Lifelong Learners
For the past few weeks it seems that every week is a report of another graduation. From preschool to PhD’s everyone seems to be graduating. In youth ministry we tend to focus on the high school graduates, and rightfully so, after all they are our “kids”. But some of the graduates from Southern Seminary this year that got me thinking about education in a whole new light. Two of these men are lifelong learners who were not satisfied with the knowledge they all ready had.
The first was, Steve Coleman, the Minister of Students at First Baptist Church in Richmond. As I watched Steve and that chest length goatee walk across the stage, I thought of the sacrifices he and Sula made so he could go back to school. When asked about what made him decide to go back, Steve said, “as a lifelong learner,” having “read books on youth ministry, culture, and studies on scriptures.” And “being a veteran youth worker, there was very little that I haven't dealt with over the years. However, as I read about many things, I realized that I knew much of these subject matters but felt I may be missing something in the biblical texts and studies.”
Coleman continued, “I wasn't sure that I could do school and still be involved in ministry, home, and all the other activities that I was involved in but I tried it to see. My first class was on Monday morning at 8am in Louisville, a 3 hour drive away and I lost an hour! I had not gone to school in over 25 years! I wasn't sure I could do it. I was afraid and not sure if I could pull it off. My wife was so supportive and just knew that I could do it. She helped me in so many ways. There were things around the house that I normally did and she did it in my place. The sacrifices that she made while I was reading, studying, writing or researching were priceless. When I was down, unsure, and wanting to throw in the towel, she was the one that came along side to help get me back on track. I am not sure that I could have done it without her!~ Once the first semester was over and I had read lots of books, written several papers, taken mid-terms and final exams I had my first grade report on the screen and I had passed both classes. I was on my way.”
The second was Nick Stamps, Associate Pastor at Post Oak Baptist in Russellville. When asked about his experience Stamps said, “my first inclination was that I was “out of my mind” to think that a guy in his late thirties (38), with a wife and three daughters, and a full-time ministry position could even think about going back to school. I mean, it had been over 16 years since I had even had to take notes, much more take a test in a classroom setting”.
But Stamps continued, “Throughout this whole process my wife and our three girls have been absolutely incredible. They have been the ones who have sacrificed the most, but also been the most supportive and unbelievably understanding. I am so thankful for them. There were many, many times that I just wanted to give up and quit, but Julia was always there to encourage me, support me, love me, and yes even check the grammar of most all of the papers I wrote. She has truly been my “help mate and I thank God for bringing such an incredible lady into my life.”
Stamps concluded, “While attending, I was so blessed to walk through that experience with five other guys who have become some of my dearest and closest friends. We actually called ourselves the “Seminary Six,” and it has been such a blessing and honor to travel this road with them. So, if I could encourage anyone considering seminary or additional education I would tell them to fi nd a friend to walk with them, make friends while there (some o f the best friends you will ever find), and don&r squo;t travel this road alone.”
Congratulations you two. You are trailblazers. May your tribe increase.
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posted by: Joe Ball on June 14th, 2010
