Do Pastors Really Need Education?

People often ask me why I am working on a Doctor of Ministry degree. It is not so that I can climb some denominational ladder. It is not so that I can pastor a larger church or do something else in ministry. My motivation is that I want to be better equipped to do the work that God has called me to. I have had the great privilege of sitting under some wonderful men and women who have taught me a great deal. I have learned from some godly professors that not only love the Lord, they love students. They teach because they want to help equip tomorrow’s pastors and leaders to serve Christ and His Church. In my educational career I have learned a lot of very valuable lessons from others. I am fortunate to have learned from others’ knowledge, as well as from their mistakes. You see if I learn from their mistakes, I do not repeat them myself.

There is a saying that tells us “God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called.” That is certainly true of pastors. Part of that qualifying for a pastor is a good Bible centered education. It is certainly true that there are many wonderful preachers and pastors in our movement that do not have a college degree. (I dare say I bet they wish they did have.) However, they certainly are learners. Pastoring is really one of the hardest jobs a man can undertake. It is important that he prepare for it as best as possible.

A college education is important for our pastors for many reasons. However, I think that churches will agree that they reap rewards of a pastor’s education as well. An education from one of our schools will equip pastors with exposure to the depths and truths of the Word of God. This helps them to better proclaim God’s Word to the congregations that God has called them to. It exposes the pastor to a wide variety of ideas and theories about ministry and every other area of life. It gives the pastor guided practice in developing the art of preaching and pastoring. It helps him to develop the critical thinking skills that are necessary for the pastorate in teaching, preaching, and reaching people for Christ. It equips him to deal with the vast array of moral issues that will creep up in every congregation, even our rural churches.

The church benefits by stronger, equipped pastors who are able to lead them. They benefit by having a preacher that can deliver solid, Bible centered and Bible inspired sermons. They benefit by having a pastor that has been broadly trained in denominational distinctives and history. So, you can see, education is important! Especially for our preachers.

In our state, we have many men who have answered the call to preach later in life. We have many that serve as bi-vocational pastors. With the economy the way it is right now, many men are giving the excuse that they just cannot justify leaving their job and moving, often with families in tow, to Nashville to get a Bible degree. The great news is that Free Will Baptist Bible College offers an Associates degree program that can be earned entirely online. No need to quit your job or ministry to attend classes. While many schools offer an online program FWBBC is the ONLY Free Will Baptist college that is regionally accredited. This means that credits that are earned at FWBBC will transfer to any other college if a student should decide to continue his education and training. Rev. Shane Suggs (native of First FWB Church in Columbus, GA) is Georgia’s first graduate of the online program at FWBBC. He recently moved to northeast Alabama to help Len Blanchard plant a new Free Will Baptist Church. He says of the program: ““The on-line learning program offered by FWBBC has been a tremendous and foundational help to my ministry. Not only did I get great insight from the professor’s, I was engaged by fellow students to stretch my understanding of sometimes difficult subject matter. In addition, it equipped me with the structure and discipline to know how to continue learning outside and beyond the classroom.”

Another benefit of the online program at FWBBC is that its students are eligible for financial aid, including a scholarship awarded each semester to students who are from Georgia who apply.

Finally, you may wonder, is this online program really college level material and beneficial? I have had the privilege of working with FWBBC’s online program for the past year as an online instructor.  When I first began this challenge, I had similar questions. I can assure you that the requirements are just as rigorous as on campus programs. Also all online faculty have advanced degrees in the subjects that they teach. One of the benefits and a unique feature of FWBBC’s program is that actual classroom lectures are a component of the program. Online students listen to the same lectures that on campus students do. They are able to interact with an online instructor and their classmates for discussion, just like on campus. You might also be interested to know that studies show that online students learn just as well, often better than students in a traditional classroom.

Have you been putting off getting an education? NO MORE EXCUSES! Let me also take this opportunity to encourage our church members to encourage their pastors to investigate continued education and training. In fact, this is something that every church should expect and help pay for! It not only makes your pastor a better pastor and preacher, it pays untold dividends to the church as well.

For information about the online program or to apply, call 1-800-76-FWBBC and speak with Mrs. Jena Simpson or Mr. Allan Crowson. If I can answer any questions for you or be of help to you, please feel free to email me directly at pastoraaron@knology.net.