Starting Seminary

I’m not going to lie; when I first felt called to full-time ministry in the first part of 2022, I was a bit nervous. “Is this really what you want me to do, Lord?” “All my training has been with technology and computers, and now you want me to be in the ministry. Are you sure?” “I am not even sure I will be able to understand the things I presented in seminary. Are you sure you want me to do this?” Those were all questions I asked because I did not want to get this wrong. So, in June, I enrolled at Liberty University to get a diploma in theological studies, hoping to pursue a Master’s in Christian Apologetics later. That was the plan until I uttered, “I won’t be a pastor. I’ll teach apologetics.” Then, the Lord directed me and said, “See, you thought you knew what you were doing. I think you will become a pastor.” After realizing what I was supposed to do, I changed my degree to an M.Div with a focus on Christian Apologetics. I still had questions, but for the first time in my life, I was sure of God’s direction for me and had peace about it. I was still nervous about seminary, but if that is what the Lord wants me to do, I will most assuredly do it. Once I started, I was introduced to Ecologies of Faith in a Digital Age by Stephen and Mary Lowe.

To be honest, at first, I wasn’t looking forward to reading it, but after the first few chapters, it began to grow on me. Subsequent readings have given me some great information that I have been applying to all my classes. Perhaps the sections that resonated with me the most were about the digital aspects of spiritual formation. Given my experience in web design, video editing and production, marketing, and photography, I was wondering if and how I might be able to utilize those skills I have learned in my new role in the ministry. Ecologies of Faith did not disappoint in that regard either.

Growing Online

One of the most significant changes I have seen recently is the move to online church services. While many larger churches were doing this, the COVID-19 pandemic ushered in need for churches of every size to begin having their services online. While this is great, I think that churches can do more in the online space to foster community. As humans, we need interaction with others, but while many thrive in a physical environment, others thrive in an online environment. I feel this is one area I need to work on as I progress in the ministry. My ministry plan is to have traditional in-person worship and small groups, but I also want to supplement it with an online connected community. I think churches should be where Christians can grow together; sometimes, that is difficult with the standard Sunday, and Wednesday approaches. I want to make my church one that fosters growth at all times, not just twice a week. I think churches moving forward must utilize the online space to more effectively minister to their congregation. I also feel that too often, communication in church is top-down, from the pastor to the congregation. I think that while the pastor is the head of the church, he can gain much knowledge from all people in the congregation, and an online community can help facilitate sharing that information.

Spiritual Networks

In addition to an online community within the church, I think the church must have a robust social media presence. This social media presence does not consist of just a “verse of the day” type of presence. The church must share meaningful content that can be liked and shared by the members of the church. Hopefully, it will spread beyond the congregation and into the personal networks they have built. According to Broadbandseach.com, people in North America spend an average of 2 hours and 6 minutes daily on social media. Now I love funny TikTok videos and memes as much as the next guy but imagine if the church was creating meaningful content that could quickly spread. How many people would be reached? The goal here is not to gain new church members but new members in the Kingdom. Christianity is attacked constantly, and it is time the church quit playing defense and started playing offense. Jesus said the gates of Hell would not prevail against His church, and we must make good on that promise. It is for this reason that I chose to study apologetics. I am tired of sitting on the sidelines and not being able to defend the faith I have. I want the people in my church to be able to fulfill Peter’s exhortation “And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it” (1 Peter 3:15 New Living Translation).

Seminary Advice

Although I am just completing my first year in seminary, I have some advice for those enrolling in seminary or starting their seminary journey like me.

1. Do not neglect your personal study of the Bible. You will be reading and writing more than you have probably ever have in your life, and a lot of that will be on Biblical passages and topics. However, do not neglect to spend time daily alone with the Word. I struggled with this early but now realize how valuable it is for me. Yes, I love my work for my classes, but I need to break from those courses and study on my own to help keep that spiritual discipline alive.

2. Prioritize your spouse or significant other. One of the first things I did after realizing the Lord wanted me to go to seminary was to talk about it with my wife. I cannot do this alone and need her prayers and support. No matter how busy I am with school, I always prioritize attending to her needs and ensuring we have enough time together. I never want her to feel that I put her needs behind mine.

3. The last piece of advice I will give, even though I could go on and on, is to rest. Seminary is demanding. I have never read so much in such a short time as I have these past few weeks. There have been days when my brain just ached with what I learned, and I needed to get away from my studies. Luckily, I have video games to take my mind off of things. (Yes, I know, a 44-year-old wanna-be minister who plays video games. Go figure.) But whether it is video games, exercise, or long walks on the beach, you need to take some time to rest and recharge.

Notice I did not give study advice or anything like that. I wanted to provide practical advice on personal things I have noticed in my studies over the past few weeks. Seminary is not for the faint of heart and can be intimidating, but I will say that I have never been happier, and those around me have seen a change in me that I can only attribute to the Lord and His calling for me. I wish you the best.