Seminary

Perry Noble, who started NewSpring Church and is the senior pastor and principle preacher, does not have a seminary degree. In fact, I think Clayton King is the only person on staff at any campus who has a degree from a seminary.

Perry did go for a semester but what he saw made him want to quit ministry. We have become obsessed with degrees and "learning" in our churches. At my previous church when the pastor was retiring after 26 years of ministry, the members were actually given a survey sheet to fill out about our next pastor. This included things about his marital status, age, education and teaching style so the search committee would know what the congregation wanted. In spite of this, I believe they were able to find God's choice for the position.

As I read John 7:15 today, the Pharisees were wondering about Jesus and how He got so much knowledge since He had never studied. Later, in Acts 4:13, the Pharisees are astonished at the disciples teaching because they are uneducated. The clincher, though, is the end of the verse when they "recognize that they had been with Jesus".

The same is true today. It's not how many seminary degrees a person has that gives him powerful words to say. It's whether or not he has been with Jesus. Spending time with Jesus every day, reading God's word, praying, seeking Him above all else is what gives one the ability to speak truth.

I am so grateful for Perry and the burning desire He has for hearing from Jesus and for his encouragement to me to seek Jesus for myself.