm during normal school days. Because the wife's spiritual growth is a key ingredient to a preacher's success in his work in the church, participation in the wives' program is required for all wives of married men enrolled in the full-time program. Therefore, a husband is required to do everything in his power (such as providing transportation and childcare) to facilitate his wife's participation. Wives who complete the two-year program are awarded a certificate of completion at graduation. If wives wish to study alongside their husbands in the day-time program, they may apply for the Bible Class Teacher Program. Some courses designed specifically for wives that have no equivalent in the full-time program must be taken in the evening with credit substituting for another class as determined by the Executive Director.

Meet your instructors

Program Coordinator

Cheryl McIntosh

Cheryl graduated in 1983 from Tarleton State University where she earned a degree in Elementary Education. She has been a preacher's wife for thirty-five years. During that time Cheryl has taught children's classes and ladies' Bible classes in several locations. She has also accompanied her husband on numerous mission trips and has taught children's classes and seminars to the women of various congregations in Jamaica, Tanzania, and Ukraine. Cheryl has been an instructor in the Wives’ Program at Brown Trail since 2009 and has served as its Program Coordinator since 2011. She and her husband, Pat, have been married since 1980; they have three children and four grandchildren.

Instructor

Kathy Carroll

Kathy received a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from Abilene Christian University (1989) and a Master of Science in Educational Psychology from Texas A & M University (1993). Prior to motherhood she worked six years in Texas public schools teaching mathematics and computer science. After happily home schooling her own two children, she returned to the classroom to join the adjunct faculty at Tarrant County College in their Math Department. Kathy has been an elder’s wife since her husband took on that role at Brown Trail in 2012. She enjoys teaching children, teen girls, and women. She hosts weekly Bible studies and continues to teach for various classes, retreats, camps, and ladies’ days. Kathy has taught in the Wives’ Program at Brown Trail since 1999, having served several of those years as its Program Coordinator (2002-2005). She and her husband, Kevin, have been married since 1988 and have two children.

Instructor

Stephanie Griffith

Stephanie attended Abilene Christian University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Education (1992). She worked as an elementary school teacher for eight years and during that time taught first, second, and fourth grades. She has been teaching Bible class since 1990. Stephanie and her family have been worshipping with the congregation at Brown Trail since 2001. In that time, she has taught many children’s classes in the Brown Trail Bible Class program, and she has been teaching the weekly Ladies’ Bible Class there since 2015. Stephanie has been an instructor in the Wives’ Program at Brown Trail School of Preaching since 2010. She and her husband, Robert, have been married since 1995, and they have three children.

Instructor

Lisa Puckett

Lisa graduated from Rice University in 1994 where she earned a degree in Biochemistry and French. She has taught high school chemistry and algebra as well as many other lab sciences. Lisa and her husband homeschooled their children, during which time Lisa did additional teaching with an area homeschool group. She has taught children’s Bible classes for many years and enjoys teaching ladies’ classes whenever opportunities arise. She has years of experience as an elder’s wife as her husband has served in that capacity since 2014 at the Colleyville church of Christ in Colleyville, Texas. Lisa taught in the Wives’ Program at Brown Trail from 2003-2005, took a hiatus, and has been teaching once again since 2013. She and her husband, Grant, have been married since 1993 and have three children.

Instructor

Tracy Rhodes

Tracy received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1993 from Harding University where she majored in vocal music with a Bible minor. She officially graduated from the Preacher Wives Program at Midwest School of Biblical Studies in 1998. Tracy is married to Kevin Rhodes, the Executive Director of the Brown Trail School of Preaching. She has been a preacher’s wife for more than thirty years, teaching Bible classes for children and ladies of all ages, speaking on ladies’ programs on occasion, and counseling as needs arose. Besides supporting her husband in his work, she dedicated herself to homeschooling their children. In 2018, after many years laboring in local work with congregations in Missouri, Alabama, and Texas, their family moved to the DFW area when Kevin began serving at Brown Trail. In 2025, Tracy began working as the Assistant to the Executive Director at Brown Trail School of Preaching. She has been an instructor in the Wives’ Program at Brown Trail since 2019. She and Kevin have been married since 1992 and have two daughters.

Curriculum and Schedule for the Standard Program

(Monday nights only)

Year One

June-August

• Old Testament Survey I - Pat McIntosh • This course will introduce students to the basic background, themes, and message of each book of the Old Testament.

• Discipleship - Kathy Carroll • This course will take the students through the principles of being a disciple of Jesus using His own discussions on the subject as the foundation for study.

December - February

• Principles of Teaching - Kevin Rhodes • This foundational course will concentrate on the principles underlying the best practices in teaching with an emphasis on theory rather than method.

• Personal Evangelism - Lisa Puckett • This course will give attention to the why, where, and how of personal evangelism. An examination of the excuses for not being evangelistic will be considered, along with excuses given by prospects for not obeying the gospel.

March - May

• How to Study the Bible - Pat McIntosh • This course will serve as an introduction to proper biblical interpretation and to the methods by which one can come to understand and apply the Bible better for personal growth as well as for helping in studying with others.

• New Testament Church - Stephanie Griffith • This course will study the origin, nature, worship, and leadership of the church as outlined within the New Testament. Attention will be given to the proper application of these principles today, thus restoring the church of the first century in the present day.

Year Two

June-August

• New Testament Survey I - Pat McIntosh • This course will introduce students to the basic background, themes, and message of each book of the New Testament.

• Scheme of Redemption - Cheryl McIntosh • This course will provide a general survey of God's plan for man's redemption. Particular emphasis will be placed upon the gradual unfolding of that plan by means of purpose, promise, and prophecy. The connected story of the Bible will be stressed.

September - November

• New Testament Survey II - Pat McIntosh • This course will continue to introduce students to the basic background, themes, and message of each book of the New Testament.

• Practical Skills for Leading Women - Cheryl McIntosh and Staff • This course will help students develop both skills and confidence in some of the leadership roles required of preacher's wives in planning, praying, singing, speaking, and counseling.

December - February

• 1 Peter - Kevin Rhodes • This course will be an in-depth study of the first epistle of Peter, including its historical background, rhetorical approach, doctrinal themes, and practical application.

• Christian Home - Lisa Puckett • This course seeks to study the home as outlined within the Bible. Emphasis will be given to the Husband and Father in the home, the Wife and Mother in the home, and the Children in the home. Problems confronting the home today will be addressed.

March - May

• James - Cheryl McIntosh • This course will entail a detailed study of the book of James, highlighting the practicality of its messages for daily Christian living.

• Challenges for the Preacher and His Wife - Kevin and Tracy Rhodes • This course will be a series of general topics focused on problems a couple can face while doing the work of the Lord. Using questions and answers as a means of encouraging practical discussions, wives will have the opportunity to ask practically anything related to the challenges they will soon face in ministry, especially those related to their role as the preacher's wife.

Curriculum and Schedule for the Dean's Track

(Daytime) (All of the Monday Night courses plus the following)

Year One

June-August

• Apologetics - Roy Gafford • This course will address in detail the foundation for the existence of God, the creation of the universe, the young age of the earth, and the reality of the worldwide flood, demonstrating from logic, philosophy, and scientific evidence how the Bible's claims coincide with reliable data.

Year Two

June-August

• Hebrews - Kevin Rhodes • This course will study the inspired argument for Christ and Christianity as well as for the abolition of the Mosaical Law. It will emphasize the incarnation and the mediating roles required of Jesus, the argumentation stemming from the Old Covenant, the role of faith and faithfulness in a relationship with God, and the implications of the doctrines in Christian living.

September - November

• Romans - Kevin Rhodes • This course will study Paul's most extensive treatment of justification by faith through a verse-by-verse study emphasizing the contextual development of the themes of sin, faith, transformation, New Testament preeminence, God's scheme of redemption, and the practical components and challenges of a new life in Christ - all within the backdrop of the first century issues of integrating people of different cultures and of forming a new identity in Christ.

December - February

• The Epistles of James and Peter - Neil Stidolph • This course offers an in-depth and practical application of the messages of these epistles, highlighting the Hebraistic and practical qualities of James 1, 1 Peter's perspective toward Christian suffering and godly relationships, and both the rebuke of speculative religious scholarship and the proactive growth model provide by 2 Peter.

Curriculum and Schedule for the Executive Director's Track

(Daytime) (All of the Monday Night courses plus the following)

Year One

June-August

• Introduction to the New Testament - Pat McIntosh • This course will study the historical, philosophical, and religious background pertaining to the world in which the New Testament was written, offering insight into the various elements that created the Roman, Jewish, and Hellenistic cultures in existence when the Holy Spirit inspired the New Testament.

September - November

• Hermeneutics - Pat McIntosh • This course establishes the core elements of biblical interpretation necessary to study the Bible and reach conclusions consistent with the text in its context. Building on the foundation of proper attitudes and logic as essential elements to ensure consistency, the course will then consider all aspects of context in detail while also walking students through textual and topical studies based on the principles previously discussed.

December - February

• Narrative Exegesis: Ezra and Esther - Neil Stidolph • This hybrid course emphasizes the historical and literary nature of scripture and thus the value of historical research and rhetorical techniques as an integral part of studying their messages. After an introduction to various rhetorical approaches, the class will study the text of Ezra and Esther, giving special attention to the value of rhetoric in considering the historical context and the literary structure of each book and especially by examining the literary qualities of Esther as a piece of literature.

March - May

• Heuristic Exegesis: Jude - Kevin Rhodes • This hybrid course develops a variety of practical exegetical techniques helpful in ascertaining themes, patterns, and backgrounds to facilitate the understanding of scripture and the analysis of individual sections of scripture. These skills are then applied to the interpretive challenges found in the one-chapter book of Jude to reveal its implied historical context, to view the non-inspired literature included in its inspired record, to identify its structure and patterns, and to note how all these combine in the accurate interpretation of its more puzzling passages.

Year Two

June-August

• Hebrews - Kevin Rhodes • This course will study the inspired argument for Christ and Christianity as well as for the abolition of the Mosaical Law. It will emphasize the incarnation and the mediating roles required of Jesus, the argumentation stemming from the Old Covenant, the role of faith and faithfulness in a relationship with God, and the implications of these doctrines in Christian living.

September - November

• Romans - Kevin Rhodes • This course will study Paul's most extensive treatment of justification by faith through a verse-by-verse study emphasizing the contextual development of the themes of sin, faith, transformation, New Testament preeminence, God's scheme of redemption, and the practical components and challenges of a new life in Christ - all within the backdrop of the first century issues of integrating people of different cultures and of forming a new identity in Christ.

December - February

• Greek Exegesis: Epistles of John - Kevin Rhodes • This hybrid course will study the three epistles of the apostle John in their contextual background, addressing the problems created by an early form of Gnosticism but with an emphasis on the insights available from the grammar, syntax, and word choices found in the Greek text. In addition, students will consider the themes of assurance, fellowship, love and truth as presented in these epistles.

Other Available Options for Ladies

• Auditing Track (Daytime) • (All of the Monday Night courses plus an approved selection of courses from the daytime program but without assignments or direct participation)

Learn More

• Degree Track (Daytime) • Wives could also choose to complete the Associate's Degree (all first year daytime classes, including all assignments) over the two years, or complete the Bachelor's Degree.

Associate's

Bachelor's

Note: The Daytime classes will be available through Zoom for those with young children.

NOTE: On very rare occasion it may be impossible for a student's wife to participate in the program (i.e. health troubles, family demands, or a job schedule that cant be changed). In such cases, the student must submit a written explanation to school administration requesting special accommodation. A plan will be developed for individual study utilizing Zoom recording or Live streaming of the classes. Assignments or other arrangements will then be modified if necessary to accommodate the student's specific needs.