Apr
25
Written by:
Pete
25/04/2011 08:39
This post was written by Sammy Davies, on the 2nd year of his Binary Course studying the MA Theology (Contemporary Church Leadership)
One of the most encouraging aspects of my life at WEST is time spent in the college, out of lectures, with my fellow students. My ‘learning’ was definitely aided by being able knock ideas back and forth, make ludicrous suggestions and getting lovingly shot-down by those who are far more godly and well read in their Bibles than I am. Through my ‘Binary Brothers’ I have learnt a lot. Thanks guys.
The second year of the binary presented a far different landscape in which to learn. Alone. While the termly teaching weeks provided an opportunity to catch up and chat with class mates, the intense nature of the weeks meant there was less time for lengthy talks about what we’d learnt in the classrooms and what we were learning/being challenged by in our churches. This perceived gap in the second year of the binary served to strengthen my conviction for the need to be grounded in my local church.
I suppose that I was one of the lucky ones all through my studies. Living no more than 40minutes from the college, I was able to remain in the church that had sent me and to put into immediate practice all that I was learning through the continued opportunities to serve it presented. Add to this the fact that during my second year a significant proportion of my time was spent ‘on placement’ in my church, that sense of being alone never really materialised. Each week my pastor sat me down to talk about my placement, the church in general and to help me process what I was learning.
This time was invaluable as it meant that yet again my studies were grounded in the local church, the very place they were intended to equip me to pastor faithfully. Rather than living two lives, one as student, one as church member, I was able to live a healthy integrated few years.
God is gracious. Not only in providing a college near enough to commute to, but in providing a church that was willing to send and support a young upstart like myself. More than this God has graciously provided wise brothers in college and in church to keep me on the straight and narrow and to help me process and apply some fantastic teaching.
My conclusion? We should never seek to undertake this kind of adventure alone. First and foremost, we do it with God, by God. Secondly, we do it with a church that loves and cares for us (and who we love and care for in return). Finally, we do it with each other. The author to the Hebrews commands we ‘encourage one another daily’ so that Christ will remain much in our lives. Studying at college is not an opportunity to neglect any of these but rather an opportunity to understand their importance all the more.