Why College Before Missions?

Why are you going to college instead of just going into the mission field now?

This question is something I contemplated for quite some time while I struggled with a lot of doubt during my first semester at Cedarville University. There are many ways I could answer this question, but I will try to find a balance of being thorough while staying concise. The best and most concise way I can think to explain this question is in the form of an airplane metaphor. If we think of our careers as an airplane flying in the sky, then the plane landing could be considered retirement and the plane taking off could be considered training for that career. A plane that is not thoroughly inspected and fueled before lifting off can be a serious problem later in the flight, so it is important to take the proper time to go through those checks and fueling process. Like this stage in an airplane’s flight, I am in a similar situation right now. Although I do not necessarily need a college degree to go into missions there are, however, a few different reasons as to why I am pursuing a degree before my plane takes off.

For some background about the degrees I am pursuing and why I chose Cedarville University to pursue them…

I have chosen to pursue a degree in Marketing with a focus in both digital and social media marketing as well as business management. I chose a degree in business because I believe that many missions organizations often fail, not because they have a lack of missionaries who are doctors and psychologists and engineers, but because they have no one who knows how to run a business. I want to be able to be a helpful asset to the mission field, so I want to make sure I am well equipped to be able to help the organization grow for the advancement of the Gospel. I chose to major in Marketing specifically because it is a need I have observed in AMG’s organization as well as it is a branch of business that I have always been interested in as many of you who know, I have quite the interest in Photography, videography, and building my own businesses.

The choice to attend Cedarville was not one that was made on a whim. It was made with a significant amount of prayer and the seeking of wise council. I chose Cedarville for a couple of reasons. The first reason, the Bible minor. Every student who attends Cedarville graduates with the Bible minor. It consists of five classes including Bible and the Gospel, Old Testimate, New Testimate, Theology 1, and Theology 2. This reason was one of the primary reasons I chose Cedarville because I wanted not only a Christ centered approach to the curriculum of the entire list of courses, but I also wanted to be able to take Bible classes in a hope to build my knowledge of the Bible and to better equip myself for the mission field in Guatemala or wherever else the Lord may lead me on His path. The second reason I chose Cedarville was simply the culture and community of the campus. As some of you may remember, I worked at Lake Ann Camp between my sophomore and Junior year of Highschool. While I was there, I had the opportunity to interact with many Cedarville students and I left that summer a little in awe. I was intrigued by the godly men that Cedarville was producing which drew me to their campus in hopes to become like those godly men I witnessed during my summer at camp.

I am attending Cedarville to help better prepare me for a life in the mission field furthering the advancement of the ministries of the Gospel. I hope to enter the mission field better equipped and prepared through these next few years of growth in the lives of my maturity and spirituality.

Although I do not know God’s plan for my life, I believe He has illuminated a small portion of my path by pointing me toward missions internationally and specifically with Guatemala in a long-term full-time service after college. I want to be a wise and well-equipped tool for the advancement of the Gospel, and I want to do all I can to be prepared for what the Lord is planning ahead of me on my path. The best way for me to do that right now is to attend Cedarville to sharpen my tools and add new ones to belt so that I can be as equipped and prepared as possible for a long-term position in international missions.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:105