Leadership Friday: Continuing Education

A lot of my friends know that I'm doing things a little differently in my education. Many of my peers followed two common paths:

1. They went to a four year Bible college for a B.A. degree, and then on to a seminary for a Masters degree in something theological (the most common seeming to be a M.Div).

2. They went to a liberal arts school for a secular B.A. degree, then to seminary for some theology degree (again, generally a M.Div.).

I thought long and hard about it, and my path has been different.

For my undergrad degree, I went to an intense Bible College where the total focus (at least at the time) was Scripture. That was Ozark Christian College. It was a biblical undergrad education that was second to none. I would not trade the knowledge gained there for a barge load of gold.

For my graduate work, I went the less common route of a secular Masters degree in communication (M.Com/MaComm/MACOM - lots of different acronyms). I absolutely LOVE my school - Spring Arbor University - and have been able to do all of it online. The staff in the communications department is second to none and has been a joy to work with. (Honestly, in my first few classes on communication theory, I kept thinking to myself, "Why the heck was I not taught this in Bible College?!!!!!")

I'm often asked why I opted for that route.

Let's be honest about one of the dirty little secrets of ministry that no one says out loud: Preaching pastors have a shelf life.

We all know there comes an age point where getting a job in a respectable church setting becomes next to impossible, and many then struggle to find a job where they can make a living apart from ministry, or they end up babysitting smaller, often dysfunctional congregations - forced to stay because they need the income, while having their life drained from them by their situation. There are exceptions, but they are just that: The exceptions.

I decided not to be that unprepared guy if I could help it at all. It's kind of an old adage that we can only minister effectively to those within ten years of our own age, or if we are extremely gifted, we might be able to minister to those within a couple years of our children's ages. What happens when we hit that age wall? What happens when hopes and dreams meet unpleasant realities? (I've asked - in writing - the presidents of three Bible Colleges if they had considered anything for helping those who hit that wall or for preparing students for when that wall comes - and none of them, including two at Ozark - my alma mater, ever responded to me to even acknowledge my correspondence.)

Contrary to what Christian seminary recruiters will tell you, if you are forced into the secular work force (and with the decreasing church numbers around the nation, this is likely - the few churches who remain cannot hire all of us!), theological degrees will be worth nothing in finding new employment in order to provide for our family. We are spiritually irresponsible if we do not prepare to care for them financially and effectively.

Thinking ahead, I would like to continue it teaching. It's all I've really done for the most part. So I checked with the HR people of several local public school systems and with several secular colleges and universities (emphasizing my years of public teaching) and was told - almost uniformly - "We can't really say it out loud, but a liberal arts B.A. and a theological M.A. are not going to interest us. Two theological degrees is quietly viewed as worse than no higher degrees at all in our (secular) setting." However, with a secular M.A., my years of teaching would actually mean something.

I listen to a lot of pastors on pod-casts, and most of them do a pretty poor job of creating content and delivering it effectively. In fact, I'd say most of us over estimate our teaching ability. This communication degree has exposed that beyond doubt.

So, as the end of my shelf-life approaches, I have two things I am considering: Teaching communication to young pastors in a Bible College setting to help them be more effective in their ministry, or to teach on a secular campus as a missionary behind the scenes. I could also go into the local school systems and teach.

I don't want my ministry among the churched or the unchurched to end simply because I have hit a certain age.

I'm certainly not against a theological M.A. degree of any kind (especially if you don't have any theological B.A. degree), but I do think we need to be more wise in thinking through the investment of our time and be more honest in the assessment of our life potential. As we get older, our increasing numbers cannot all be employed within the church establishment (or religious schools), nor should we suppose that we are the exception who will be employed.

Think through your options more wisely. Trust God, but have a plan as well, and He will guide your path.