Aug 26, Seminary
I have a 94 hour Masters of Divinity from Southeastern Theological Seminary located in Wake Forest, North Carolina. I spent thousands of dollars and thousands of man hours to obtain this education. It took me away from my family and ministry for several years. I enjoyed a lot of it but consider some of it a total waste of my time.
One question I do have about any ministry training is, "why didn't they teach us the really important stuff?"
Yes they taught me how to teach the Bible and how to understand it. I don't even teach it the way they taught. Created my own style. Have to be who God created me to be and not what a seminary wanted me to be. Yes, understanding the bible definitely helps teaching it, but the majority of my knowledge comes form spending hours in the scriptures every week. I love hanging out with God.
But why didn't they teach all of us how to do the following:
* No one ever told just how much of a burden a pastor carries.
* Not one class was offered on how to raise money. Lets face it, one of a pastors main jobs is to raise the funds to accomplish the vision God has laid on his heart.
* Never did I hear a lecture or have a course on how to deal with staff. How to hire and fire. How to lead them and help them grow.
* I wasn't prepared for the heart wrenching stories people were going to share about their lives. Counseling 101 should be mandatory.
* Instead of offering electives that are completely worthless, why not offer classes on how to reach a lost and dying world?
* Every pastor with a heart for lost people needs to know the mess he is about to get into. Never had a class on this.
* Why weren't we warned about church people? That they would complain constantly and never want to do anything.
* Why weren't we prepared to deal with the enormous amount of criticism we would receive (love when critics don't have the back bone to even acknowledge who they are)?
* We weren't taught how to deal with the spiritual warfare that would occur once God begins to move.
Please understand I'm not complaining. I love what I've been called to do, but I just wish all of us had been better prepared to change the world for Jesus Christ.
One question I do have about any ministry training is, "why didn't they teach us the really important stuff?"
Yes they taught me how to teach the Bible and how to understand it. I don't even teach it the way they taught. Created my own style. Have to be who God created me to be and not what a seminary wanted me to be. Yes, understanding the bible definitely helps teaching it, but the majority of my knowledge comes form spending hours in the scriptures every week. I love hanging out with God.
But why didn't they teach all of us how to do the following:
* No one ever told just how much of a burden a pastor carries.
* Not one class was offered on how to raise money. Lets face it, one of a pastors main jobs is to raise the funds to accomplish the vision God has laid on his heart.
* Never did I hear a lecture or have a course on how to deal with staff. How to hire and fire. How to lead them and help them grow.
* I wasn't prepared for the heart wrenching stories people were going to share about their lives. Counseling 101 should be mandatory.
* Instead of offering electives that are completely worthless, why not offer classes on how to reach a lost and dying world?
* Every pastor with a heart for lost people needs to know the mess he is about to get into. Never had a class on this.
* Why weren't we warned about church people? That they would complain constantly and never want to do anything.
* Why weren't we prepared to deal with the enormous amount of criticism we would receive (love when critics don't have the back bone to even acknowledge who they are)?
* We weren't taught how to deal with the spiritual warfare that would occur once God begins to move.
Please understand I'm not complaining. I love what I've been called to do, but I just wish all of us had been better prepared to change the world for Jesus Christ.
Comments