Call to Adventure

“NOAH,” God essentially said, “I have a problem. But, I also have a solution, a vision, a plan, and a man. You are the man, and this is what I want to you do.” And, according to scripture, “Noah did everything just as God commanded.”

Genesis 6:22

Noah’s journey included building a gigantic boat, congregating pairs of living creatures into a floatable zoo, weathering a colossal flood, and captaining the human and animal repopulation of the earth. Noah could have drowned in boredom, vanity, and wickedness like others in his day, but God called him to an adventure that helped save the world.

“ABRAM,” God essentially said, “I have big plans for you—a big people and a big purpose. So big! So unbelievably big! You, yes you, you are the man, my man!” And, according to scripture, “Abram went as the Lord had told him.”

Genesis 12:4

Abram’s journey included multiple relocations, battling enemies, moderating familial animosity, bargaining with God in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to save people from the consequences of their sins, receiving a new name, and willingly almost sacrificing his own son in faith and unwavering obedience to the Lord God Almighty. Abram could have rested in obscurity and settled for polytheistic status quo like others of his day, but God called him to an adventure that blessed the world.

“DEBORAH,” God essentially said, “Our people have problems. While enemies without oppress them, reluctance within suppresses them. I need a mother in Israel to raise them up, encourage them, and lead them. You are the woman, and this is what I want you to do.”

Judges 4-5

Deborah’s journey included presiding over her people as a prophet and judge, mediating disputes, summoning army commanders, directing battle plans, and commemorating victory with a glorious musical duet. She could have hidden behind her skirts, stayed home in the kitchen, or embraced frailty as a damsel in distress, but God called her to stand strong in a culturally unusual role that brought decades of peace to her nation.

“MOSES,” God essentially said, “Our people have a problem. But, I have a solution, a vision, a plan, and a man. You are the man, and this is what I want you to do.” And, according to scripture, Moses effectively replied, “Who? Me? What? How? Please send someone else!” Finally, after some attitude adjustments and a personnel addition, “Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them.”

Exodus 7:6

Moses’s journey included struggling with his own sense of inadequacy, reconnecting with his people to earn their trust and respect, confronting a pharaoh, leading a mixed multitude into an expectant wilderness journey, navigating myriad personnel and morale issues, building leaders, shaping a fledgling group of oppressed tribes into nation, and casting a compelling vision far beyond his own lifetime and opportunity to experience the full blessings himself. Moses could have continued inconspicuously shepherding sheep in the wilderness like others of his day, but God called him to an adventure that created a transformational culture and shaped a holy nation.

“BEZALEL,” God informed Moses, “Has been filled with my Spirit, wisdom, understanding, and knowledge of all kinds of artistic skills to build my mishkan (“tabernacle” or “dwelling place”). I have also provided Oholiab as his assistant and given them the ability to teach others.” And, according to scripture, “Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded.”

Exodus 39:43

Bezalel and Oholiab’s journey included leading the personnel and processes to create divinely inspired and spiritually nourishing artistic works made of bronze, gold, silver, jewel stones, fabric, and wood. They could have complained about their circumstances, opined for a return to servitude with more certainty, or used their talents in more trivial pursuits like others of their day, but God called them to creative adventure with higher purposes.

“WHOEVER wants to save their life will lose it,” Jesus told Simon (Peter), Andrew, James, John, Levi (Matthew), Nathanael, Philip, Thomas, Mary and Martha, Mary Magdalene, and others, “but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” And, according to scripture, many did so.

The journeys of Jesus’s first followers included face-to-face discipleship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, confronting their own prejudices and sins, enduring persecutions, witnessing (and effecting) incredible miracles, observing the suffering and death of their expected Messiah, and experiencing their resurrected Lord first-hand. They could have continued collecting taxes, fishing, scheming revolts, or self-righteously castigating sinners like others of their day, but God called them to an adventure that continues to redeem souls and shape societies around the world to this day.

TBS Past

The Lord similarly called founding President Jim Leggett, founding Professor Paul Helbig, founding Board Chair Dan Dunham, founding Executive Vice-President Rick McCalip, and others to an adventure planting The Bible Seminary (TBS). The summons included no guarantees, only trust in the Lord and saints similarly called, as well as a shared belief in all 66 books of the Bible as the Word of God and the best training manual for life, leadership, and leaving a legacy. As God continued to empower and guide, protect and provide, TBS has since grown from nothing to something, as summarized below.

15 years incorporated as an independent, charitable 501(c)3, non-profit institution of higher education.5 years accredited by TRACS (Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools) with a recent 10-year renewal good through 2035.101 alumni toward a goal of 5,000 reaching 1 million souls for Christ.82 courses and seminars taught a cumulative total of 370 times.45 teaching locations (classrooms, churches, schools, cemeteries, a farm, funeral homes, homes, hospitals, museums, and retreat centers) plus 75+ locations in Israel.13 years leasing campus facilities from the Great Southwest Equestrian Center that currently total 4,400 ft2 of classroom, library, museum, office, reception, storage, and studio spaces.7 academic programsMaster of Divinity (MDiv)Master of Arts in Biblical History and Archaeology (MABHA)Master of Arts in Biblical Languages and Culture (MABLC)Master of Arts in Biblical Studies (MABS)Master of Arts in Church History and Theology (MACHT)Dual Degree Completion (DDC) path to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies (BACS) and simultaneously earn a graduate degree.Certificate of Theological Studies (CTS), formerly titled Bible Certificate, Licensed Professional, or Vocational Ministry Certificate.4,000 3J Museum visitors since opening March 1, 2022.2,500 students who enrolled in at least one course or seminar.600 donors since inception.175 travelers to Israel and Egypt.125 teaching team members, including 50 faculty who taught at least one TBS class, course, or seminar, plus another 75+ guest speakers.38 Board members who served 1 to 12-year terms with 5 to 13-members and who have cumulatively volunteered a total of 159 years.30 staff who served full-time, part-time, or volunteer since inception.Facebook: 1,600+ followers; 44% male, 56% female.Podcast: 5 years old, 175 episodes, 8,900+ downloads in 60 countries and nearly 1,000 cities.YouTube: 4,700 videos; nearly 1 million impressions; 170,000 views totaling 12,600 hours; 782 subscribers; 60% of viewers 18-34 years old, 30% 35-64 years old, 8% 13-17 years old; 25% female and 75% male.

These statistics offer valuable proof of concept. No longer a flickering idea, daring dream, or “We’re doing what?” campaign (the 2010 initiative that raised $1.1 million in seed funding to start the seminary), TBS is a bustling, dynamic reality with alumni, leaders, and students regularly impacting thousands of people worldwide on a weekly basis.

TBS Future

The Lord’s call to adventure is a journey. Living it out extends far beyond our lifetime, most likely even into eternity. With 15 years past, we look forward toward TBS future. Like Noah, Abram, Deborah, Moses, Bezalel, and whoever else, while we’re not fully certain what lies ahead, we have already answered “Yes!” No matter what, we will continue to fully trust the Lord and pray about future TBS facilities, finances, people, and programs. We invite you to join us in answering God’s call to a remarkable array of providential adventures!

Originally published in The Sentinel, Summer 2025 (pp. 34-36).