Undergraduate question

I wish you well, Trotter, in your educational pursuits.

I was bi-vocational for 15 of my 36 years of ministry and my Communication Degree allowed me to work in Radio/TV and Journalism. I still do some but not as much.

I'm also a funeral director. lol

 

A solid education is a precious commodity. Never before have such opportunities existed that we now have in the U.S. It is much easier to "pull up stakes" and receive a formal education than in times past. In addition, there are accredited colleges and seminaries through which one can gain a large amount of one's credits off-campus through internet courses.

I tell folks that I had a mid-life crisis and left an established pastorate to move to Kentucky and pursue a Ph.D. in church history at SBTS. Having three daughters and a very supportive stay-at-home wife who home-schooled our girls did not prevent our uprooting for what we believed God would have us do.

For those entering the ministry, I recommend attending a Christian liberal arts college, perhaps majoring in history, philosophy, or English. Such majors will broaden one's knowledge and enhance one's communication skills.

Then find a solid evangelical seminary to gain an M.Div. The M.Div. (unless it is of the "advanced" variety built upon an undergrad Bible degree) is not built upon the bachelor's degree---hence its requirement typically of 3 or more years (90 semester hours plus).

I realize I'm joining this conversation a bit late, but I only recently discovered the Baptist Board and joined.

 

Bible education is supposed to be the work of the church.

in the Bible, church leaders were trained up in the local church and/or through the ministry of itinerant ministers.

 

Dr. Bob,

I noticed that you edited my post and replaced it with "Attack on Word of God snipped". I am personally offended by this entry. I would never attack the Word of God. My statement was in contradiction to your obvious slant against institutions that would teach from the KJV. As you are opposed to these institutions, I would be opposed to the institutions that would teach the philosophies that you hold to. I would appreciate it if you would remove that statement and replace it with "Dr. Bob didn't like what I said, hence it was snipped" or some other entry like that.

Thank you

 

Trotter,

I see nothing "unspiritual" with getting a computer degree or any other degree from a secular university. Have your motives honest before God and trust His guiding your steps.

May God smile upon your efforts.

Bill

 

I have a BS in electrical engineering. I wrote software for 4 years before coming to seminary. Now that I'm here, I'm working for the same company (from home now.) I am going to school full time (just finished my 1st semester) and working half-time and providing for my family.

So a computer/engineering degree has been a blessing for me (I could go on for a while talking about how God used my EE degree in providing for me at seminary)