How Do You Turn a Meteorologist into a Missionary Part 3

I found myself at Florida Christian College the Fall of 1992. I was five years older than the average freshman, and I had no idea where to start. Costs were high, so I only took a few hours each semester. I still remember that first quarter (we changed to semesters later) taking Life of Christ, Planned Preaching, and Prayer Lab, courses that were very different and demonstrated my search for who I was. Several professors and the Academic Dean suggested I go to a seminary, but I was content where I was. After a final wave of exasperation, I was allowed to register for what I wanted.

I soon began to see the foolishness in my strategy that year as I took a wide variety of classes and helped in the area of youth ministry in local churches. I was still trying to find my fit, but so far I was just managing to find all the things I wasn't good at. The obvious lack of a plan was demonstrated when I was encouraged to take Greek my second year by several friends. I had no idea what that would put in motion.

I loved Greek. It was ordered, it made sense, and I excelled at it. It helped that I was only taking one or two other classes with it, so I had lots of time for study and review. Some of my classmates were a bit upset with me, as they were taking full course loads. I went on to take two years of Greek with the same core of guys. Our professor made it clear to us not only how to use Greek to improve preaching, but challenged us to consider how it works with Bible translation, helping to spell out the meanings that are so crucial in communicating to another language and culture. He inspired several of us to pursue Bible translation ministry, and it ultimately led to my decision to become a missionary. I owe a lot to Mike Chambers and those classmates from 15 years ago.

How Do You Turn a Meteorologist into a Missionary? Part 2

So after coming to Christ, I started considering what to do with this newfound relationship. I asked Karen what to read in the Bible. She said "Mark", and I read it in a day. I asked her what next and she said "Romans", and I read it in a day. It was at that moment that she introduced me to Chris. Chris and I would spend time each week reading through Luke, pausing to discuss or answer questions along the way. That would be my foundation of how to study the Bible and pray.

I learned the importance of Scripture memory as well. The first passage I memorized was James 1:2-4 - "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds. For the testing of your faith produces endurance, and let endurance have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." I had taken a Bible class my Freshman year for which I had bought a Bible. I marked the James passage, and over the next couple years marked more and more as I sought to discern what I should do. I eventually replaced that Bible, as the binding eventually broke.

About a year after coming to Christ, I went to the Urbana missions conference in 1990. I went there not knowing exactly what I wanted to do. I went to as many booths as I thought feasible, looking for ways to use my impending meteorology degree in God's service. I left with a better understanding of missions and a ton of books, but no clear path for how to serve. Of course, someone else might have taken that as a sign to change majors. But remember, I was stubborn.

After graduation, the jobs that I thought were perfect for me turned me down. I stayed in Tallahassee and had a series of part-time and temp jobs as I tried to discern my next move. I decided to consider some type of full time ministry, which meant a need for Bible college. I made visits to Atlanta Christian College and Florida Christian College, two of the closer schools to Tallahassee. Florida Christian College seemed to be a better fit, and I decided to go there in the Fall. It was a decision that would shape the rest of my life.