The Trouble With Patience

Was there a hint of offense coming along with the idea that Bible school helps in preparing relationships and contacts, that will be useful in ministry?

I hope not! Making connections is vital to development in the ministry as we know it today. Rarely does a minister prosper who does not have moderate to extensive connections across the fellowship.

We could say and have said that BC education is very valuable, but we have to admit that it is not absolutely necessary. Could we say the same thing about good friendships and relationships? I doubt it.

In fact, working relationships with good men and women who are committed to this faith are more likely to produce lasting improvements and maturing in that young preacher, or Christian worker. (Is it necessary to mention that this holds true for relationships to quality people? Perhaps, but even connections to men and women who can, by a bad example, instruct in what not to do or be, can have a powerful and lasting effect.) Don't we expect life to instruct us? Then let's expand the lives of those who we mentor. Bible College connections can do this.

Ideally, the Bible College instructor will also be a close relationship to the young minister but this is not a guarentee by any means.

As to mentoring and helping young people to find the will of God in their lives, how wonderful it would be if this was a general fact. But lets face the facts. Pastors and knowldgeable saints are cautious about sending their young people to our Bible schools because of the very high occasion of finding that the "will of God" is, according to the counsellors:

- Stay here and help at our church
- Marry one of the young ladies and stay to work at the school
- Use your talents Help the music director to obtain fame (and keep his job)
- Go demand a certain salary from a large church

and rarely includes

- Go home an bring your experience and education back to your home church and bless those who sent you and that environment where God planted you.

So, I do believe that our Bible College laborers have some thinking to do about how to present a product that best services the movement. They do well, but their continuation is shakey at best from where I sit.

And with all that I am an ...

Advocate