Which should take priority?

I think this is a dilemma many ministry families face. We have faced it as well. All I can tell you is that God equips when He calls, and that He provides as well. The seminary classes I took while serving a church made more sense and I was able to implement the things I was learning immediately, and not file them for later use. It was the same way for my husband. I know it sounds difficult, and it is, but living near or at a seminary is so well worth the sacrifice. Its something to pray about...

 

I agree with Brother Tater, pray on it and let the LORD lead you through this time.

It is important that we as Christians go through these times so the LORD can show us he is GOD. Also, don't waste time or fund a school that won't benefit you or the saints and I pray the LORD will make all things come together for good...

 

Just remember... God's timetable is not our timetable.

That is the hardest lesson for me to learn... mainly 'cause I still haven't got it through my thick head.

 

:laugh: Snicker :laugh:

Oh yeah, BTW, Brother Tater is actually a Sister.:smilewinkgrin:

Joseph Botwinick

 

LOL, guess I need to change my picture so my beard isnt showing.

 

Yea, that's what I said. Who changed that to Brother? LOL


Sorry my sister, it was a mistake of the mind not the heart.

 

I would say take the time and energy to equip yourself properly in a good seminary. You can do that and still serve in a local church. I did that and many others have as well. It is not easy, but sometimes the things God calls us to are not easy, but they are worth it.

Brother Tater, ha ha, that was good Thanks for the laugh.

 

Sounds to me like you need to quit spending so much time at church and more time at home with the family regardless of whether you change schools or not.
You lose your family and you can forget about ministry. The family is your first ministry.
Do not let your pastor or your other brethern lay a guilt trip on you because your not at the churchouse every night.
Sounds to me like you come from a Jack Hyles type of church.
Don't be some preacher's "preacher boy" or "puppet". There are some things that we need to seek alot of council on. Yet OTOH the future of your life and the life of your family rests upon your shoulders. Some decisions we have to make we must make on our own resting fully on a answer from God and Him alone.
If your pastor is pushing you to be at the church for every single function he is not thinking of your family. I would take his advice with caution if that is the case.
Did your preacher refer you to this school? IF he did and your already seeing the light about the school this may also give you insight to the philosophy of ministry of your pastor.
The fact that your not at peace with the school that your pastor referred you to then this could be a indicator within its self that you need to relocate to a Bible college at work part time etc... and get away from the situation your in. Be your own man.

 

I would ask what do you expect the college to teach you? Do you just need a degree [since that seems to be a requirement to be a full-time Pastor these days]? I have learned more about how a church functions by being involved in a local church than by being taught by a guy in a classroom (or on a DVD) who has not or is not currently working in the local church. Never forget that a large % of teachers are teaching because they failed/quit at the ministry and a large % are teaching because they feel this is a calling instead of being in the ministry and sadly a smaller % are teaching and serving currently as a pastor. If you really want to learn practical things about being a pastor then continue to be involved as much as possible in the local church. I too am seeking my degree online and while not at a degree-mill type of school my focus is on completing the program period and letting God train me locally and through personal Bible study. What does your wife think of your current situation? Does she support you? Does she want you to do something else? I'm 36 and have been serving part-time in the Lord's work for many years and so my family is comfortable with my situation. Now I'm not sold on a married guy with a family of moving away to a Bible College for the sake of going to get a degree especially if that man is actively serving at his local church. What is your pastor's advice? Do you have another senior christian brother to seek advice from? And what do they say? My father is retired from the ministry and he was a Bible College type of guy but now he says he is a realist and says local churches should train their people more instead of letting these big churches/colleges take and train the best and the brightest of a local church. Pastors should train and mentor more and there is nothing wrong with having "Preacher Boys"...as a licensed preacher I'm a preacher boy being mentored by my pastor and as a youth director I have young men that I'm mentoring specifically for future service whether as SS teachers or preachers or whatever. IMO, a degree is important for showing the maturity and commitment to complete something but it is not important in showing qualification or proper training, especially for the ministry.

MOST IMPORTANT - as was mentioned early don't sacrifice your family for the sake of ministry too many nowadays focus on serving so much that they lose their families...Jesus has always been an example of balanced service!!

 

as a couple have mentioned not losing your family, I have a suggestion in that area.

According to the schedule you posted you have several opportunities to include your family in your ministries. Your Tuesday visitation does not always have to be with your pastor or a brother in the church.......your wife can be your visitation partner. If you have pre-school kids, get your stroller out and take 'em with sometimes. If they are all in school, then no problem!
Also, you can do this same thing visiting bus kids on Saturday. In fact, many ladies feel that it is very important for them to be involved with their husband's bus ministry. The bus kids need to see a Godly man and wife team working together for God. They also need to see your interaction with your own children, and your children need to be involved somehow in the ministries you are doing. They need to see where the bus kids are coming from, and they need to be a part of ministering to them.

Serving WITH your family is THE best way to not lose your family because of your ministry.

 

When new missionaries come over, and even before then if I meet them in the States, I tell them that their first two years here should be concentrated primarily on Japanese language study. If I had a young missionary in my church while he was in language school, I would make sure he got out on evangelism once a week, and I might give him an English Bible study to teach. That would be it. Only that. Why? He is building a foundation for the future!

I recommend the same for you. Cut back on some of those ministries and concentrate on your studies. They will be useful to you hopefully for decades in the future! After you graduate from college and maybe even get that master's, you can learn the ropes and how to do various ministries by being a youth or assistant pastor for a few years--call it an internship.

It is hard to tell what you mean by a "degree mill." Just because a college is not accredited does not make it a degree mill. But if you really believe this, get on your knees, pray about the good IFB accredited colleges out there, and see how God will lead you.

 

Great, Paul1611! Keep on keeping on for Jesus.:thumbs:

 

Paul1611, if you don't mind me asking, which school are you enrolled in?