Tuesday 16 July 2013

COMING TO THE NIGERIAN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, OGBOMOSO FOR TRAINING


Let me state from the onset that what you are about to read does not emanate from the School Authority. I am a student of the Institution and I thought it necessary to wet your appetite on what you are coming for. Last year, when I was admitted, I search the Internet for necessary information but I wasn’t satisfied what I got then, hence I have decided to post this.

You need to be sure that God is calling you, pray, pray and pray. Your confirmation will be your mainstay when the road is rough. Let me tell you that some will doubt your call and some will affirm it whichever is your case, do not be excited or dumbfounded. Once that has been done, God will confirm his calling in more than one way. Be sure of this and God will take care of the rest. I recommend TAPPING GOD’S RESOURCES by Bro. Gbile Akanni and Charles Spurgeon’s LECTURE TO MY STUDENTS. Both books are strongly recommended by me. When God make promises, please write it down. Let us talk about the people, place, programme and your planning.

People
You need to look forward to meeting Christians, you will not be disappointed. That some people call the Seminary ‘a cemetery’ is fallacious and untrue, you will find such description to be a total and absolute lie. Oh yes, you will be humbled by the level of spirituality of some, the humility of some will amaze you. Also, few are exceptions and you will quickly notice these few. You will see great Christian Scholars who are so generous with their wealth of experience. One of them told us in the Class; “You can stop me anywhere and ask question as far as this course is concerned”. There are some who will so utilise their hours of Lecture so well that you wish they would not leave the class again. Among the students; if you love prayer, you will find people of like mind, you will find amiable people there but do not rush to make friend. Take your time. One of the excellent ways to know who is who is when you work together as a group. This will make you to know each person’s strength and area of weakness, but be sure of this, you will belong to groups. You also need to maintain your Christian life. I have heard announcement of suspension of a student for two years publicly, so maintain your walk with the Lord.

Place
The Seminary is popularly called the community of faith and learning, it is God’s own city. Love here is at its peak. We rise to the need of others. I cannot tell you all that happened here but you will discover that the people here are living in love. The beautiful scenery is so captivating. You will love the aesthetic here. It is a beauty to behold. I need to mention few places; the Chapel, the Prayer Ground, the Library etc. The roads network, the trees, the lawn. It took me a long time to know there was a place where you can refresh yourself while in School (perhaps because I am here with my family).

Program
Whatever programme you are coming for prepare for hardwork, this is not to frighten you, will such a one as you be afraid? Moreover, other people who had come here had passed out, so you will also succeed. You will have enough assignments to deal with. Some of the assignments are Reading Log, Term Paper etc. You are not supposed to question why you were asked to do something, you will understand by and by. As much as work abound; God’s grace abound much more as well. So don’t worry. God is there for you.  In your first year, you will be part of the Singing Seminarian and throughout you study you will likely be part of the Discipleship Class, depending on what Discipleship programme you had done before resumption, but please get the Certificate for those Discipleship programme you did before your resumption otherwise you may have to repeat it. Here, time works. No African time (if there is anything like that anyway). You are supposed to be at where you should be at least five minute before the commencement.

Planning
One thing you must never forget to take along is your faith. Be sure to trust God enough such that if you need to resign your appointment, do so. All my family members are students but God has always been there. More than twice, we need Him to come quickly for finance and He did not fail. In most cases God had used the least expected person to meet our need. He is more than faithful!

If you are going to stay in the singles’ Hostel, you do not need to bring your bed, but if you are going to stay in the married Hostel, you need to bring you bed.

Please take every instruction given to you by the School authority very seriously.

Welcome on board. Congratulations. Shalom.