GCTS Class of 2014

This past weekend was commencement at Gordon-Conwell's main campus in Hamilton.  No one will forget Jim Singleton (Allan Emery)'s illustration of that turtle on the fence post and how it got there (or how it didn't get there, ie. by itself).  And how Claude Alexander talked about how to deal with the mess (the word "manure" was mentioned a lot)  that ministry can be at times.  But to me the real highlight came from the students testimonies on Friday night and on Saturday morning:  the narrative in each case was one of sufferings, crushed dreams and outright tragedies.  In a way, these graduating students who shared their experiences while in seminary have understood something no classroom experience will ever be able to give them:  ministry is a call to a war zone and there will be casualties, co-lateral damage, minefields, etc.   One of my favorite WWII movies and one of my favorite John Wayne movies is "In Harm's Way."  While John Wayne in it survives unbelievable battles (he does die in "The Sands of Iwo Jima"), the point is clear: the days ahead are not "safe," "controlled,"  and "happy,"  but will be filled with extraordinary challenges for each of these graduates.  Hostile environment is also the narrative of Rev 12, "because the devil knows that his time is short."  In the midst of these unavoidable dangers, however, the tone of the students' presentation was not dour, downcast and pessimistic at all.  Instead their spirit was filled with joy and the hope that only the Holy Spirit can give to us in the midst of our trials.  So I felt uplifted and encouraged even as I heard their stories because I got the sense they passed perhaps the hardest exam of their time at GCTS (and it's not even on their transcript!):  how to get through hard times without hardening our hearts against the Lord.  Instead they have grown strong in their faith .  In that, they have shown themselves to be ready for what's ahead and the greater tests that are sure to lie ahead for them.