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Full disclosure from a 44 year old guy who shepherds a church:
- I barely passed high school and assumed I was too dumb to do anything significant with my life. This still haunts me.
- My grades weren’t good enough to go onto higher education. 1/
- I barely passed high school and assumed I was too dumb to do anything significant with my life. This still haunts me.
- My grades weren’t good enough to go onto higher education. 1/
- Nor did I have any clear idea of what I wanted, or even could do, to contribute to society.
- I volunteered at a Christian Youth Camp and received board and lodging there.
- Someone believed in me (more than I did) and paid my fees for a 1 year discipleship program. 2/
- I volunteered at a Christian Youth Camp and received board and lodging there.
- Someone believed in me (more than I did) and paid my fees for a 1 year discipleship program. 2/
- The course was not accredited and was run by a Bible School attached to my denomination.
- I grew up in rural Australia and graduated High School in ‘93, there were few to no accredited options for theological training that I knew of. 3/
- I grew up in rural Australia and graduated High School in ‘93, there were few to no accredited options for theological training that I knew of. 3/
- My denomination didn’t value formal accredited theological training, and mostly operated with lay elders.
- My youth and apparent giftedness meant I was thrust into ever increasing roles of responsibility, which I willing took. 4/
- My youth and apparent giftedness meant I was thrust into ever increasing roles of responsibility, which I willing took. 4/
- Before I knew it, I was in my mid 30’s, married, father to 3 kids, and fostering more.
- I was a lay elder, then employed as a teaching pastor, and have been ever since.
- My preaching and writing have opened opportunities for wider ministries. 5/
- I was a lay elder, then employed as a teaching pastor, and have been ever since.
- My preaching and writing have opened opportunities for wider ministries. 5/
- Most people who meet me, or know of me, assume I have formal theological training and are surprised when I tell them otherwise.
Here’s a few things I’ve learned:
1. If God can use a donkey he may still use me. But I need to be aware of my limitations. 6/
Here’s a few things I’ve learned:
1. If God can use a donkey he may still use me. But I need to be aware of my limitations. 6/
2. The donkey analogy is a poor cop-out for dismissing theological training.
3. I’ve learned to pursue life-long learning. Read widely and carefully. Take whatever online courses I can manage.
4. I regret not studying when I was younger, but I’m no longer embarrassed by it. 7/
3. I’ve learned to pursue life-long learning. Read widely and carefully. Take whatever online courses I can manage.
4. I regret not studying when I was younger, but I’m no longer embarrassed by it. 7/
5. Formal theological rigour in education is vitally needed for the church today, but is not the sole solution to our problems — men/women filled with the Spirit and passionate about the Word, who love the Bride, are a powerful instrument in the hand of God. 8/
6. If you’re young, set aside time to study and prepare well to serve the king.
7. If you’re older, take what opportunities you can to grow and learn, but don’t let the lack of letters that follow your name hold you back. Don’t overreach, but neither lag behind. 9/
7. If you’re older, take what opportunities you can to grow and learn, but don’t let the lack of letters that follow your name hold you back. Don’t overreach, but neither lag behind. 9/
