Undergraduate question

I dont think most churches will care about the undergraduate work as much as they would look at where you went to seminary. No one has even ever asked us anything about college work. If you dont plan on seminary and this will be your only biblical education, it probably will matter.

 

Trotter,

One of the harsh realities of where you go to school can be the connections you make (or don't). Many churches rely on school's extension offices to get the names of candidates for their pastoral searches. While I don't think that should be your sole consideration, you might want to take it into account.

I would think that, in the case of geographical proximity, a choice of a college outside of your tradition might have a better potential for acceptance on one's resume, though. I would understand it better in your situation than say, if you chose to move to Texas and attend Oral Roberts.

How far have you pursued TTU? From what I have seen of your posts on the board, I think you could be "at home" there.

 

Shoot folks, I completed my undergraduate work at a Church of Christ school, Faulkner University.

 

and my undergrad was at a heathen state school!!!!

 

Thanks for the info. I've just added you two to my Ignore List...



(just kidding)

 

Several of the professors when I was in seminary recommended a person have done their undergraduate work in something other than religious studies or Bible. After going through seminary I would definitely agree.

Before I went to seminary I eventually managed a very large business. I knew from experience that Christianity worked in the workplace. I knew I could stand strong in Christ. What I saw once I started pastoring of course was often shocking to me. I saw leaders who were weaklings who had bought into the world's system and its ideas. But I knew things could be different. I knew I could talk the talk and walk the walk. Those who want to grow are encouraged by a pastor who has been where they are. But those who want to control do not.

A friend of mine is a very effective missionary. He was a surgeon before coming to Christ. For the last several years he has been a medical missionary. The field I am in now I could never teach at a Christian school because there are none that have the program or major I teach.

Some years ago I was in the hospital when I was in seminary. Later I started pastoring an SBC church and could not get insurance through the SBC. They denied me. My tests were excellent. In fact I am in much better shape today than the vast majority of Americans. I exercise regularly. My tryglicerides count is 58 and my cholesterol is 130. But again the SBC denied me insurance coverage. Eventually I went back into secular work and could get coverage. In fact it was much less and better than I might have gotten through the SBC.

Today the SBC recommends that a person have a secular vocation. Many smaller churches today are looking for pastors who are bivocational. I can't remember the exact numbers but something like 50 percent of those in seminary who start finish and only about 25 percent of those who finish are pastoring five years later. Once you become a pastor many doors will shut because people see you as a pastor and not a real person they can identify with. Or they may feel uneasy around you because of what they think of pastors. So they will avoid you. I am back in the secular society and many more doors are again open. I meet faculty and students I would not ordinarily meet. Just this past week I had a lengthy discussion with a faculty member who is not a Christian and is turned off by the TV preachers. The name he gave them as shamans. His words were, “How could anybody follow someone like that.” He told me he believed in God but not organized religion. I had four days with him. During that time I was able to point out what scripture says about those who name the name of Christ but are really shamans. God opened the door. The professor opened up and just started talking about these things. He knew I had a degree in theology. But to him I am not a threat because I am not a pastor. I am on his level.

The point is that ministry must be done. Church building are not necessary for ministry. It is a well known fact that in churches that have a bivocational pastor that the congregation will work harder.

 

I graduated from Clearwater Christian College in Clearwater, FL. It's an accredited, non-denominational, fundamentalist, liberal arts college. From Cleveland, TN, just drive straight south on I-75 about ten hours and you're there.

www.clearwater.edu

 

Trotter,

Have you checked out Crown College. I know Dr. Bob is not in favor, but I know a number of good men who support the school and have seen quite a few graduates doing a great job.

 

Dr. Bob, I would say the same thing about all of the other schools that teach the [attack on Word of God snipped]. Crown is not a KJVonly college (Double Inspiration). They only use the KJV by conviction that it is the preserved Word of God and hense the best translation for English speaking people, which I would agree with.

[ November 09, 2004, 06:58 PM: Message edited by: Dr. Bob ]

 

Trotter asked: "Anyone here do their undergraduate work at a non-Baptist college/university?"

I got my BA in Communication from Southern Arkansas Univesity, before I went to Seminary. Many of the professers were very conservation, if not Christian.

Rufus