On May 29, 2008 I was able to realize a lifelong dream when I received a Bachelors Degree in Theological Studies from Bethany Divinity College and Theological Seminary located in Dothan, AL. My journey began over 33 years ago when I first entered the ministry as a bi-vocational pastor. At the time I already had a family and I felt that I could not just “pull up stakes” and go off to college so I began to look for a way to further my training. At the time I had a few hours of college (10) that I had received from a local community college in my home town after leaving high school. The first step in my journey was to enroll in Luther Rice Seminary, who at that time was one of the few offering an external studies program. I must admit that my first efforts were not very successful. I sometimes went long periods in between courses and it was easy to convince myself that I just didn’t have the time, that I was just too busy. Eventually I heard about a small school in south Alabama which some of my fellow pastors had used that offered several educational options and I enrolled in what was then known as Bethany Bible College. To make a long story short, over the next few years I worked steadily towards my degree little realizing that God would lead us to Dothan, Alabama and that I would be able to complete my degree and graduate on Bethany’s campus. What’s next? Free Will Baptist Bible College now has a fully accredited on-line degree for those who cannot go the traditional route for Bible training. I plan to work in this degree program for the next few years. I believe that you are never too old (56 my next birthday) to learn and I may collect my first Social Security check before I’m done but just maybe I’ll become the oldest FWBBC graduate ever! Also, it has been my desire to give assistance to those who wish to obtain training for ministry. While pastoring the First FWB Church in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas we were able to start a scholarship fund with our Wednesday night offering that has grown to approx. $5,000.00. At the time that we started this fund I did not know that my daughter and son-in-law would be the first two recipients of this scholarship when they went to FWBBC to prepare for youth ministry. This fall, two more young people from that church will be provided with a scholarship to FWBBC. Not long after I assumed my current pastorate here in Dothan, our church also started a scholarship fund, again with a Wednesday offering. This fund as already been used of the Lord to assist a young lady at FWBBC. I anticipate that we will have several more that will benefit from this resource in the not too distant future. In just a few months this fund has grown to over $1,000.00. I believe that any church can do the same thing. If we are really serious about Christian higher education then we should make an effort towards providing the resources to help those seeking to get additional training for ministry. Another way that our churches can encourage those in ministry to continue their education is to place an educational allowance in your church budget. Our church had the foresight to provide just such an allowance and our minister of music and youth, Matt Hallman, who received the bulk of his training at FWBBC, is now finishing his degree on-line with Liberty University while he ministers here. There are so many options available now there is absolutely no excuse for not continuing your education. You can choose an accredited degree program like the one being offered by our FWBBC, a non credit program, external study, on-line via the internet, video or DVD or several other options. The main thing is to get started. The scriptures make it plain that we are to, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Obedience to this admonition should include a plan for continuing Christian education. The time to start is now!