Hamalas
whippersnapper
As many of you know, I'm currently serving as a Pastoral intern with a Presbyterian church in England for a year but will be returning back home to Wichita, Kansas in June, 2015. There is no doubt in my mind that I am called to the Pastoral ministry; and like many who are so called I feel very at home in the world of ideas. Liberal arts, teaching, theology, etc... all come naturally to me. However, I believe that it is important to be confident and competent in working with your hands as well as with your mind. I also see the value in learning a trade or skill that I can use were God to ever put me in a situation where I needed to be bi-vocational etc... Practically as well, I'll (Lord willing) be getting married next summer soon after I get back and will need at least a year before I go off to seminary. I'm wondering if having a skill or trade would help me to find part-time work while in school. I also know that tradesmen can often earn more than unskilled jobs, and I think that having a trade would be of help to me just as I live life normally.
To be honest, I've always admired guys who have such a skill or trade. I know some are inclined to look down on construction guys, plumbers, electricians, mechanics, etc... but I've always felt a bit of intimidation/admiration for guys who know how to work with their hands. Probably this is because I don't have such a skill and I'd like to grow in this area.
All that said - do you think it would be worth the time/money to learn a trade? I'd love to find something that I could learn fairly quickly so that I could have a year or so to actually work in the field and earn some money before heading to seminary in 2016. Is that at all realistic or would I have to do a 2-4 year apprenticeship in something? I'd love to do something like carpentry, or auto mechanics, but I did come across these certifications courses that seem to be quicker options: Air Conditioning Technology, COC - WATC and Automotive Transmissions/Transaxle, COC - WATC
Any thoughts?
To be honest, I've always admired guys who have such a skill or trade. I know some are inclined to look down on construction guys, plumbers, electricians, mechanics, etc... but I've always felt a bit of intimidation/admiration for guys who know how to work with their hands. Probably this is because I don't have such a skill and I'd like to grow in this area.
All that said - do you think it would be worth the time/money to learn a trade? I'd love to find something that I could learn fairly quickly so that I could have a year or so to actually work in the field and earn some money before heading to seminary in 2016. Is that at all realistic or would I have to do a 2-4 year apprenticeship in something? I'd love to do something like carpentry, or auto mechanics, but I did come across these certifications courses that seem to be quicker options: Air Conditioning Technology, COC - WATC and Automotive Transmissions/Transaxle, COC - WATC
Any thoughts?