Skool, Part 1

This morning was the first week of teaching for Sojourn Pastor's School. After 15 minutes of fellowship, usually consisting of fighting brothers in Christ for coffee, we dive into teaching and discussion, all towards the goal of raising up men to know the Word, pastor their homes, and pastor the church of God. It's incredibleness is only slightly tempered by being held at 6:00 am. Taking part in this is a dream come true for me, because as I've come to better know the Gospel, I've come to better know the community of the Gospel, the local church. Better knowing the church as changed the way I view ministry, Gospel partnership, and Gospel mission. Consequently, I've been forced to reconsider how I view ministry training, namely seminary training.

I was on Twitter a bit ago and read the following from a seminary prof: "faculty workshop this morning, as we pray for God's power to train preachers." While Christians should pray in all their endeavors (I survive my hectic shifts at work by prayer alone, on many days), is seminary where preachers are to be trained? I hope to take a few blog posts and share a bit of my own story in relation to ministry and seminary. As an alum of the undergraduate school of a seminary, (boasting in the flesh: the most decorated graduate in the history of that college) as a former staff member of the school, I have learned much about both the ups and downs of seminary training, and believe me, the downs are down. Beyond my experience, though, the Scriptures should be searched, for they are our source of wisdom.

So hang with me gang. Class is in session. Let's learn together.