Over the past year or so, a couple of things changed for me. I cannot remember the order of events for sure, but I will try to retell them chronologically.
Provided I remember correctly, the first change came from a Church history class I took at Lamb’s Academy of Biblical Studies. The class showed me how truly ignorant of the history of Christendom I was. Although this was disappointing, it spawned a desire in me to pursue a deep knowledge of Church history and to educate others on the topic.
The second change was my decision to pursue ministry as a career. The family minister at my congregation had been encouraging me to become a preacher for years, but it never seemed particularly appealing. Throughout my teenage years, I have had a horrible time picking a career. I had considered becoming a politician, a political commentator, a therapist, a novelist, and a restaurant owner. When people asked what I wanted to become, I joked that it depended on the week, but as the months and a few years drew on the joke became closer and closer to the truth. I will admit that “preacher” was on the list, but it remained in the background. I had a slight repulsion to the idea. However, unlike the others, it stayed on the list. Then I took that Church history class. I saw how a lack of personal study and blind trust in the pulpit had led to countless false doctrines spreading like wildfire. That scared me. As time went on, the prospect of ministry sounded more appealing. I never grew tired of the idea – unlike the others – and as a bonus, it gives me plenty of time to personally study God’s word. I still have time to change my direction, but I do not foresee that happening.
How does this blog fit into all of this? This blog has built in accountability to keep up with my studies, and it helps me share my knowledge with others along the way. It is also my dream to do ministry through digital outlets like this, and the earlier I get started, the more likely it is that I will be able to support myself through online means.
As for the direction of this blog, I plan to focus on Church history for at least the next year, perhaps longer. If this is a topic you would like to learn more about, perhaps you knew as much as i did before the class, I welcome you to join me on this journey.
-S. N. Adams