I'm Going Back To School?

When I graduated from Bible college on April 28th, 2018, I remember saying to myself "I'm never going back to school." But y'know what they say, right?

Never say never. *cue Justin Bieber*

So yeah. I'm here, eating my words. It's fine.

Sometimes God leads in ways that we don't expect or intend. Ways that we may not be the most excited about... at first.

Before anyone gets too up in arms about the fact that I didn't tell them, there are literally only eight people who know - my parents, my brother, the pastor I work with, the director of the school, the youth pastor of the church I work at, my best friend, and one of the guys I'm going to be going to school with. This blog post is pretty much my announcement to the rest of the world so that I don't have to text, email, facebook message, or instagram dm everyone.

Let me tell you a little story.

Source: Nathan Dumlao; unsplash.com
Acacia Kersey Presets - Shine

In early April... or maybe it was late March? I'm not sure. Anyway, at some point semi-recently, the pastor I work with was telling me about this one year Bible school experience that our church is launching as an extension/second campus of this same school in Sebring, Florida - Great Commission Bible Institute aka GCBI. He mentioned in passing that it would be a great opportunity for me, but I kinda just laughed and brushed it off. He had just brought it up to me spontaneously and in passing, right? He didn't actually think I'd do it... right?

WRONG, GIRL.

Before we go any further, yes, I know I've already done four years of Bible college. But this school is different because it's solely the studying and breaking down of the Bible. The only textbook we'll be using for eight months is the Bible. Which is SO COOL. In addition to that, when I was studying for my Bachelor's Degree, I was taking half theology/Bible/general courses, and the other half were music courses. This time there'll be no music or theology or general classes, just the Bible. And if you need any more convincing or are questioning me, can I (or any of us) ever say in this lifetime that we've learned all we need to about the Bible?

"Oh yeah, I went to Bible college for four years. I know everything about the Bible. There's no need to learn aaanything else."

Pshhh. Y'all. Please. 🙄🙅🏼‍♀️

Anyway, enough unnecessary defending of myself and my life decisions. Back to the story.

The next thing I knew, I was going to a meeting with the director of this school (who also happens to be someone I work with at the church, so it was chill), and got all of the information about this one year Bible program and what it would entail. I needed to give my decision by April 30th.

On April 26th, I said that I wouldn't be going.

I wrote up an eloquent email, giving all these smart-sounding, well thought through reasons as to why I decided against this opportunity.

Those were lies. Well... kind of. They were slight stretches of the truth, maybe. Or rather, micro reasons for my saying no.

The macro reason I turned down this opportunity is because I'm selfish. And that's the point of this post really. That, and announcing that I'm going back to school.

I spent four years away from home at Bible college. Then I spent four months away from home in another province. Now I've been home for five months and I'm getting comfortable with my life at home, my new job, being close to my friends, and building my new community with people I go to church with. I didn't want to shake things up again.

I got a phone call last Thursday from the director of the school, who's also the executive pastor for the church I work at (like I said before, "someone I work with at the church"). He never calls me, so I've since admitted to him that for half a second I thought I was about to get fired. 🤪

He talked to me about how God has really placed me on his heart, and he's been trying to figure out ways to make this work for me so that I'll come to this school and take on this opportunity.

Long story short, on Tuesday I made my decision to take on this one year Bible school experience, and yesterday I sent in my application.

Throughout this whole roller coaster, while praying, talking with my family, journalling and processing whether or not to do this, I've been reminded that God is far more interested in my spiritual growth and holiness than He is in how comfortable I am.

So here's to a new adventure! Here's to surrendering my selfishness and trusting God's calling and leadership in my life. I'll keep you all updated, y'know, like I do. 😉