"Why Texas?!" is probably the most commonly question asked in my life right now. Whenever I share what God is doing in my life, it is followed with, "why Texas?" This has been such a fun question for me to answer, so let me take you back to the beginning of the story...
In November of 2012, I was researching seminaries. I had become serious about going to seminary. I had some amazing advice from a mentor of mine on what to look for in a seminary. I was scouring the internet for seminaries in Charlotte, North Carolina that had a Children's Ministry program. Want to know how many there are... ZERO! What the what... how can I major in Children's Ministry if there are no schools with that program. I begin to lean toward Master's in Theology or Master's in Divinity. The Divinity program sounds super legit. Yeah, I have my Master's in Divinity... What up!!
I started looking at schools anywhere in North Carolina or South Carolina. I couldn't stand the chance to be farther than that away from my family. Still not that much out there by way of Children's Ministry. Then, one day, I'm continuing my searches and I come across this school that I just utterly fall in love with. They don't have a Children's Ministry program but I can major in Theology with a focus in Children's Ministry. That's like the best of both worlds for me. I'm hooked.
Until, I scroll to the bottom and see that the school is in Fort Worth, Texas. Instantly, I close that tab out and move on. Texas is definitely out of the question, right? This school will not get out of my head. Everytime I google search seminaries, it pops up. I feel that gentle nudge from God that this is where I'm supposed to go. I immediently give God three reasons why seminary in Texas was not an option...
Have you ever told God why you can't do something He's told you to do? Don't leave me hanging here. I know I'm not alone... Just like God does, He quickly squashes all of my reasons. That weekend, Pastor Steven gets on stage and introduces Pastor Robert Morris of Gateway Church in... go ahead and guess... Fort Worth, Texas. That was God's response to one of the reasons I couldn't move.
Isn't God funny? So, God manages to squash all three of my reasons in a matter of two weeks in November. But, it took me until January to commit myself to the idea of attending a seminary in Forth Worth, Texas. I began researching other seminaries, jobs, and churches in the Forth Worth area. I ended up finding two more schools that I liked in Dallas. These were became my back up/just get to Texas schools. In February, I felt called to burn the plows, stop waivering between my options and completely trust God's plan in Fort Worth, Texas. In March, I sent in my application. That was intense; a letter from my church, two letters of recommendations, an essay on my testimony and an essay on why I want to go to seminary. In April, after much waiting, I was accepted!!
So, July 19th, I am embarking on a three day journey with my parents from Charlotte, North Carolina to Fort Worth, Texas.
So, July 19th, I am embarking on a three day journey with my parents from Charlotte, North Carolina to Fort Worth, Texas.
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