Doe, A Deer, A Female Deer

This is what I saw first this morning after the sun started coming up. I went to the kitchen window and looked out to see a young doe standing just a few feet from our deck. By the time I ran downstairs to get my camera and then back up she was further away. I just wish McGrooter had been here with me. He would really have enjoyed that!

It's now official that I will begin my new job at MTW on February 6th. I'm excited about the work and new opportunities. I'm still a little disappointed in our family structure (both of us working). But we'll do this for now. My work will involve helping people who have shown some type of interest in missions decide what the next step should be. For some it will be a short road to getting on the field and for others a bit longer. Some will see they're not ready or equipped for the work. Basically, I'll counsel and help people understand more about the process. I'll have a chance to get to know what is going on around the world so as to better pair prospective team members with the right team. The word "coach" was used to describe the position to me. I guess it will be easier to communicate once I start. I will get to travel some. I think it will be enough to be enjoyable but not so much that I'm away too often. The big appeal to me is that it has many pastoral attributes, which is what I've missed so much over the past four years.

Many friends and family have asked why I pursued something like this instead of going back into the pastorate. There are a number of reasons, but the main one is that in our denomination I must have my M.Div. completed. I could go into a church outside our denomination, but there would be certain challenges involved in that (based on my convictions theologically). So when I first submitted my resume to MTW in August of last year, I thought that it might provide an opportunity that would be the next best thing. Nothing was available at the time and then we switched courses and Les began looking for work. When all that panned out I kind of dismissed working for a while (wanting one of us to be home with the kids). But in December I ran into a friend from MTW who said "I was just talking about you this week and gave your resume to someone in our office." He then arranged to have lunch with me and introduced me around. Right away the job seemed like a good fit. But the formal interviewing and such couldn't begin until January. So although the timing of this whole thing hasn't been exactly how we would have planned it, we feel somewhat confident that this is where we need to be and what we need to be doing.

Once I'm able to finish my seminary degree then new opportunities will be available to us. But I have to get that done too. Many friends ask "how long?" I don't have an answer really. It does help to understand that by "seminary degree" people mean many different things. Some people go to seminary and earn a 1 or 2-year degree that can range any where from 30-60 hours. These are typically Master of Arts degrees and have a specialty such as Christian Education or Counseling, etc... The Master of Divinity degree typically around 100 hours. It's 102 at my school. I've completed about 70 hours, so I'm about 2/3 done. But this last 30% may take much longer than the first part simply because of our family situation. But I DO plan on finishing. Some way, somehow. Of course if we win the lottery and neither of us have to work then it will go much faster! :-)

One thing I've really pondered quite a bit through this whole experience is how churches handle, help, encourage, and spur young men on into ministry. It's something I'll have to write more on later, but something I think needs a lot of thought and prayer. I have become more convinced than ever that the local church is the place to "entrust these things to faithful men." I still believe solid theological training is essential, but the entrusting has to take place on the local church level. Then, when local churches send their young men off to seminary, they (the church) is the vehicle God uses to support, encourage, and protect these young men from heresy. But when men just head off (as is what happens in most churches, denominations, etc...) they are at risk of becoming discouraged, feeling alone, struggling to support themselves, and unknowingly receiving false teaching. I've seen some churches do this well. I hope one day (if I do end up back in the pastorate) that I will lead in such a way. But my experience in our denomination so far has been that most churches do little beyond bringing young men under care of the Session. It seems to mean very little. But more on that some other time.

Okay all you deer hunters. Our deck seems like a good place to come and perch if you like!