I have enjoyed counseling younger people interested in missions and it seems like there is a topic that often comes up. College debt. One young man was overwhelmed with the future of college debt and wondered what to do about it. The other is studying for his masters and his parents told him to put a 2000 dollar mission trip on his ever growing loan package (that could be a topic for the short term trips page). His plan was to work until he could go to the field. I wonder what his future will look like, but if he follows the footsteps of many, he will get a job, get a wife, get some kids, have a life, and not be on the mission field.
Is this just reality that we can do nothing about? Is this the only way? I do not want to write as though I have an answer, I want to ask the questions and hear from you.
What was the educational level of the disciples? I know there were not master’s programs around at that time... but there was a lot of very educated ministers called Pharisees, Sadducees, etc.. Yet the disciples did well; granted they had Jesus and we just have cheap imitations of him. (that was a joke, don’t try to defend yourself).
I have read a book lately that every Pastor/missionary should read called Dangerous Calling by Paul Tripp. He argues that the education system has developed a church that looks more at the education of a candidate Pastor than his actual spiritual maturity.
I will never argue that college/seminary is always bad for those in ministry because it does usually greatly enhance a person’s gifts/knowledge to allow him to have greater influence.
I just wonder if there is a cheaper way to develop these minister’s gifts and knowledge to where they could be more effective earlier in life because they are not under the pressure of paying off debt.
I mentioned Sojourn in one blog article and they actually have a school of missions out of their church. I know that every church does not have these capabilities, but there are programs out there that offer courses for cheaper.
Our mission board, ABWE, has varying requirements for their missionaries. If the missionary will be a Pastor/seminary teacher or in a similar position, he is required to have at least a degree for it. Other missionaries are required to have at least OT/NT survey classes, Bible Study Methods and a doctrine class. They also are required to take a Good Soil (20 hour) seminar and an Essential Missions Components class.
We can’t throw the untrained out to the wolves to be devoured; we must train our missionaries and pastors, but is there a way we can avoid the debt? What are your thoughts, ideas?
To go to school, incur debt, and still go into full-time missions is difficult but not impossible. It does seem to require a greater focus and determination. We have an example, Chris Skinner, who graduated as a sports management major with a large student loan debt, that worked two years at as many jobs possible to pay off that debt. He had gone with us on a short-term trip to Brazil while a student and God told him on that first trip that this was what He had created Chris to do. He just finished his first 6 months in Brazil and is now in the U.S. raising additional support to go back and work in unreached areas of the Amazon River.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I believe the Church needs to consider is the sending of pastors/trainers to other areas of the world to train national pastors/leaders in reaching their own. There is less debt incurred in this and national pastors can go into areas Americans can't. It is something being done very successfully in many areas and a new paradigm in missions that not all U.S. churches are comfortable doing. A good read on this is "The Meeting of the Waters" by Fritz Kling.
That really will be my struggle coming up soon. I want to go in the ministry starting with youth and eventually if God leads me to be a pastor. I have 1 year of bible school done at Word of Life, but I want to get a bachelors in biblical studies and then go to seminary. That would involve having to borrow a lot of money. I pray that God will provide the funds that I need and I trust Him for it, but I dont want to become 40,000 in debt if I dont have to be.
ReplyDeleteThis is from Jason, missionary in the East.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, good point in your 2nd paragraph "Islego". No one can reach people better than local leaders. Another book I would recommend is "The Great Omission" by Steve Saint.
As far as the original post, here are my PERSONAL opinions. First, after Bible college, seminary, and years of pastoral experience, I thought that my education on the Bible was enough to "teach those less knowledgable than those in America." Boy was I wrong. Never before have I had to really know what I believe as I defend my faith and as I try to teach the leaders here to defend their faith. It is like being a pastor...it is possible to have a pastor be successful without going to college/seminary? Yes, but it will be VERY difficult. As far as mission work, I feel it is far more difficult in the area of theology and doctrine than in the American pastoral role. So, I would highly recommend a very strong theological education.
One more thing I have noticed on the field. You have some who come to the field straight from seminary and those who come from serving for several/many years in the states. Both have their benefits. Those from college have less "baggage" and are a little more independence. But, the experience of ministry, dealing with people, loving people, and reaching those around you that you get from ministry experience is extremely valuable. I would highly suggest that anyone looking to serve overseas should have both a good education and have experience serving in a local church in some type of a leadership role. Hopefully in this role it would include evangelism, teaching, and missions. If you are lucky, you could fit both of those together at the same time!
But, again, the most important thing is the CALL, the OBEDIENCE, and the SUPPORT from the sending church.
What if our local churches had rigorous classes available for free? Elders should be able to teach and preach and so having men available shouldn't be a problem.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that equipping people to fulfill the great commission should be more seriously taken up by local churches. This would not eliminate the need for seminary but rather augment it. IMHO I believe that most kids "growing up" in church should never need to go to Bible college if they take advantage of the equipping process available to them in their local church. Adults should also rarely need to go to Bible college as those same things ought to be taught in the church. Again seminary is another level and not needed for everyone.
I think partnering with local seminaries needs to be explored more to create classes for local church bodies. This could create a lot of synergy and allow people to leapfrog the ramp up process(time & $$) getting people to the missions field (domestic and foreign).
Great thoughts guys! Missions is tough and the training is really unending! I know many missionaries who wish they had more training in .... lots of different areas (most prevalent being counseling). Matt, I like the idea of the churches training, at least in the area of Bible. However, if they are not a church with staff who have missions experience, they might not give the missionary proper training in culture adaptation, language preparation, and maybe a couple areas. However, that could easily be supplemented by mission agencies or other schools. It would be great though to have elders doing that and people learning like that!
ReplyDeleteIslego, for sure use nationals! That is the point; II Timothy 2:2; we missionaries need to work ourselves out of a job!
Michael, glad you are continuing in ministry in the full time realm. Keep it up. If we find a solution here, I will let you know!
Jason, what do you think about extensive internships in local churches with agreement to support the missionary for a good percentage of their support? That way, they get experience, they get support, and they build relationships with those who will support and pray for them.
There are other ways to be trained than just college and seminary, but at the same time, they are very valuable to training pastors and missionaries. Internships could go a long way to see where someone is at in both their spiritual life as well as their biblical knowledge. It would be interesting to see what kind of programs churches could come up with and how well trained their people turned out.
I feel that it is a mixture of a both/and...to have a hard and fast policy for an organization would be disadvantageous. It would really depend on what role you would be taking. Naturally one that is more pastoral or church planting would lend itself to higher levels of Biblical education, but what is important to understand that Biblical education can come from more than just a Bible college and Seminary (i.e. "testing out"). At the same time though, if you have high education requirements for missionaries, you can't simultaneously have a "no debt" policy..or else you could push off a person that feels called to the field possibly 5-7 years including education. Which in some situations that may be profitable, but not a hard and fast policy for all. I do feel at minimum you should have some sort of formal Bible degree from a doctrinally and educationally reputable place, but in today's day and age you can take classes online and raise support simultaneously, that way you don't double your time "pre-field".
ReplyDeleteI wholeheartedly agree about some sort of existing ministry leadership or experience done through a position or internship in prep for overseas and even USA ministry. I am one that 100% advises going deep into theological studies, but there is nothing worse than a know-it-all seminary student completely green and having "classroom" standards of daily life and ministry. The sad part is many churches accept someone straight out of seminary to be their pastor, and even in missions overseas with no actual experience dealing with people, struggles, nasty emails, conflict resolution and especially what is truly the "main thing" in theological conversations.
Having that experience and "street smarts" of knowing what to say and how to say it is just as valuable as the head and heart knowledge behind it.
College and Seminary is vital to a qualified minister. If you can't at least work to pay off school while you are in school, you should probably take it slower and cut down your spending. Do you value your education so much that you avoid fast food for months or even years to cut down on unnecessary spending? What are your priorities? Are you willing to give up your smart phone and cable TV so that you can put more of your funds towards school? Those are the things you will need to sacrifice if you want to avoid massive debt. Also, try to look at schools/seminaries that may not cost as much as others. Look for work and don't settle for wasting time. Put your efforts towards making extra money when you can, cutting down your spending, and praying that God will supply all your needs. It may take longer to get to the mission field, but you will be educated, prepared, and Lord-willing, debt free. I don't think you have to sacrifice education because of lack of funds.
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