But before one decides to avoid the alleged “ivory tower” of seminary, before one decides not to fight the battle of uprooting one’s self or family, we should count the costs.
One of the benefits of in-person seminary education is that it loosens our roots, and often transplants us. Basic as it may seem, the first plus of in-person education is that it gets the student not only out of his pajamas (so to speak?), and out of the house, but perhaps out of town. In-person classes usually require a move. And once someone has taken the baby-step of temporary relocation, they become a little more open — and a little better prepared – to contemplate the giant step a campus ministry on the other side of the country, church planting in a needy state, missionary service on a foreign field. In their sacrifice, small or large, they’ve learned some life-lessons associated with all the faith, inconvenience, discomfort, and fundraising required to live in a place that is not their home. They’ve added more miles of ministry usefulness in fewer years of life experience. They will have expanded the number of people and churches who know them, love them, pray for them, and will perhaps support them financially. Those who choose to do otherwise lose these advantages.
Chad Van Dixhoorn | “Send them to Seminary” | February 13th, 2025
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