On Jan. 30 at 3:30 p.m., Jimmy Bledsoe, a missionary for the International Mission Board, presented a lecture entitled, “Contending for the Faith: Theological Education in Missions,” at Union University’s 5th annual W.D. Powell Missions Lecture in the Carl Grant Events Center.
The International Mission Board works with Union’s School of Theology and Missions every year to lead this event with the purpose of honoring Union alumni who have worked in international missions and encouraging students to pursue work in missions.
Ray Van Neste, dean of the School of Theology and Missions, gave the introduction to the lecture before the assembly was joined together by song.
Bledsoe opened his lecture discussing his comedic struggles in trying to imitate the work of his father during childhood. He used a quote from his father that powered the rest of the lecture.
“If a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing right.”
Bledsoe asserted that if spreading the gospel is the mission of Christians, it must be approached from this same perspective.
“The glory of God and the mission of God has to be our highest priority and our greatest occupation,” Bledsoe said.
Bledsoe explained that evangelists must be given a proper education in order to spread the gospel well. An idea that he called “theological education,” he explained, is essential.
“So theological education’s primary goal is to prepare those who are called to be the leaders of God’s church for ministry, teaching or other roles in spiritual leadership,” Bledsoe said. “[It’s] to deepen one’s understanding of faith, of scripture and the interaction between society and the scripture in their own context.”
Bledsoe believes churches do not necessarily need professional pastors but rather, equipped and taught ones. He highlighted the importance of developing adequate pastors in other nations, as there is a deficiency of them.
“We need healthy churches sending healthy missionaries to the nations.”
Key topics that were discussed during this lecture besides theological education, included holding firm to the faith, teaching truth and the importance of having healthy leaders within the church.
Andy Pettigrew, director of Next Gen Mobilization with the International Mission Board, believes that a topic that needs to be brought up more in religious conversations is standing firm in the truth of scripture.
“If we’re seeing the scriptures through the way we want to see it rather than how God wants us to see it, then we’re going to be swayed, and it’ll be hard to stand firm.”
Justin Wainscott, associate dean of the School of Theology and Missions, explained what he hopes Union students take away from this lecture.
“I hope they realize the privilege they have to be receiving the kind of education they are and realize that that is not something that most Christians have in other places in the world, so that with that also comes a responsibility to make sure that we use and steward what they have been given well.”
