by Phil Webber
David Melton just left with a group of students and friends of Boston on the annual Spring Study Trip, this time to Greece and Turkey to trace the steps of Paul’s ministry there. In his absence he asked if I would write about my recent journey from pastor to professor.
In 1994 Wendi and I moved from Wichita, KS, to San Angelo, TX, to join the ministry of Baptist Temple (now Lifepoint Baptist Church). We put down roots, raised our kids there, and had every intention of staying put for the rest of our ministry. We love Lifepoint and those people became not just our ministry, but our family.
I had become associated with Boston seven years ago when asked to join the Board of Trustees. Never in my wildest imagination did I envision moving to Boston and becoming part of the faculty here, yet almost exactly a year ago God began doing some very unexpected things and before He was done Wendi and I would be convinced that God was changing the location and focus of our ministry. We became convinced that God wanted me to take my education and twenty-seven years of ministry experience and step into the classroom to help students get started on the right path to fulfilling what God has called them to do.
So last July we hit the road for New England. Our last day at Lifepoint was excruciating as we had to say goodbye to the people we loved who were so supportive of what God was doing in our lives. It is a thrill to know that Lifepoint is in the capable hands of their new pastor, Gary Phillips, and the future of the church is very bright.
If you have never moved to Boston after nearly twenty years in West Texas you may not be able to appreciate the culture shock we have experienced; like the day in our first week when the police officer yelled at us. He was directing traffic at an intersection and we misunderstood his direction and stopped when he wanted us to go. He saw our Texas license plate and screamed at us, “Let’s go! You’re not in Texas anymore!” Truer words have never been spoken.
Though still very much a rookie, I can say that Boston Baptist College is worthy of your attention and support. The leadership, faculty, and staff are amazing. The students exhibit a genuine desire to do something great for God. We love the energy and passion of these young committed followers of Jesus.
My main task at Boston is to teach the Pastoral/Church Ministry courses which include brand-new class offerings such as Essentials in Pastoral Ministry (the class that addresses “the stuff they never taught you at Bible College”); and Contemporary Issues in Ministry (which addresses current and upcoming issues church leaders will face as well as the logical outcomes of popular ministry strategies and fads).
It is an honor to be part of Boston Baptist College. The work being done here is significant in every way. Though I never dreamed this would be in my future, I have awakened to the ministry opportunity of a lifetime.