Gaylord Goertzen
Gaylord Goertzen
1978 Master of Divinity graduate
Pastor of Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church, Hillsboro, Kansas
God called Peggy and me to seminary through a missions conference at Bakersfield MB Church (now Heritage Bible). Normally we felt called to give money when we went, but when we went in 1974 we knew God was calling us. After the missions conference friends from our Sunday school class wrote us notes saying, “are you sure you’re not called to full time service?” Others directly asked about going to seminary. Hebrews 5:12 spoke to us, “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers….” We had a desire for bible study but the Lord was saying it’s time to start teaching.
Our pastor Richard Gerbrandt encouraged me to go to MBBS and invited me to meet with HH Dick who was then president of MBBS. The personal contacts made all the difference. In addition we felt we should go to our denominational seminary if I was going to be an MB pastor. Our home church also gave us a tuition scholarship. That was a big help and support for us.
The greatest thing I received from seminary has been to ask, “What does the bible say?” rather than reading what people say about the bible. That also means that I don’t have all the answers. Seminary gave me the ability to “live with the tension” of the unknown and of theology. I don’t have to have an answer to free will vs. predestination, I can live with the tension of both. I don’t have to know exactly how Jesus is coming again, he’s coming, that’s all I need to know. Seminary helped me “let God be God” and not think I can understand him completely or have to understand him completely. I can live with mystery.
I feel I have a broad frame work to look at God’s word rather than one narrow set way. It’s helped me ask the question, “What is God’s word saying to us, and actually listen and look for the answer rather than thinking I already know the answer.”
MBBS gave me the tools I needed to grow, work, study and serve. I didn’t come out of seminary “finished” but knowing how to build and grow. I still am. I keep going back to the question, “What does the bible say?” Seminary gave me the tools to ask and start to answer that question and to help people answer that question. Seminary taught me to keep on being a learner. I’m still learning more and more, I’ll never stop learning. My goal is to invite people to join me in that great adventure, journey, of learning rather than saying, I know it all.
Don’t miss the greatest opportunity of your life. You won’t be the same and you’ll be glad you aren’t. Go for it, you’ll never regret it!