“Completing the Work”

This article, written by Dallas Theological Seminary President Emeritus Dr. Donald K. Campbell, was recently written to DTS graduates and alumni in the Seminary’s Connection publication for alumni.

I find that his words, though, are applicable to many of us in our own lives and ministries… not just us DTS grads.

1. I urge you not to stop studying. If you do not study, you will not grow. So map out a study plan and pursue it faithfully. In 1938 our founder [Dallas Theological Seminary] Dr. Chafer wrote to the alumni, “My burden for the alumni is ever deepening. My fear is that the study work does not go on as fully with some as it should. Please demand of yourself all that the school would demand if you were again taking classroom work.”

2. I pray that you will be willing to do anything, anytime, anywhere–as God directs. In 1929, Dr. Chafer wrote to a friend, “God has not given me money to dispense. He has given me, however, my life and service which priceless to me as any fortunethat was ever in the hands of any individual and I have invested my all in the project at Dallas. I am not looking beyond it. The investment was made after years of careful waiting on God and I do not believe that I have the slightest reason to question the step I have taken. As an expression of our love to Him, God desires us to pur out what we have to His own glory, and it is the responsibility of each individual to find out in every case what God’s mind is for him or her.”

3. I urge you to avoid comparing yourself with others. Be the man or woman God wants you to be. He has made each of you uniquely for a particular ministry. Some of you will become prominent while others will be hidden from public view, but in the sight of God all of you as His beloved servants are on the same level.

4. I challenge you to turn your education over to God and watch Him work. God gave you a unique privilege in attending DTS and I pray you will acknowledge the privilege as His gift to you and manifest a humble spirit in all your relationships with others. And do emulate the pastor of whom a friend said, “He spoke of his work in sucha way that I felt he viewed himself as a spectator to what God was doing through his ministry.”

5. I pray you will have a heart for people, and that you will be “shepherds, not ranchers.” While time in your study is vital, the ministry is not totally fulfilled there. Shepherding the flock requires a compassionate heart and loving, personal attention such as Jesus demonstrated while on earth. His schedule was never too full for people in need. Regardless of the task, He could be interrupted to serve people.

6. I urge you to develop the discipline of effective, fervent prayer. This may well be the most difficult battle you will face in the ministry. I know what it is to have a crowded schedule with every minute and hour committed, particularly when I was president, and I found it necessary to be creative in finding time for communion with God. It is essential; and lest I be guilty of hypocrisy, I confess that I did not always win this battle. But I do not wish to be like the noted preacher who at a Bible conference preached a powerful message on prayer. He then called for a prolonged session of prayer and promptly then went to bed!

May God richly bless and use you. Join me in praying that at the end of life on earth we might be able to say with Jesus: “[Father,] I have brought you glory on the earth by completing the work you gave me to do” (John 17:4, NIV).