How We Got Here
Many of our friends and family have asked how we got here (why we moved back to Georgia). A book could be written on the matter and all of it would not be edifying, so I'll just sum it up as follows.
We went to Birmingham for me to pursue my Master of Divinity degree at Birmingham Theological Seminary. We were there for 3 1/2 years. In the first 2 years I completed about half of the degree (50+ hours). In the last year and a half, my studies slowed down to nearly a halt. This was due to my need to pursue other employment to meet the needs of our family. I began freelancing (web design) a few months after our arrival, upon discovering that the salary plans for my job at the seminary did not pan out. This freelancing grew into me starting my own business. So I worked two jobs while going to school. Our family also grew from 1 child to 3. Family time diminished as my job at the seminary grew. Study time diminished even further. Something had to give. The whole reason we moved to Birmingham (attending seminary) was not being achieved.
We thought the change would come in the form of me getting a different job, one that would pay enough for us to live on without me having to work a second job. Instead, the Lord directed our steps for Leslie to go back to teaching. She could make considerably more teaching school than I could from both jobs. So we decided to move back to GA for her to teach and for me to stay home with the kids. Her mom agreed to help with the kids a couple days a week so that I could have some designated study time. Hopefully, I will be able to complete the last third of my M.Div. this way (possibly in 18 months).
Our time in Birmingham was our Wilderness Experience. Not that we had a bad time there, but it was very dry spiritually and very challenging personally. Our family life suffered greatly and we constantly asked ourselves, "Why are trying to hard so get equipped for ministry when we are disqualifying ourselves in the process?" I don't think going was a mistake, but there things I would have done differently that I think would have enabled me to finish before leaving and could have prevented us entering into financial debt. But the Lord was not surprised by all of this, including our mistakes, and He has taught us (and is continuing to teach us) immensely more than we could have imagined through the whole ordeal.
Upon completing my M.Div. we hope to be in a situation where I will be able to enter into a pastoral role. It may take longer to get back on our feet financially than it takes me to finish my degree, but we are trusting the Lord. We won't be able to do anything until both pieces of the puzzle come together.
Personally, I have grown more in love with the doctrines of grace and Reformed theology. Our plans are to stay in the PCA denomination but we are of course open to wherever the Lord would take us (even overseas). I also have to wonder why the Lord has given me the opportunity to gain so much technical and business experience from running my own business and how He plans to use that in the future.
We covet your prayers.
We went to Birmingham for me to pursue my Master of Divinity degree at Birmingham Theological Seminary. We were there for 3 1/2 years. In the first 2 years I completed about half of the degree (50+ hours). In the last year and a half, my studies slowed down to nearly a halt. This was due to my need to pursue other employment to meet the needs of our family. I began freelancing (web design) a few months after our arrival, upon discovering that the salary plans for my job at the seminary did not pan out. This freelancing grew into me starting my own business. So I worked two jobs while going to school. Our family also grew from 1 child to 3. Family time diminished as my job at the seminary grew. Study time diminished even further. Something had to give. The whole reason we moved to Birmingham (attending seminary) was not being achieved.
We thought the change would come in the form of me getting a different job, one that would pay enough for us to live on without me having to work a second job. Instead, the Lord directed our steps for Leslie to go back to teaching. She could make considerably more teaching school than I could from both jobs. So we decided to move back to GA for her to teach and for me to stay home with the kids. Her mom agreed to help with the kids a couple days a week so that I could have some designated study time. Hopefully, I will be able to complete the last third of my M.Div. this way (possibly in 18 months).
Our time in Birmingham was our Wilderness Experience. Not that we had a bad time there, but it was very dry spiritually and very challenging personally. Our family life suffered greatly and we constantly asked ourselves, "Why are trying to hard so get equipped for ministry when we are disqualifying ourselves in the process?" I don't think going was a mistake, but there things I would have done differently that I think would have enabled me to finish before leaving and could have prevented us entering into financial debt. But the Lord was not surprised by all of this, including our mistakes, and He has taught us (and is continuing to teach us) immensely more than we could have imagined through the whole ordeal.
Upon completing my M.Div. we hope to be in a situation where I will be able to enter into a pastoral role. It may take longer to get back on our feet financially than it takes me to finish my degree, but we are trusting the Lord. We won't be able to do anything until both pieces of the puzzle come together.
Personally, I have grown more in love with the doctrines of grace and Reformed theology. Our plans are to stay in the PCA denomination but we are of course open to wherever the Lord would take us (even overseas). I also have to wonder why the Lord has given me the opportunity to gain so much technical and business experience from running my own business and how He plans to use that in the future.
We covet your prayers.
posted by J. Seth Wallace at 1:07 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home