Seminary: A Woman’s Journey to Serve God

By Tracy Goodwin

This is the third time that I have started to write this article. I am beginning to believe that Satan does not want this story told. But, I have news for Satan, God does. This is my testimony and I believe that God wants it shared to encourage you and support you.

I was 16 the first time I prayed for God to direct my path. I received a call on my life to serve Him. I first believed that this was to serve as a missionary. When I mentioned it to friends and family I was looked at in a very bizarre way. Let’s just say that not everyone supported the idea. As I continued to pray, I saw God move and say, “not now.”

I accepted that admonition and continued to go through life. I got married, went to college, and saw things that most people would run away from. But, for some reason I saw God move through those events to make me stronger. So strong that in 2006 God used a mighty man of God who preached a word from Mark 10:35-45. The verse that specifically grabbed my heart was Mark 10:43-45.“Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (NKJV)

I immediately knew God was calling me to serve again. I also knew that He wanted me to be trained. As I was growing up, I was a member of one denomination. But, as I moved into adulthood, God led me to a different path. I knew I was ill-equipped for it. As I prayed about it, I knew my call at the time was to attend seminary.

After much prayer and discussion with my husband and pastor, I was called to Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary  (I think it has changed names a couple of times so it may not be called that now). For three years, I was trained by some of the finest minds in Biblical Studies. I worshiped with proud men who were going to spend their lives worshipping and serving God.

I remember thinking the first time I walked in for orientation that I was not worthy to be there. But, I soon found out it was exactly where God wanted me. I met some amazing men and women who were there to serve God, the eagerness that they had to learn about God, and how to serve Him was just what I needed.

Even though seminary was exactly what I needed, I found that some things were not as easy for me as a woman. Study groups needed to be with other women. We needed to ensure our virtue did not get called into question. I remember times when I found that I had to go a step above just to prove myself.
I was able to go so far that I was encouraged to go for the PhD program. But, as graduation was approaching God put a stop to the call. Not a never ever, but an okay, you have learned what you needed to learn here. God put a halt to my call because He knew I would have some traumatic things to be going through. He put a halt to my call because He knew I was about to endure so much trauma that I would be able to use that to serve Him. But, I couldn’t serve Him in the capacity He wanted until I went through these events. These events have shaped my future ministry because GOD has called me again and given me the path and the journey to complete His will.

The first step in this path will be to enroll in my PhD program at a brand new women’s seminary, Women’s Bible Institute and Theological Seminary. He has called me to this seminary because He knows I need to learn how to focus His word for the women I will be ministering to.

There is nothing wrong with the LBTS education I got. Let me be clear with that fact. But attending a school designed for women will shape my ministry. It will help me to be able to tackle the Word of God in a whole new light and be able to minister to the women God has called me to.

God has us all on a journey. God has us all working through our journey one step at a time. He may call us to one thing and then put a halt on us. But, if we are truly called, He will open the doors when He is ready.

As women, we must listen to God’s call on our lives. It could be for full-time ministry, it could be to teach Sunday School or staff the nursery. God may call us to be housewives. But when he calls, we need to listen and obey.

How is God calling you? Are you answering His call or are you denying the Lord the opportunity to use you? How will you answer?