Should a young pastor take time time out of his hectic schedule to gain additional ministry training? Often times, when younger men enter the ministry, they do so with only a bachelor's degree. In some cases, their degree may not even be in a theological or pastoral discipline. While personal study and ministry experience can help prepare a man for service in the local body, it is no substitute for rigorous training in the original languages, systematic theology, and expository preaching. After all, he needs to be equipped to handle the very Word of God in order to communicate it to the people in his church: whether through Sunday morning teaching, Bible studies, or youth group meetings. Like all teachers, he will be held accountable as to what he teaches the flock (James 3:1).
Christian Conway (MDiv candidate, Class of '26) provides a video testimonial of why he's returned to seminary to pursue his Master of Divinity while serving as a youth pastor: