Oct
02
Agree or Disagree? with this advertising
Posted under Uncategorized
Is this Seminary (George Fox Evangelical Seminary) correct in using this picture and this tag in advertising 
itself (for future students) on Facebook?
Tag = Seeking creative-types who want to reach out to a culturally diverse and post-denominational world. Online and in Portland.
Another statement to wrestle with…
Seminary training applies to ministries that fit this tag.
Agree or disagree?
What are some important qualities of training for ministries that fit this tag?
The tag is telling me that if I am not a “creative-type” I cannot reach out to the world we live in. What is a “creative-type” anyways? I don’t believe you need seminary training to reach out to our world. We just need to be present, willing and students of the Word.
I think it is interesting, because my experience in seminary was that it was distinctly not attractive to “creative-types”. By that, I mean, in classes where we discovered personality types or learning syles. Invariably, 75% of the class were what I would call “analytical types.”
Does a seminary need to advertise this way? Probably not, but there are few out there which are strategically recruiting right-brained, kinesthetic learning, design skilled, students.
Just a thought, from someone who is right brained and made it through the left-brain world of seminary.
Having been ‘created’ in God’s image, are we not all creative-types to some degree?
An education does not enhance or diminish the ability communicate effectively with those you come in contact with. People do not want the right theology, a minister who “is one of them” and answers to a formula but a powerful testimony of a transformed life given by a person who walks daily into the presence of God in both worship and the Word and who is guided by the powerful Spirit of God.
A minister is trained by the mind but unless they too fall before God daily in worship the word and prayer… you just have knowledge. Still not enough.
The best “reaching out” regardless of who you are is to be yourself, one on one in every day conversation with all who come into the 8’ circle around you each day. This should be ALL of us. Isn’t that how the first church was launched?
Gimmicks, image, enticements, creative ministry, classes and endless teaching…. time would be better spent simply “in His presence” and teaching church members to do the same. Seek God for it is He who trains, He who enables, He who “opens eyes” and He who sends you out.