It is important to remember that a person is always being educated, either formally or informally. We say formally when one is following a deliberate program that provides information, processes, perceptions, and discovery. We feel it is best when it provides a process or body of information that leads to life improvement and problem solving. It may be education that ends with divesting the student of some factors. One can unlearn. It is important that to gain wisdom one must have the discipline to evaluate the input he or she is receiving and giving. When carefully done and practiced this amounts to functioning in a context of wisdom. Wisdom is rightly formulating conclusions from daily learning (experience, both formal, which is planned, and informal, which is daily life experience). Applications lead to truth, balanced life, and recommendations or counsel for solving human problems related to the extent of the wisdom. Wisdom, in fundamental meaning, is to raise the right life questions, and to find/espouse truthful answers for and to application. Processes, good and ill, are with us constantly. We search them out.
A major objective in these Pages is to discuss education, informal (experience), and formal (institutional). We have an added dimension to consider for our specific purposes: Christian education. Here I want to insert a summary of my experience. I became a believing Christian my senior year in High School. The following fall I was in a Bible Institute where for three years I received excellent instruction in Bible, Theology, Church History and Ministry, Communication, Music and Psychology. The education was not quite as academic as academicians would have it, in that the physical sciences and some arts were not part of the curriculum. It was really training for Christian ministry either in the church or overseas in a mission appointment. No one admitted to the institution was left out, but the goal was clearly that of the institution related to Church service. Those not holding that goal were presumed to go elsewhere. Students were there because of the intensity of Christian life and ministry. It served persons well who entered those fields, although the education would not deal with the variety of theories, the history of this or that, the processes outside of the specific ministry of an evangelical church setting not requiring sophisticated contexts. I spent a year in ministry following the graduation, and knew that I wanted a complete college program. I went for it, gained a sense of the scientific (orderly) treatment of data, sources and the standard expectations for researching an idea or project. In the process I was growing in my person, even more than when I had completed the institute program, a program I greatly appreciate. The order was best for me at the time. Graduate work followed with sophisticated studies in courses contributing to Christian ministry, while also teaching basic communication courses as a graduate assistant. I was then hired at a Christian college as professor and head of the communications field. I attended the state university to improve my resume in the field, while also speaking widely in the community, and serving as the newscaster and editor on a radio station, and beginning a writing regimen to publication. Ultimately I accepted appointment at another college, which institution assisted me in completing a Doctor of Philosophy degree at a state university. I am highly appreciative of the experiences in every institution I have engaged in my life. Later I served for seventeen years as the President of an accredited Christian liberal arts college.
A number of students, from Christian colleges, have noted to me that they felt their colleges were excellent in academics. They had no complaint, and felt loyal to the school. However, a number have said that they did not feel the Christian impact is as meaningful or as firm as they believe I found it in my experience. Some feel that the multiculturalism and pressure of society have clouded some of the benefits of a Christian college. This is one of the reasons for my preparation of these Pages, to add a dimension to the Christian student while in College to anticipate Christian life through education applied to experience and work. It first rests upon students to extract what is available, as it is for the administrations to make sure it is adequate. History is strewn with institutions born of the Christian vision, but subsequently permitting the spiritual dynamic to be diluted or lost. Some government and accrediting agencies are recognizing the loss. These Pages are meant to contribute to understanding Christian education. Like Jesus experience, we ought to want to: Increase in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020