The Journey of Choices and Discoveries
When I understood my calling to pastoral ministry, I was surprised by some issues that changed my personal expectations about this whole process of becoming a pastor. I used to think a pastor was recognized through their ministerial practice in the Church and, at some point, would receive the title. However, the process the Baptist Church adopts for those called to ministry is quite different from what I was used to. Baptist Churches are affiliated with the Brazilian Baptist Convention, which, in turn, works in partnership with the Order of Baptist Pastors of Brazil. To be recognized as a pastor in this denomination, one must complete a Bachelor’s degree in Theology.
When I discovered that attending seminary was required, I began researching the topic and learned about three theological institutions in different parts of Brazil: Equatorial Seminary in Belém do Pará, Northern Seminary in Recife, and Southern Seminary in Rio de Janeiro. Initially, I was strongly inclined to enroll at the Northern Seminary in Recife because my pastor’s son had graduated from there. But the process seemed to be blocked by something, and eventually, all my attempts to move to Recife fell through. Yet, God’s action was decisive in my life: at the end of a church service, I heard God’s voice saying, “When are you going to ask me where I want you to be?” From that moment on, I began to consider surrendering control to the Lord, and as a result, everything worked out for me to go to the city of Rio de Janeiro.
The Challenge of Change and Adaptation
Moving from a small town (Parauapebas, in Pará) to Rio de Janeiro brought real challenges. The expectation of a quick adaptation gave way to moments of homesickness for my family and my familiar routine. A memorable moment was when I sat on a bench where I was living, saw a leaf falling, and started to cry. In that moment, I asked myself: what am I doing here? It wasn’t a question doubting my calling, but a genuine feeling common to those who leave their homes to live out the unknown will of God. As the months went by, I slowly got used to the routine and the massive geographic change I was experiencing at that time.
It was a time of maturation and great learning for my personal life. I often say that as long as we are with our family, friends, and even our local church, we are protected by a glass dome, and this often prevents us from discovering the immensity of the outside world. My case was similar to this: while I lived in my comfort zone, I developed very little. But with this major change of location and a new sense of purpose in life, I experienced exponential growth—as a man, a professional, and a Christian.
Academic Life: Beyond Sunday School
Returning to the topic of Seminary, one thing worth highlighting was the great academic benefit it brought to my life. The average reading rate in Brazil is roughly 3.96 to 4.36 books a year; however, I was in the group of people who hadn’t read a single book. But when faced with the reality of higher education, I realized I needed to change this scenario. This pushed me to develop academically, and I started treating my studies as non-negotiable. In my limited imagination, Seminary would be a Sunday School 2.0, but it proved to be a great challenge to overcome day after day.
One thing I can tell you with absolute certainty: ministerial equipping is undoubtedly a turning point for anyone who wants to better serve the Lord’s Church. Looking at the Pedro from before seminary and comparing him to the Pedro of today, there is an exponential change. Today, I am an assistant pastor at the First Baptist Church in Parauapebas, and I have been using all the knowledge I gained in Seminary in my ministerial practice. Therefore, for those of you who still doubt whether seminary is worth it, take the word of someone who has already walked this path and who categorically assures you that Seminary makes a massive difference in the ministerial life of those called to serve.
Final Thoughts
It has been seven months since I graduated from Seminary, and my final outlook is a deep recognition of what studying can do in our lives. However, this same study must be accompanied by practice. I hold on to a vivid thought that we could devour every book in the world, we could retain all the knowledge available on earth, but if that knowledge remains locked up in our minds and is not useful, the effort won’t have been worth it. Therefore, knowledge must constantly be of service, whether in practice or for the benefit of others in some way. My encouragement in this text is to inspire you—whatever your field may be—to equip yourself to deliver your best, and nothing less.
Keep dedicating yourself and don’t stop studying. Stay focused!
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