Jason Vance's story

My father was a youth minister during most of my childhood. Seeing him and his passion for teaching about God solidified my desire to do the same thing. I just always “knew” I wanted to be a minister. So I went to college with the intention of getting a degree and jumping into ministry as quickly as possible. Somewhere along the line, I realized that I did not feel nearly prepared enough to be teaching people. I still had so many questions of my own, how could I teach others? I was very concerned about teaching the wrong things and the effect my ignorance would have on those I discipled.

A professor of mine chided me with the idea that if I didn’t go to seminary I would teach wrong things. I was pretty shocked with his bold claim that would offend many ministers without a Masters Degree. After he left a long enough pause for me to get worked up about his statement, he added, “You’ll teach wrong things if you go to seminary too, just less of them.”

This idea has stuck in my head like crazy glue. I realize that I will not be able to teach perfectly or even understand perfectly, but I do have the ability to strive for a better understanding of the Kingdom of God. The other thing he said that has influenced my decision is, “The more you think about, wrestle with, and dwell on Scripture, the more of a benefit you will be to the church.”

I have found AMBS to be a perfect place for these types of contemplations. Not only have I been stretched and challenged at AMBS, I have also found it to be an atmosphere of acceptance and gentleness. I learned quickly that I do not have to think exactly like everyone else in order to be a part of this journey of understanding.

While I am not from a Mennonite background, I have been able to learn from their rich heritage and compare it with my own. The Anabaptist ethics that take peace and justice so seriously were a huge appeal to me. I used to be in the military until I read enough of John Howard Yoder to create a conflict of conscience. When I finally made the decision to leave the military I was thirsty to study more about peace. Once again, AMBS has been the place to teach me that peace is so much more than a lack of violence. This holistic understanding has begun to shape how I read all of Scripture.

In addition with the knowledge that can be gained at AMBS, there is also the benefit of the relationships I have developed. The students and faculty here are truly remarkable people. While the professors will still hold you to a high standard of learning, they also care about your personal life. Conversations in the cafeteria or during breaks make this abundantly clear. There are numerous people around to be good sounding boards for all the new information being processed. The environment of this campus encourages growth while remaining safe and challenging.

Jason Vance, a student in the Master of Divinity program, lives in Lansing, Mich., with Rhonda, his wife. He commutes to AMBS each week.