Baptist College for World Evangelism

We have too manu under-trained ministers as it is. This is just perpetuating the problem.

We are not doing anyone any good by giving them missionaries and pastors who are not trained properly.

I praise God for men and women willing to go into the field...but they must be trained. Willingness is not the only prerequisite. Ableness is as well.

 

not true, but even if it was, do you not acknowlege the need for a missionary in my workplace? Do you not acknowledge the fact that 90% of the programs and ministries of my church are operated under the direction of the leaders by lay people? Why do you think that only those who are "full-time" whatever that is, are in ministry. My real Bible College education qualified me and prepared me for ministry, but it also prepared me for life, including a secular job since that has been God's plan for my life. I would appreciate it if you would not discount the value of Bible college educated church members who do the real work of the ministry. No one will despise your youth, but they will despise your immmaturity and your foolishness. Just as they do when an older person exhibits those traits.

 

Besides, if you think this country is a kingdom of light, you apparently haven't tried to start a church here.

There is as much a need for a witness in Oxford, Mi as there is in Africa, or Georgia, where my church recently sent a mission team interestingly enough.

 

Well, actually Hyles didn't get to FBCH until 1959. Since he was born in 1926 I believe- this would make him 32-33 when he became pastor there.

Like Dr. Bob- I hardly think that Jack Hyles is a credible example of what a pastor should be. And I say that from some personal experience. If one is interested in cultivating a church that is man-centered & brushes a multitude of sins under the rug, then he's probably a great example to follow.

I have relatives who are graduates of Hyles-Anderson, not to mention several friends & acquaintances. Some of them are still supportive of him, but the rest (like I am) no longer are blinded by the smoke & mirrors of Hammond.

I've been to FBCH many times, and I even attended Pastor's School back in the early 80's. I woke up though, and praise God I've seen through all of the hype.

BTW- the "largest church in the world" claim is pure hype too.

 

As a follow-up to my previous post- First Baptist Hammond wasn't designated the "World's Largest Sunday School" until the early 70"s, by which time Hyles was in his mid-40's.

So the statement that Hyles pastored the "largest church in the world" at age 21 is utterly incorrect.

 

And the primary way he has done that IMO, is by the ministries of solid Bible Colleges that prepare them for ministry. Most churches (broad generalization) do not provide the in depth biblical or ministry training that is needed to make one more effective on any field, foreign or domestic.

Our church uses mission trips and internships to give high school and college age students practical on the field training and experience, but recognizes that they also need the in depth Bible training and practical ministry training that they need in a Bible College. IMO, spending 4 years or a couple more than that preparing for ministry in a Bible college is more than worth the delay time wise, both from the standpoint of training and maturity.

 

Thought I’d throw in a missionary’s thoughts on this subject.

I have a four-year collage degree from an IFB Bible college. My major was Missions. To be honest, the degree did very little to prepare me for overseas ministry. Mainly those who never served as missionaries themselves, taught the mission courses. Why did I remain at a Bible college? In some IFB circles you have to have the diploma from one of the “chosen schools” if you want any chance of joining one of the “chosen mission boards” so you can finish deputation before it’s time to collect social security checks. I got the paper, got to the field fast, but was seriously unprepared for overseas ministry. God used time and circumstances to be the greatest teacher. All the time and money spent at Bible College was mostly for the piece of paper at the end. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not bitter or out to get a refund for my years at school. : ) I’m also not speaking for all others who have gone to IFB schools for missions. This is just my experience.

While I see argument against traditional missions training at Bible college, I’m not convinced of the legitimacy of the alternate being given. 100 preached sermons are hardly the answer, unless public speaking skills are all that is viewed as important. What if the theology and philosophy behind those 100 sermons has deficiencies? Isn’t possible to preach 100 sermons and to learn nothing new? Let’s face it that many only preach on topics they already view they know or on issues of great importance to them. It’s not hard to find 100 words, phrases, or verses to use as a springboard into the familiar topics.

Yes people are going to hell while some people are taking four- year courses at a Bible College. Let us remember that there were also people going to hell before God chose in his timing to save the soul of the person attending that college. Surely we’d not want to accuse God of wasting time while people perish? People are also going to hell with missionaries around them that got to the filed fast but preach a decisionalism type of salvation. I’m not trying to minimize the severity of God’s holy judgment to sinners, but let us remember that we alone can’t save more people by just speeding up an education.

I know I dislike long posts, so I’ll stop here for now.

 

Comrade, You still need to answer the question about Bible college students going into secular jobs.

Do you not consider America as a mission field?

 

This is likely true, it would be more effective for a missionary to stick to more foundational Bible training, and get their missions training from either short term, internship style engagements, or by working under a veteran missionary.

This is the philosophy of our youth pastor with his mission trips. They are not merely designed to assist or encourage the missionaries that are visited, but they actually have the missionary do very specific training sessions with the kids to help them understand exactly what is going into the ministry, their time was spent as much learning the actual missions work as it was in more physical assistance such as construction or clearing land, although that is a great way to assist missionaries, there are other goals being persued with the kids involved in the trip. One who is a sophmore in college has gone on three summer trips overseas and spent the summer this year in Africa as an intern with two missionaries who are involved in church planting in a large suburb in Tanzania and a more itinerate ministry in the bush. His Bible training is important, but for missions, the OJT is invaluble.

 

This is likely true, it would be more effective for a missionary to stick to more foundational Bible training, and get their missions training from either short term, internship style engagements, or by working under a veteran missionary. </font>[/QUOTE]My college's (Williams Baptist College) missions program is a Christian Ministry degree "sub-major." Missions majors at my school have the same foundational Bible and ministerial training as the other ministry majors, but they are required to take an extra class studying missions (with an emphasis on Southern Baptist missions) and to complete missions experiences with professorial oversight and review. Could something like this resolve the issue?