The Distance Education Experience
The flexibility offered by distance education is tremendous. Regardless of time and distance, you can experience a learning environment that captures your imagination, educates and informs. Could one of these stories be yours?
Jason has a full-time job and a family but is studying to become a pastor from his home in Texas.
Jason tops off his cup of decaf and settles in front of his computer. It’s 11:23 PM Central Standard Time. The kids are finally asleep and the dog has made her final trip out for the night. Jason logs in to his online course “Introduction to the Old Testament II”. He reads several articles that the professor posted earlier in the day. Then he enters the discussion forum for the week. Jason sees that the professor has responded to the question he posted yesterday. Next he reads the reflections that his classmates have posted throughout the day on the new article. Jason finds himself nodding in agreement with some comments, chuckling at a few, and in complete disagreement with another. He joins the discussion to respond to several comments and to share his own perspective.
Jason believes that God has called him to be a pastor. He wants to earn a seminary degree so that he is better prepared for this ministry, but he has a family, a dog, and a home in Amarillo. He needs to keep his full-time job at the bank to support his family, and he preaches each week at a local retirement home. Relocating really isn’t an option and there isn’t an accredited theological seminary nearby.
Jason is a Master of Divinity student at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, Virginia (BTSR). Because of BTSR’s commitment to offering online seminary courses, Jason is able to take many of his classes from his home in Amarillo, Texas. He goes to Richmond about once a year for a 3-week period to participate in on-site classes. It may not be the quickest way to get through seminary, but it meets Jason’s needs.
Krista is a missionary in Romania and is continuing her seminary training while she ministers.
Krista is a missionary in Romania. She was finishing her first year of coursework at BTSR when she was offered the position in Romania. Krista was torn between a strong sense that God was calling her to minister to the Romany people and the recognition that she needed more theological preparation for this ministry. Then she learned that BTSR offers numerous online seminary courses. She could begin her work in Romania and continue her seminary education.
Ralph is assuming on a new role at his church and is taking classes to prepare for this exciting challenge.
Ralph was very excited when he learned that his church in Richmond, Virginia was beginning a new contemporary worship service. He got involved in the planning process and offered to help out with the praise band. When he was asked to attend a meeting he assumed that it was about working with the praise band. His jaw dropped when he realized that he was being asked to serve as the worship leader for the new service. His stomach churned with excitement and anxiety. His undergraduate degree was in music, so he wasn’t too worried about that aspect, but worship leader was not a role he felt prepared for. Ralph sought advice from his pastor who recommended that he check out BTSR’s Master of Divinity in Church Music. Ralph expressed concern that with the irregular work hours of worship leader, he would have difficulty getting across the city to attend classes. When he found out that there were many online seminary courses he could participate in, even at 1 AM, he decided to apply for admission.
Leslie wants a better theological foundation to help her in her youth ministry but doesn’t have time to pursue a MDiv degree.
Leslie had been helping out with the youth ministry for several years when the youth/education minister resigned. Leslie was asked to serve as interim youth minister on a part-time basis while the church searched for a new youth/education minister. Leslie agreed. She felt fairly confident that she could keep things going for a few months until the new minister was hired. Eighteen months later, there was still no new youth/education minister and Leslie was still the interim youth minister. The church decided to look for part-time ministers to youth and education. When Leslie heard this, she applied for the position as youth minister and was hired. She was so excited. Over the past year and a half, she had sensed that God was leading her to youth ministry. She had also realized that she needed a better theological foundation to deal with the many questions the youth had about the Bible and living as a Christian in today’s world. Pursuing a Master of Divinity degree was not an option, so she began to explore other avenues of getting some theological education. She discovered that she could earn a certificate in congregational leadership with an emphasis in youth ministry from the School of Christian Ministry at BTSR. All of the courses were offered online and she could complete the certificate in 11 months. She completed the online registration process and soon afterward began her first course |
