After a lot of prayer and seeking God's wisdom for our lives, we are happy to announce that we are going to seminary! Yep, the Petersons are moving to Texas at the end of May to attend Redeemer Seminary in Dallas. I am enrolled in the Master's of Divinity program, and Kelly will be taking classes as well, focusing on Biblical Counseling. We are both very excited about what God is doing in our lives, and we look forward to learning more about Him. We believe that God's word leads us to know Him in such a way that we grow passionate about Him and the things He calls us to do. Romans 15:1 talks about how, when we are strong in an area, we are to use that gift to help others. We feel that God has given us a heart for and an understanding to spread His word.
All of us enjoy sharing good news, from our excitement about the latest gadget, tool, or TV show to how our last vacation went. Kelly and I believe we have found the best news ever – God loves us and will save us if we have faith in His son Jesus. So we are pursuing seminary in order to know Him better and to get better equipped to share that news with others.
The Seminary. Redeemer Seminary is located in the University Park/Highland Park area of Dallas, near Southern Methodist University and Mockingbird Station. It was originally an extension of Westminister Seminary in Pennsylvania, then transitioned to an independent seminary in 2009.
Finances. God has blessed us with a fantastic scholarship that allows me to attend Redeemer at half the normal cost, and Kelly can attend at no cost whatsoever because of the seminary's spouse scholarship. However, the cost of living in Dallas is higher than that of Fayetteville and, in addition, school costs approximately $600 a month for tuition, books, and fees. With this in mind, we are applying for part-time jobs near the seminary and studying to see where we can cut our budget. We have put together a spreadsheet that tracks our projected spending throughout seminary, and are hoping that by finding reasonable employment, reducing any extra spending, and living in a modest one-bedroom apartment, we will be able to leave seminary in 3-4 years with no new debt.
Needs. First and foremost, we need your prayers. Seminary is a 3-4 year commitment, and we'll both have to learn how to balance our church, school, jobs, and marriage with grace and patience. We know that John 14:14 says, “if you ask me anything in My name, I will do it,” and we believe Christ will give us all that we need if we ask Him. We ask specifically for safety and protection for our marriage, great friendships in Dallas, and peace in our finances, and flexible job opportunities.
If you would like to receive a monthly update on our journey through seminary, simply go to theseminarycouple.blogspot.com and click “subscribe.” We'll be updating our progress each month and providing insight into life as a seminary couple.
Thank you so much for your love and prayers!
Sincerely,
John and Kelly
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