OH MY! Dawn and I are both in school again… full time… as of the fall of this year. We are seeking to finish the hours necessary to gain our bachelor’s degrees from Union University in Jackson, TN.
Actually, we enrolled in the spring and took courses in the summer too but we sort of eased into it under the wise counsel of some good folks in the adult education department at UU. They have been awesome to help us “old dogs” consider how to get started successfully after a 30 year hiatus from the academic life. Dawn and I both had some hours of college from the past but we need many more to finish up so this is a goal which will take at least a year and a half to complete.
This whole process got started in early spring / late winter as we acknowledged that I was not being readily accepted by many Christian institutions due to my lack of a degree with theological emphasis. Honestly, this bothers me still but it is evident that for many out there, a degree is a necessary part of what is expected to serve the Lord at a higher level. Please don’t misunderstand my comments… I am not against higher education at all but I do struggle with the attitudes of some in the religious world who seem to require a piece of paper as a prerequisite to serve. Jesus used men and women as they were and where they were. I do understand that education can hep you be better prepared to serve in some positions. Well, that is enough of that… the main thing is that due to our circumstances and our rethinking the future, we feel that it is best for us (at this point in time) to do this. So, we both are moving forward with diligence and purpose. Pray for us to be able to take on the academic work-load while we continue to be engaged in local ministry and pursue a full time position within whatever ministry God has for us. Thanks! As one of my professors likes to say… “Onward & Upward!”
