Update

So... I am 35 years old and have just begun my continued education. It's been 17 years since I've been in school so it has taken some real effort to get caught up. My Speech and Foundations of U.S. Education courses are only 8 wk classes but my English Comp. course is 16 wks. I have good grades in all 3 right now but it is definitley more work than I was prepared for. Essays and speeches and article reviews and quizes, wow. I took classes to obtain my License to preach but they were Bible classes and ministerial prep classes. These are a lot different. Surprisingly enough, I am enjoying them so far. So what made me go back to school after 17 years? Well, I love the ministry and plan to be involved in ministry for the rest of my life. After 10 years in full time youth ministry, I feel the call to become a senior pastor in the near future. The problem is, many churches do not offer benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans, although the eternal benefits are extraordinary. I have been without insurance for 10 years now and have accumulated quite a bit of debt in hospital bills. I have prayed long and hard about this decision and feel confident that I will not be out of God's will if I go bivocational. I enjoy mentoring teens and helping them to achieve both spiritual and life success. And what better way to be able to invest into the lives of young people than teaching? So, I have decided to work toward earning a degree to teach 7-12 grade History. I have always loved History, especially U.S. History. I love researching and reading about the patriotism and heroism that make up the foundation of our great nation. We, as Americans, have truly been blessed over the years. Great leaders and brave men and women have paved the way for us to have the freedoms we enjoy each and every day. If we are going to maintain these freedoms and continue to enjoy the blessing of God, we must train our future leaders to aim high and keep God first. I would count it an honor to be able to help guide and encourage these young minds. But my heart is definitely in ministering to God's people. My passion is certainly to win the lost, set the captive free and to give hope to the hopeless. I want to ask each of my friends and family who are believers in the power of God to hold me up in prayer as I embark on this journey. Pray that I will have wisdom and that God will give me knowledge and understanding to make the grades. And pray that He will place me where I can be most effective. I wish I had started this process years ago but if I had, I'm not sure I would be where I am today. So, though it seems I am 17 years late, I am actually right on schedule. Until next time, God bless you all.