First Two Days of Orientation

I had my first two days of orientation, and here are a few things that I learned:

First, I learned about Regent's interesting history, which you can read a little about here: http://www.regent-college.edu/about_regent/introduction/history.html.

Before coming to orientation, I didn’t know that Regent really dislikes the word seminary, and the faculty (and students) insist that it’s a Christian graduate school (which is exactly what it is). They used to call it the “unseminary.” (But this terminology is no longer used. Now it is simply known as a Christian grad school.)

Regent is NOT typical. (I did know that before coming here.) One emphasis at Regent is that students should first and foremost always remember the main reason for doing their studies, which directs everything else: to love Christ and understand what it means, as one of the faculty members stated, “to be ‘with Him’” (based off Mark 3:14), and then to be sent out by Him. (One of the things that I’m always going to be cherishing is the “with Christ”/ “in Christ” theme of the New Testament, which reminds us constantly that our identity as Christians is in Him.)

Regent is only a graduate school (not an undergrad school), and they will insist that it is NOT a seminary. (It’s also NOT a place where the MDiv or “pastor” student is the star student. They have a “lay emphasis,” which means that they believe that every Christian is in ministry in their respective contexts, and their ministries are just as important as the pastor’s, regardless of whether they go to the academy, become homemakers, engineers, publishers, etc.)

They also encourage using the intellect to love, worship, and glorify God, which really excites me.

Thanks again to everyone for all your continued prayers!