It´s been about six years I started seminary at my local church. It is one of the requirements for someone to become an ordained minister, but it is also very helpful, whether or not one has plans to become a minister. I´ve been in seminary for that long due to my frequent mission trips. In the past, I would have said, erroneously, that ministry has priority over preparation/education, but the opposite isn´t true either. Both are necessary and certain settings make one a priority than the other. Late last year, I register on a intensive seminary (on top of my church´s one). This seminary is quite demanding when it comes to writing papers, research, reading requirements, etc. It demanded a lot of time from me, a lot of effort, energy, and money. At one point, I pondered on the possibility of quitting. So I asked myself what benefit I was receiving from it. After talking about it with Patria, I realized studying in seminary can be both a blessing and a distraction. So far, in my case, it has been a blessing, Hope you don´t mind I share with you, briefly, how seminary has been a blessing to me.
Diligence
As a youth minister and a missions leader, I have to be constantly teaching from the bible. Sometimes these teachings can be very theoretical, but sometimes they can be very practical. I have learned that I have a responsibility to teach the scriptures (2 Ti 4:2), the Holy Spirit will do the rest. Seminary has demanded from me lots of preparation, intentional study and research, and a greater desire to communicate God´s word with excellence. I have become more diligent in my study of the scripture. And that, by itself, is shaping my character.
Intimacy
I´ve heard people often say that seminary is a relationship killer. That our love for study murders our intimacy with God. That in the desire to know about God we forget about knowing God. To be honest, I´ve seen where that can happen. Specially when there´s a paper to hand in at a certain time. I wake up and I first think about finishing that paper rather than taking time to spend it with God. It has happened though, that as I read scripture and have a better understanding of it, I feel more compelled to obey it. A recent assignment was the we had to read the book of Mathew in three different versions or languages. I read it in Spanish, English, and Haitian creole. The more I read, the more I saw God´s love for me, how He has a plan for salvation for people in every nation, and how He´s chosen me to go tell them in their language about the good news. I wish I could let you know how I felt every morning when I had to read my bible in my quiet time in creole!! It was slow, but every verse gave me a heart for that nation. I felt God talking to me every day. I realized it had been very easy to grow numb on God´s word.
Calling
Why would I study in seminary anyway? The Dominican Republic´s Education system doesn´t recognize religious careers as professional careers. So, to have a M. Div. means pretty much nothing to the Dominican education system. However, I have joined students from different parts of the country, Pastors, missionaries, lay believers with a calling and a desire to serve God in excellence. That has given me assurance in my calling through studying in seminary.
These are only three, but there have been many, many blessings. Both classes have encourage me to give my best for God, both when I´m preaching and when I´m serving. May His name be praised.
