Mickey,
PastorSBC1303 is telling you correctly from my vantage point and experience. You should seek to "blum where you are planted" just now.
I would also give you a couple of other things to consider.
First;
speak anywhere, anytime, and under any circumstance you can. Get a SS Class and "pastor" them. What this does is to get you "on your feet" as a public speaker and "in the book" so you are learning to "apply" the word and "supply" the word for your hearer.
Secondly;
for a while I would do an education program that would involve allow both the "academic" as well as the "apprentice" or "hands-on" model. Put yourself under the submission of a good and godly minister and follow him around and serve him. Be his "Timothy to his Paul" or his "Elisha to his Elijah." Learn by doing. But, also get involved with maybe some correspondence course(s) of some sort.
That begs some other question(s):
How much, what kind of education do you have already? The SBC has a very good "Seminary Extension" program for those who do not have a BA (BS) degree. It can ve transferred to some school like the Boice School (College) at The Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville. Secondly, look at the Distance Learning (DL) programs at Liberty Baptist U. They are all difficult but can be done.
You are starting where we all start. God seems to have a "standard operating proceedure" as far as education goes. Although, we all seem to meander at times. Our focus is to be constantly on Him; pleasing Him, loving Him, spending time w/Him, seeking Him, etc. et al.
But, I was 30, with no formal education, went to seminary, finished college, got two masters, and went on to get a doctorate. It was not all "a bed of roses" but God's grace was sufficient for all we went through. Then again, I felt God wanted me to get enough academic credentials to be able to teach college or seminary.
You asked so let me continue to pontificate!!! I would not, however, sell everything I have and move off to Bible college or some such without doing what I have lined out above. You need to take it slow and "seek the Lord" as the oldtimers use to say. Make you life one of prayer. Examine your heart closely as you go along. Don't think that the Servant of God's life is necessarily one of "being busy" and "doin' stuff." Make sure that the Lord gives you a burden for the work, whatever that might be.
My burden, passion, and call was for the academic ministry. Nothing else could have sustained me on the long term like the call and passion and proclivities built into my psyche and experiences like God had put in my life.
These are my 30+ years of experience and perspective. It is not right or wrong for you--just mine for your consideration.
sdg! (soli deo gloria-solely to the glory of God!)
"Angry exhortation!?"
rd
