What Educational Path Should Apostolic Students Follow?

Summary

Summary prepared by Acts 2:38 Life from the transcript below — the preacher’s words follow in full.

Education is a tool — Peter the fisherman and Paul the trained

• The question posed (in the host's frame): anybody who knows your background, knows that you are a proponent of apostolic education. You're the founding president of urshan college, and urshan graduate school of theology (as the frame names them). And at the same time, you're also a graduate of two secular universities: the university of texas school of law, and rice university. So you've seen both sides. And you've also been an avid supporter of the upci's endorsed bible colleges. I've heard you offer support for those, at various times. Now, right now, many apostolic students — they're trying to decide what sort of educational path they want to follow. We have students out there: they feel a call to ministry, but they're not really sure what that ministry looks like. Is god calling me to be a preacher, or something else? So they also may have academic gifts, and other interests. And they're trying to figure out: what should they pursue? how do i balance the two of them (as the frame asks it)? What advice would you offer, to somebody who's in this situation? And, as the frame asks it: how does somebody decide, what educational path they should follow? The answer: let me start by saying: education is a tool. It can be used, for good or ill. It's a valuable tool, but it has to be used properly. Also: there are various ways, of accomplishing the same goal. So yes, i certainly believe in education, in various forms. But i don't think you have to be highly educated, to do god's will. Take a look at the apostles. The foremost spokesman, of the original apostles, was the apostle peter. He was a fisherman. No formal training. But yet god used him greatly, in amazing ways. On the other hand: when god wanted to speak to governors, kings — and, according to early church history, even to the roman emperor — who did he use? The apostle paul. Who did have quite an education. He had an advanced theological training. He was trained, at the feet of gamaliel, who's known from jewish history as one of the foremost rabbis, of the first century. And in acts (the chapter as he gives it): paul quotes — when he was preaching in athens, especially — two philosophers. He interacted with greek epicurean, and stoic, philosophers. And the council at athens. He quoted from at least two, perhaps three, greek philosophers and poets. And in his epistles, there are a couple other places where he quoted from greek poets. So i don't know if he just learned these, from the common culture. Or whether he just read them, on his own. Or whether he had a course of study. But apparently he took time, to learn the culture, and some of the sources. And in a time when books were all handwritten — and so all manuscripts are rare, and costly — it seems that he did acquire not only scripture. But he asked for the books, and the parchments. There seems to be: he had scrolls of scripture, but also scrolls, or maybe books, of other sources. So it appears to me that paul had advanced training, or education — whether some of it was self-taught, i'm not sure — in both the old testament, or jewish, beliefs. But also in secular culture. So i see that as a model. God can use all kinds of people. In fact, god needs all kinds of people. So i'm not here to say: everybody needs a certain kind of education. Or: if you don't have a certain education, you're not as important, or you're deficient. I don't want to say any of that. God can use everyone.

Scriptures: Acts 17

Qualify yourself — study, and the qualifications for ministers

• However, i would say — and i think this is scriptural — second timothy (the verse as he gives it): study to show yourself approved, rightly dividing the word of truth. And of course, the word study is not focused narrowly, in the greek, on reading, or book study. But it means: be diligent. But nevertheless, i think the bible would certainly support: you should be diligent, in seeking truth, knowledge, training yourself, educating yourself. If you feel like god has called you to preach: you need to prepare yourself. Your god's calling may be real. But just because you're called, doesn't mean you're automatically qualified. You must qualify yourself. And the scriptural qualifications, for ministers of the gospel — according to 1 timothy (the chapter as he gives it), titus (the chapter as he gives it) — meaning apt to teach. Capable of teaching. So you must study, to be a good teacher. Able to handle the scripture. Able to handle the doctrine. Not only to preach inspirationally, fervently, with anointing. But able to explain the word of god, and instruct people carefully, in the word of god. So here's what i'd say. In our culture — particularly, i'm talking about north america — education is highly desirable, for a productive life, and for careers and jobs. People that do have education, training, will generally earn a lot more, and have more successful lives. But not one size fits all. So here's what i tell every young person in our culture: i think probably getting a high school education is basic, and minimum. Everybody should aspire for that. And, for some reason, if you don't have that: consider the ged, the equivalent. But then, from there, i say: you can consider — not everybody should go to college, although that's often promoted. I think you should consider vocational school. Or, if you know your career, or your vocation: maybe on-the-job training. Getting a good job, that trains you, in the area of your interest, in your vocation. That might be sufficient. So consider vocational training, or on-the-job training. I do think many people should consider college. And i do think many people should consider bible college. And in the middle, we have urshan college (in its heard forms throughout this answer) — which has the features of a bible college, but it also has other majors. And it's accredited. And we do have christian life college, in stockton — is also accredited. Stockton, california. We have other colleges, that i understand are seeking accreditation. And we have a variety of colleges, now.

Scriptures: 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Timothy 3; Titus 1

The seamless system — every step connected

• Just from my background, as you mentioned: i graduated from rice university. University of texas. University of south africa. I taught at the university of houston. I taught at austin community college. So i've been involved with many secular colleges. But i also taught, for five years, at jackson college of ministries — one of our bible colleges, at the time. I taught classes, over the years, for texas bible college. In fact, i taught the first extension courses, called excel, for tbc. I taught a modular class, for apostolic bible institute, in saint paul, minnesota. I did spiritual emphasis week — or whatever they call it — for indiana bible college, in indianapolis. For gateway college of evangelism, in st louis: i taught guest lectures, for gateway. And so, i — at kent christian college, i taught, i think it was 90 hours total, of video instruction, for their distance learning program. So, one way or the other, i've been involved in most of our bible colleges. As a district superintendent, i was responsible for overseeing the startup of our first spanish bible college, ctm. So i believe in all kinds of education. Now, as a general superintendent, i believe we need all these options. So i think there should be a seamless whole ('a seamless hole', as heard). And here's what i mean. So you could start with purpose institute, which is training in the local church. And we also have a base in california. Ctsi ministerial training. And ministerial, broadly defined: lay leadership, as well as ministerial leadership ('and minister of leadership', as the words run). And in alberta, canada, we have the genesis institute. So we've got three endorsed projects, that give you local church-based training. But then, what if you want to go on? You can use those credits, to help you towards bible college, or urshan college (in its heard forms). Or, what if you want specifically training for preaching, or for music ministry, or some other leadership, in a local church? Well, we have a variety of bible colleges. And i think i've mentioned most of them. If i've omitted any, it's — i'm not thinking of them, at the moment. But, well: there's north texas college, there in the dallas area. And we also have a new training institute, approved in tampa. So some are training institutes. Some are true colleges, bible colleges. And so i think: especially for those who aspire for leadership, in the church, those are great options. They can also be good options, just for general life experience. And then, as i said: urshan college combines the best of both. And then urshan graduate school is our only graduate school. So — and that is also for ministry, and lay leadership. And so that way: if you maybe had a secular college, or a bible college, but then you want to go on, to more specialized training, for a master's degree — and soon there will be a doctoral program — then ugst is the natural choice. So my goal is: if you just want specialized training, in the local church, we've got several options. If you decide you want to go to more formal training, we have bible colleges. And so you can use the credits, at one step, to go the other. If you want an accredited degree, we have an option. If you want a master's degree, you have an option. And so a lot of it's individualized. Now, if you want a professional career, in geology: probably you need to go to secular college. Because none of our bible colleges, or urshan college, will offer a degree. Or in accounting, or law, you know. So, depending on your career goals. So you might start with a community college, and then go to bible college, or urshan college. Or you might start urshan college, and then go to a master's program, in another field. Or go to a bible college, or urshan college, for a year or two, to get an apostolic grounding. So there's so many paths, that i don't want to prescribe anyone.

Secular college — church first, and the retention lesson

• I will say, though: there's a big debate — secular versus bible (college). Here's what i learned, as pastor. Of course, in my personal life, i navigated secular college. But i think my personal experience — which i believe, i did a segment on this, some time back. (The host's interjection — restating that personal path — stands verbatim-only here.) The answer resumes: yes. But i would say: if you do pursue secular college, you must make church first. Stay engaged, in your local church. Committed to your local church. And involved, in personal ministry. That becomes the proper context, for handling secular college. As a pastor, here's what i learned. I had many of our young people, young adults — and even not young adults ('and even nuts young adults', as heard) — pursue, from associate's degree, to bachelor's degree, master's, doctorate ('mastery doctorate', as heard), all that. And here's what i learned. If they stayed in the area, and faithfully attended our local church, and then went to a college within driving distance: it was a very high retention rate. Actually, even a little higher than those who didn't go to college. And i think: perhaps because we were more intentional. And also because maybe, in our culture at least, that indicated a more disciplined (disposition) ('a more discipline', as the word stands). So, in — so college was not a detriment. In fact, if anything, it was an advantage. I also learned: if i sent them away to bible college — and i sent them to, i think, six of our bible colleges, so i was a supporter. And later, of course, urshan college. But at the time, urshan graduate school (both in heard forms). If i sent them to any of our bible colleges, or urshan: again, very high retention rate. But if i sent them off, to another city, to a secular school: a very high dropout rate, for the church. Even though i tried to tell them: here's a good church to go to. And i would call the pastor, and say: i'm sending this person to you, try to connect them. But sadly: if they moved off, out of their local church culture — now, some were successful, so i'm not totally against that. I'm just saying there was a higher dropout rate. Not for our local church, specifically. But for the kingdom of god. For the faith ('for the absolute faith', as heard). So that's something that must carefully be considered ('must care be carefully considered', as the words run). If your career, and life goals, mean you need secular training: i suggest you explore colleges, in your area. Or, if you feel the right one is somewhere off: you make an intentional connection ('a con intentional connection', as heard), to a local church and pastor. And become committed, to that church. Faithful, not only in attendance, but involvement in ministry. Don't use college as an excuse, that you can't be involved. Or you might consider: even if you need secular degrees, for your career goals, you might consider going a year or two, to urshan college, or a bible college. To make sure you get grounded, in your faith, on an intellectual basis. So when you face secular college, you already have some ammunition. Or you already have a foundation. And so i would recommend that: you be very intentional, with your pastor. And if your parents are in the church, and plan something, that not merely considers what's best, in a secular way, but what's best, for your spiritual life.

His own Rice story — and the closing safeguards

• And so i'll close with this. When i, when i graduated from high school: i had a national merit scholarship. And i had a lot of advantages. And i had offers, to some of the major universities, on the east coast. Ivy league schools. At that time, we did not have strong churches, in most of those areas. So my parents really were reluctant, for me to go. Well, i found one of the top schools in the nation — often called the harvard of the south — rice university. It was in houston. There were a lot of good churches. So my parents strongly advised me, in that direction. And so i did get a scholarship there. I went there. I was happy that i did. They also were very reluctant, for me to live on campus. Because the secular environment. So i was able to rent a room, from a family in the church. And commute. And that proved very beneficial. To give you a simple illustration: i had to be on campus, for the first week of orientation. And sure enough, the orientation was over. Our mentor — the upper class(man) was leading us — he said: well, we're all going to go out, to a bar. And it was a topless bar. So there were a few of us, who were christians. We opted out. We found out (what) was going (on) ('we we found out was going', as the words run). But the whole — i was a 17 year old kid. First time away from home. 7 000 miles away from home (the figure as he gives it). And had i not had convictions, and training, and intentionally made a decision: i would have ended up, at a topless bar. Even though i was under age, for even drinking. So my point is: that secular culture — and especially a campus dorm culture — can be very detrimental. So if someone is going to secular college ('secure college', as heard at the close), you should certainly plan to safeguard yourself, in these areas. And make wise decisions: of the right school. The right living environment. The right companions. You know, the right friends. And the right church.

Scripture index: Acts 17; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Timothy 3; Titus 1.