The choices

It's been a while since there was something I was eagerly expecting to come in the mail. And for over a week now Andrew and I have been waiting for scholarship information from Trinity to arrive. As Andrew accurately stated, "It makes 24 hours seem a lot longer." This anticipation is heightened, because the arrival of this information is, Lord willing, going to make the determination as to where we are going to go to grad school. To the benefit of those who will read this to see our process in making this decision, here is a briefing on the choices we have and their merits:

- Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Location: Deerfield Illinois (an hour or so North of Chicago)

Degree: Andrew would get both a Masters of Old Testament and Masters of New Testament

Classes for Stacy: I can audit as many courses as Andrew is enrolled in or pay half tuition for a certificate

Professors: Great

Job potential: Some hospitals in the area, most likely home health would be easier to work around

Why we like it: Great degrees for Andrew. Cold climate. (a plus for Andrew more than for me) Great professors. Small town with less to distract from studies.

Stuff that's not so great: The distance from family and home church

- Dallas Theological Seminary

Location: Dallas, Texas

Degree: Masters of Biblical Languages and Applies Linguistics

Classes for Stacy: 3 audits for a nominal charge, or half tuition (?) for a certificate

Professors: Great. Some sweet men and women with hearts for church planting and Bible Translation

Job potential: Lots of hospitals in the Dallas area

Why we like it: Sweet degree that incorporates both the Biblical languages and principals of translation, and loads of opportunity for the practical application of studies in inner-city ministry. Closer to family and home church.

Stuff that's not so great: Humidity. It's Dallas. Neither of us can say we hoped and dreamed to live there one day.

And, in association with DTS,

- Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics

Location: Dallas, Texas

Degree: Certificate of Applied Linguistics

Classes for Stacy: I would have to pay full price and take the whole program too

Professors: The best in the business for Bible translation

Why we like it: We want to be prepared for Bible translation if that is the work the Lord should call us to

Stuff to consider: This program could be completed apart from study at DTS with before or after attending grad school somewhere else.

- Wheaton College

Location: Wheaton, Illinois (an hour or so South of Chicago)

Degree: Masters in Biblical Exegesis

Classes for Stacy: Not sure, couldn't locate this information

Professors: Great

Why we like it: Possibly huge scholarship for pre-field missionaries. Climate. It's where Billy Graham and John Piper went to school. :)

Stuff that's not so great: Missed the deadline for the scholarship application, and not sure if we could get it this fall. Far from family and home church

So there's the line up. We have pretty much eliminated Gordon Conwell from the list at this point. So with much prayer and consideration, our goal is to make the call by the end of this week. The beauty of where God has us right now is that seemingly, the choices are almost equal. So wherever we end up we will get a great education from sweet evangelical professors who love the Lord. How can we go wrong?

Gettin Started

Andrew and I recently came to the conclusion that now, in this season of life that God has given us, we are poised to go to seminary. This has long been a desire of my husband, and now (seemingly) is the perfect time for us to pursue it. This opens the door for change to come in leaps and bounds. And since we may in fact be leaving the church family that we both know and love, now seems to be the ideal time to try and start in on the whole blogging business. Not that I profess to be proficient at writing, or knowledgeable of the intricacies of the whole thing, but what a sweet way to be able to keep in contact with all of my brothers and sisters. So, I will brave these unknown waters and attempt to make this blog a place where those who desire to be in prayer for the two of us can find out what we are up to, how the Lord is shaping our thoughts, passions, and desires, and where in the world we are going to end up. Here goes nothing...