Our firstborn turned 19 today. WoW! Just saying that makes me feel reaaaalllly old! LOL The details of his birth are so vivid in my mind, it seems like just yesterday that he was born. But in other ways, it seems like it happened a whole other lifetime ago, know what I mean?
Jared recently told us he wants to take correspondence courses toward becoming a pastor/missionary, instead of going to a 4-yr college. The cost for each of the three different levels of the program will be less than a thousand dollars, instead of over $20,000/yr for Bible college. The levels of the program are the equivilent of associates, bachelors, and masters degrees. He would have to read a series of books and take a test after each book, and each level will take approx. 1.5 to 2 yrs to complete. He can work full-time while he's taking the courses, and complete the work at his own pace. He can complete all three levels, or just one or two. After finishing the first level he would be "certified", after the second level he would be "registered", and after the third level he would be "ordained". Our pastor to the seniors is only "certified", and he told Jared he is able to do everything an ordained pastor can do (baptize, marry, bury, etc) except vote at our denomination's pastoral leadership conferences.
We haven't told Jared yet, but as soon as I receive the next disbursement from my mother's estate (sometime this month), we are going to pay for his first level as a belated graduation gift. Besides our seniors' pastor, who completed the program decades ago, two other men from our church are enrolled in the program right now, so Jared will have several mentors who can help him if need be.
Happy Birthday, Son! I know we don't say it enough, but we love you and are so proud of the godly man you have become, and that you are determined to follow the Lord wherever He leads. May the Lord bless your obedience and devotion to Him!
Jared recently told us he wants to take correspondence courses toward becoming a pastor/missionary, instead of going to a 4-yr college. The cost for each of the three different levels of the program will be less than a thousand dollars, instead of over $20,000/yr for Bible college. The levels of the program are the equivilent of associates, bachelors, and masters degrees. He would have to read a series of books and take a test after each book, and each level will take approx. 1.5 to 2 yrs to complete. He can work full-time while he's taking the courses, and complete the work at his own pace. He can complete all three levels, or just one or two. After finishing the first level he would be "certified", after the second level he would be "registered", and after the third level he would be "ordained". Our pastor to the seniors is only "certified", and he told Jared he is able to do everything an ordained pastor can do (baptize, marry, bury, etc) except vote at our denomination's pastoral leadership conferences.
We haven't told Jared yet, but as soon as I receive the next disbursement from my mother's estate (sometime this month), we are going to pay for his first level as a belated graduation gift. Besides our seniors' pastor, who completed the program decades ago, two other men from our church are enrolled in the program right now, so Jared will have several mentors who can help him if need be.
Happy Birthday, Son! I know we don't say it enough, but we love you and are so proud of the godly man you have become, and that you are determined to follow the Lord wherever He leads. May the Lord bless your obedience and devotion to Him!
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