“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” Henry Brooks Adams
“Be an opener of doors for such as come after thee.” Emerson
“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” William Ward
I love to teach. In fact, you do not have to take one of my classes to have me teach you. Just come and hang out with me and soon I break out into teaching (it can be quite annoying). Whether in an academic institution or a Bible study class, or as a professor or parent, by teaching we shape the next generation. And sometimes you as a teacher can be surprised by the impact of your teaching.
Recently two of my students, Matt Queen and Tommy Kiker, became professors like their professor. Both start this fall at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Matt teaching evangelism and Tommy training in pastoral ministry. I have at least twenty former students who now teach in an institution of higher education, which basically means I am an old man. Since I have given my life to this, few things bring more joy than to see someone in whom you have invested follow in the path you have trod for many years.
Both of these men earned PhDs with me as their mentor. I love teaching at all levels: teaching high school students in the essentials of the faith (like this week at youth camp) all the way to the highest academic level. I love to hang out with students in coffee shops and talk about how faith meets life and how theology relates to culture. I love talking to young people about how the gospel shapes everything from clothing styles to church life, from creation to the cross. I even love helping students learn how to get in shape to be better prepared to serve Christ for more years.
But I do love the rigors of mentoring PhD students. Time consuming? Fact. But helping place the hood at graduation on someone who has invested so much, and in whom I have invested, well, it just doesn’t get much better than that.
I met Matt early in his days as a student in the MDiv. It was a Friday night, and he and others led a weekly evangelistic ministry called Doulos. I came to sign in, and actually had the honor of leading someone to Christ that night. He thought I was a student (it was 12 or so years ago and I looked at least a little younger). When I told him my name he was embarrassed that he did not recognize me. No problem, I told him, but I am happy to bring that up again just now. Smile. Matt joined me on trips at times and I saw in him a great heart for the gospel. I am not surprised he and Hope are moving to Fort Worth so he can do what his prof does, but I am proud. Matt has also given me a humbling honor in that he and another former student who now teaches at North Greenville University, Larry McDonald, are editing a Festchrift, or a collection of essays in my honor, to be released next spring.
Tommy sat in the back of the largest class I ever taught (and I hope never to teach one that big again!). A county boy, several times a day I would say something he liked. “Come on!” he exclaimed repeatedly. I have a little country in me also, and such encouragement is a little like saying “sic em” to a hound dog. For you urban snobs, that means I liked it.
Tommy came to my house one time and helped me plant some flowers for my wife. He had never done so (stunning to me since he was a country boy). I recall telling him I was teaching him how to be a husband even though he had no prospects of marriage at the time. He has now been married some years to Carol Ann. You are welcome, Tommy. Oh, Carol Ann wrote a better MDiv paper for me than did Tommy (sorry to bring that up). Tommy is contributing to the Festschrift which brings me great joy.
I am as proud as a Papa of these men and honored to have had a little influence in their lives. I am thrilled to watch their impact on the coming generation as they teach at my alma mater.
I want to plant trees I do not sit under. I want to give myself now to now, but to next. After all, others did the same thing for me.
