I’m a student, and that’s ok

By Eric S. Crane

Once upon a time… I was 18 years old, knew everything, listened to no one, and took off on my own from the Podunk town of Taft, CA and headed to majestic Hollywood to begin my exciting career as an actor.  I was a born again Christian and therefore believed myself invincible.  I had not even read the Bible in its entirety, but who cares!?  Who can stand against me, right?  However, I believed I was the vine and God was my branch; He was only there to provide me fruit.  Typical teenage mentality.  I was going to rock Hollywood with MY Christianity!!!

            Needless to say, when temptation came, I indulged.  When I was tested, I failed.  I was a willful young man and my will was not God’s.

            The extravagance of Hollywood parties, led to sex, alcohol, drugs…until the parties were no longer held in a mansion, but in my lousy, pathetic little apartment.  This is the life of someone of someone who has zeal without knowledge.

So I returned to that Podunk town, with my tail between my legs, to start from scratch.  You see, I believed that God helps those that help themselves.  Yet, as Isaiah 25:4 teaches us: God helps the helpless!  Christ died for us because we are weak & ungodly…but life’s rough when you believe the exact opposite about yourself.  Teenage mentality comes before the fall.

Now that my self-fashioned, worldly armor had been thoroughly broken and trampled on, I began to slowly put on the armor of God.  I read the bible.  Dove head first into His Word.  Let me tell: it hurt.  Oh! It was horrible!  The Word of God shines a light onto our sinful nature and it is a daunting experience.  The process of sanctification is painful.  Holy Spirit surgery; cutting in with a scalpel of scripture and carving away the fat of sin.  Many people cannot handle, nor do they even admit this truth.  Take a look at gym rats, with their Adonis-like bodies and 4% body fat: they may love the gym now, but I guarantee they hated the early days of their training; when they were jiggly and weak.  Reading the bible is training regimen.

Though the sanctification process never ends, after the initial part… when I realized my awesomeness was like filthy rags (Romans 3:23), that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), and that God loves us while we were sinners and died for us (Romans 5:8)… that’s when I began to see myself as God sees me: forgiven, washed clean, and cloaked in the glory of Jesus Christ!  Turns out, now, THROUGH JESUS, I am finally what I always wanted to be: Awesome!  He is the vine and I am a branch, ready to bear fruit.  I hungered for the God.  I had a thirst for truth.  I studied the Word intently.  I bothered all my Pastor friends with questions.  I read every book I could get my hands on…. Really sounds like a gym rat, huh?  Now that I finally started seeing results, I began studying every workout & diet, bothering people far more buff than me: this was how I was towards Christianity.  I wanted anything that would give me a deeper relationship with Christ.

Of course, what’s the point of having guns if you don’t use them?  So I started becoming a bigger part of my church.  Not to show off, but to put these muscles to work!  Now I’m a Youth Leader, a council member, and I write & produce Christian plays!!!  Yet, I still desire to go even deeper.  I want to utilize all the gifts & tools God has granted me.  I want to be a better leader, a better writer, a more knowledgeable Christian.  Studying by yourself can only take you so far.

In July I will officially begin classes at Summit Bible College!  Surround myself with like-minded Christians who wish to grow and help each other in our journey.  To study under a highly educated professor, instead of bothering my Pastor with every little question I have.  I will be studying Church History under Kathy Dyer and Psychology & The Mind of Christ under Lowell Lueck.

I’m still going to be the Youth Leader at my church.  I’m still going to see Man of Steel when it comes out.  I’m still going catch up on Dr. Who on Netflix and find out what happens to Walter & Jesse on Breaking Bad.  But I’ll also be learning, growing, and bettering myself through theological education.

I wish I would’ve made this decision before that punk 18 year old flushed away so many good years; but hey, I’m 33, in the prime of my life, and I’m a student…and that’s ok.

Why Go to a Non-Accredited Bible College?

By Eric Crane

Motivation.  It’s the main thing we always claim is missing when we attempt to accomplish anything.  “I want to write the next great American novel, but I lack motivation.” or “The dishes are piling up in the sink, but I haven’t the motivation to clean them.” or “I want a college degree, but lost my motivation.”  It’s something that plagues us all, in any setting…but none more-so than college. 

          We all enter school with a gung-ho attitude, truly believing we are going to change the world!!!  Then a few seminars and exams later, we’re wondering why we even bother.  Our momentum eventually burns out.  This happens no matter what school we attend, but how does one regain that gung-ho attitude if they’re attending a school of ministry; nonetheless, an unaccredited school.

          The face value benefits of Summit Bible College are fairly obvious: equipping leaders for ministry.  Our minds become renewed as we truly learn about the Word of God.  Our knowledge increases tenfold as we acquire top notch theological training.  We discover our identity in Christ, our passion for ministry, and our vision for the future according to God’s will.  However, not everyone desires to be a pastor or is called to create a street team or is even led to take a leadership role in their own church; so the question becomes, “Why continue on with this work if I’m not going into those areas?  How does a degree from Summit Bible College actually benefit me?”

          It’s an honest question and one we shouldn’t be ashamed to ask.  How can I use a SBC certificate or degree in ordinary life?  First of all, the life of a Christian is anything but ordinary.  We stand on the front lines of spiritual warfare, commanded by Christ to bring the Kingdom of God to a dying world; we are all of us, ministers.  Whether you work in an office, a drilling rig, or even a stay-at-home parent, “you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood…that you may declare the praises of Him that called you out of darkness into His wonderful.” (1 Peter 2:9)  So no matter your position in life, you are a minister.

But that’s not the question you asked, is it?  You want to know how this degree can benefit you…professionally.

          It’s true, some professions do require a Bachelor’s Degree or higher from an accredited colleges; but many high paying, entry-level professions only require some college, usually a year or more.  These are fantastic careers that offer great pay (most usually starting at $50k or more a year) and benefits.  This is where a certificate or degree from SBC puts you ahead of the game…

          You see, employers ask for a year of college simply to know that their applicant are mildly educated and somewhat follow through with tasks.  The average applicant merely completed general education and dropped out or they only took “fun” personal interest classes; so the average applicant still poses a risk for the employer.  Then you enter, and at the bottom of your application is a note stating you have received a Bachelor’s Degree from Summit Bible College.  Although religions, faiths, and beliefs are not to hold bearing in a professional environment, the words “Bible College” do tell the employer something very important about you: that you have a servants heart, meaning you are a hard & thankful worker; that you have high moral standards, meaning that you won’t lie or cheat the company; and lastly, whether the employer knows it or not, their natural hunger for the Holy Spirit will drive them to want to work with you.   

          So how does a degree from Summit Bible College benefit you?  With the knowledge and training you acquire here, you will be led by faith to apply for the career God as called you to be in.  You will be entering that job as a servant of God, sent by God, for God.  And finally, your future boss will look at your college experience and know that this person is a humble and devoted worker, that they are highly educated, and that they are a driven employee...that you are motivated!