First–Do not make a move without your wife’s support. It is apparent that you have not done that yet, but I do not want to assume.

Second–I would ask her why was she willing to sell everything and move 500 miles away just to find a good church and is now hesitant to follow in ministry. I do not mean to be blunt, but there seems to be an inconsistency.

Third–Do not fail with your family. This is a fine line that every minister has to walk. If you fail with your family, then you really do not have a ministry.

Fourth–If God has truly called you to ministry, then He will work on your wife as well. Continue to pray to Him for this. I can personally attest to this. My wife was not really willing to move so I could attend seminary. I was resigned to doing extension courses and on-line courses mixed with a few J-terms. However, one evening my wife came to me and said we needed to move so I could attend seminary. I asked her what the change was and she said that God had impressed it upon her in her quiet time. Be patient, brother. If He has called you, He will provide the means.

With all that said, my advice would be to look into various seminaries and see what they have in the way of extension courses and Internet courses. You can begin working on your degree from where you are right now. Check out the Distance Education tab above here at GtS for some additional tips.

We will be praying for you.

Feel free to contact me personally at tdelaney017@yahoo.com.

Well that was a long story in very short order, but ultimately my wife and I sold everything… moved 500 miles away… found a great church… and one day while sitting in a service… I felt like God was asking me to get prepared.

I told my wife and she didn’t really know what to say, but I sort of got the feeling that she was listening, but not really hearing what I was saying. I went to a pastor in the church and he referred me to another one and then finally to another one until I ended up paired up with the College Ministries pastor (who moved less than a year later) and I began teaching College and Singles Sunday School classes. (still do)

My concern is that I know for a fact that God spoke to my heart that day. I know I have a nearly insatiable desire to attend seminary to get prepared for … (I don’t know yet). I just wonder why God isn’t helping my wife to see what I see. She says that she doesn’t feel that God is leading her in that direction. What a dilemma that is! I love my wife tremendously and respect her, but she is the type of person that draws much of her personal security from a settled home, jobs, etc… I am worried that she is just letting me flirt with the idea but that she has no real intention of supporting this effort.

It has been nearly 2 years now in this limbo… I still teach the same class, but have a desire to be better prepared for vocational ministry.

If you have no advice… that is fine. I understand, but would you please pray for me and my wife? My desire for vocational ministry is second only to my desire to follow God in His Will for my life as child of His, a husband and father… I just feel like I am in a room looking for something that I know is right under my nose, but for the life of me I can’t seem to locate it… (maybe a bad analogy, but I hope you understand what I mean.)

In His Grip,
Andy

Glad to be an encouragement. Today Ryan notes that when considering 60+/- years of vocation ministry in the future, 3-4 years for immersed training today is short in comparison.

Continuing to serve the local church is key while in seminary. I too have friends who grew loveless, but seminary and the profs were not the cause. Rather, it was the pride of the heart and not applying the hands and heart to what the mind was being nourished with.

Prayerfully make plans and the Lord God Almighty will direct your steps.

You totally described us. We too go to an awesome Bible-teaching, Christ-centered, thriving church. We have ministered there for many years. When I finally decided to answer God’s call to the ministry, one thing that was and is on my heart is a great desire to prepare for this privileged and important mission. When I mentioned to some of the most influential people in my life our desire to go to seminary, I got the “oh, your going to cemetery.” Some proceeded to give me examples of how some have gone with great passion for Christ to seminary only to return dry and passionless. I am blessed to hear that it has been different for you and your wife.

I thank God that my Pastor, however, has been very supportive. I agree with your comment though that going to seminary may close doors to serving in this movement. However, we sense God leading us and see Him opening doors. We’ll continue to walk through them and see what He will do!

Thank you for this post and your courageous step!