“What IS formation, anyway?” he asked. We use that term all the time and see it even more frequently. What exactly does it mean? And what would it mean for you if you decided to come to our Schools of Counseling or Ministry?

In a nutshell, it means having the character of Christ formed in us. But before you make assumptions about what that means, think about how Jesus lived. One of our colleagues here once said we don’t need a “red-letter Bible edition” (what Jesus said) but a “green-letter version” (what he DID).

More than anything, Jesus defied conventional expectations, turning the world upside down. (Remember? Whoever wants to be the chief of all must be the servant of all.) The only people who seemed to generate anger in Jesus were those religious people who were certain of their rightness—and dismissive of the people Jesus cared for. He was always gentle, loving and responsive to those considered “the least of” their communities. Did Jesus have expectations for his followers? Yes, absolutely. But he did because he knew that following him would be what was best for them.

What I think I’m getting at is that living life “in the Kingdom” that Jesus announced isn’t an event where we walk in the gates and live there forever. Instead, it’s a process of integrating all that we are so that we are living God’s very best.

When we talk about integrating our faith into counseling, it’s much more than just knowing which Bible verses might fit which presenting concerns. Instead it’s helping our patients live integrally related to God’s design. And the tools we use may be Biblical, psychological, theological, spiritual or even physical.

When we talk about speaking our faith to an “un-Christian culture,” we’re not talking about accommodation, but about helping the culture around us come to understand God’s best. And this just might mean having to speak in a language they understand. It will definitely mean seeing life as an integrated whole.

If this kind of thing excites you, I hope you’ll join us.

And then in 1973, a group of educators determined to find a way to help counseling students integrate their faith into their clinical work. It paired the best in clinical practice with sold training in scripture, church history and theology. That program was so innovative that it was the third oldest program of its kind in the world (and as my friend Gary Moon is fond of saying, “the oldest east of Orange County, CA”).

Richmont’s new School of Ministry continues this tradition with a new program for training ministers (as distinct from theologians). The program is brief, but filled with the practical things needed for ministry in today’s culture. Leadership, finance, spiritual, emotional and family life of the pastor, communication skills, and of course, knowledge of how to interpret scriptures and practical theology: all of these are packed into a two-year, 45 semester hour program that is designed for working professionals.

Jesus told us that new wine requires new wine skins. Our prayer is to always be creating new structures for a changing culture…but never compromising the essentials. If that kind of innovative thinking appeals, join us!

Notice that last sentence and see if you see anything wrong with it.

Got it? No? I used the word “be” when it should have really been “do.” Unfortunately we do this all too often, confusing what we do with who we are. And the problem is that it forces the being back into the shadows. We find ourselves having to hold up the façade of who we are…the image we want to project.

You may recall a relatively famous literary character from the pen of James Thurber called “Walter Mitty.” Walter lived a tepid, colorless sort of existence, though he constantly daydreamed about his enormous accomplishments and dynamic achievements. Saving people. Commanding great businesses. Living an heroic life. I always wondered if Mitty’s daydreams might not have prevented him from actually becoming the man he dreamed of being.

The philosopher Martin Heidegger wrote of the “they-self” and the “authentic-self,” distinguishing the former as the false self intended to appease or impress others around us. Part of the journey of authentic spirituality is coming to understand who we really are. Where we’ve come from. Who we are.

The culture here at Richmont is one of such genuineness. If you’re looking for a place to set down your guard and connect with the truest part of who you are, we’d love for you to join us. And in so doing our community becomes even richer and more engaged.

However, it helps occasionally to consider, What are our goals? Our targets? St. Augustine said, “Do you wish to be great? Then begin by being.” We normally think of excellence as doing, not being. How seldom we are encouraged to begin with who we are. I believe it is good to pause and reflect on what makes us who we are.

In one his newer books, Soulful Spirituality (www.amazon.com/Soulful-Spirituality-Becoming), Dr. David G. Benner writes:

The human journey—particularly our spiritual journey—is profoundly shaped by our longings. More often than we expect, we get what we most desire. One way or another, our desires form our spirits and direct our lives. For good or for bad, we are made in the image of what we desire.

Remember the words of the psalmist’s, “Content yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). I’ve often heard this passage preached that God will change our desires before giving them to us—and perhaps that is true. However, if Dr. Benner’s words ring true, then an occasional pause for reflection can be life-affirming.

Recently the leadership at Richmont spent some time reflecting about the vision God has given us for the university. Though still something of a work in progress, here’s where we are at the moment:

Richmont Graduate University is a community characterized by authenticity, excellence, innovation, diversity, formation, and fun.

You may be surprised by some of these descriptors, particularly “fun.” But each represents something critical about who we are. We’ll talk more in the days ahead about these attributes, since each of them capture something important about us. If you’re considering joining us, as a student, staff member, or faculty member, we look forward to welcoming you into our community.

For more information click here:

http://richmont.edu/events/evening-with-jeff-foxworthy/

Call inquiries go to:

Bob Rodgers, Executive Vice President

brodgers@richmont.edu Phone: 404.835.6132

Brooke A. Blews, Advancement Coordinator

bblews@richmont.edu Phone:  404.835.6134

Jennifer Cooper, Assistant to the President

jcooper@richmont.edu Phone: 404.835.6117

The conference dates are Thursday March 29, 2012 thru March 31, 2012. The conference theme is: “Hope and Forgiveness as Mediators of Applied Grace in Christians: A survey with Implications for Psychotherapy.”

Excerpt from “Connecting” Fall 2011

Ashley Harris, SGA Social Officer Atlanta – From the moment I knew that there was a school which offered an integration degree of counseling and Christian principles, I knew it would become the perfect place for me. My overall experience has been amazing. Not only do I receive a first class education with clinical experience, but I am also part of a loving community which seeks to empower me as a Christian woman. I believe Richmont has been a catalyst for transformation in my life. I have been blessed to be a part of the RGU family and look forward to uplifting the people of God’s kingdom upon completing my matriculation at Richmont.

Excerpt from “Connecting” Fall 2011

However, the more I’ve had time to reflect on our decision and the timing of this launch, the more I see God’s hand providentially guiding us. (Isn’t that the way it always is? Proverbs 3:5-6 never tells us that God will show us in advance where we’re going…just that he will direct our paths.) In this case, we did need more time to reflect on more flexible models of pedagogy, to reach out to those serving in ministry who have never considered higher education, to connect more broadly with local churches around us, and finally to raise funds to support the programs. (By the way, our current planning does involve a launch of the School of Ministry for next fall.)

The culture around us is changing. We have some difficulty now considering ourselves a “Christian nation,” and this is particularly true when you consider the Millennials—or the “unchristian generation” as some have alleged. In addition, market forces in higher education are changing as well. Tuition outpaces inflation, accreditors demand ever more specificity in data collected, and government wants our institutional assessment tied to salaries earned and loans received.

For us, the question is not one of quality. I just received the results from our most recent students’ National Counselor Examinations. Once again, our average score in every area is higher than the national average and higher than schools that are CACREP accredited. We know how to train counselors. I am so intensely proud of our graduates. Not only their performance on standardized testing, but in the thousands of ways they are serving the world and the Kingdom.

No, the question I’m convinced we must answer is about the future. I’m concerned about the debt graduate students accumulate. I’m concerned about the availability of good jobs for graduates (in all fields, not just counseling). I’m concerned about universities finding ways to meet student needs, instead of doing things the same old way and expecting (demanding?) that student change.

What kind of university is Richmont going to be? We’re working hard to examine who we are and where we’re going. We’ve engaged Dr. Donald Crump (formerly VP at the University of Alabama and later with SACS) to lead us through a strategic planning process. I would ask that you keep us in your prayers as we focus on preparing for the future. I know that our path will always involve simplicity, quality and service. But how those values are implemented will be fun to watch.

So, disappointed? Occasionally. But my job is really the most fun, exciting and meaningful thing that I can imagine doing. Watching the Kingdom develop through you, our students, alumni, staff and faculty…it really is a blessing.

Excerpt from Dr. Jeff Terrell in “Connecting” Fall 2011