A New Ebenezer

Today, our family erects an Ebenezer.

In 1757, Robert Robinson penned the words to the great hymn, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” At the young age of 22, Robinson reflected on his recent conversion to the faith at the preaching of George Whitfield. In his hymn, he cried out to God saying, “Here I raise my Ebenezer, hither by thy help I’ve come.” He was referencing 1 Samuel 7:12-13 which says: “Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it upright between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, explaining, ‘The Lord has helped us to this point.'” Samuel erected a stone to acknowledge and remember the Lord’s help. An Ebenezer. Today marks a day for our family to acknowledge and celebrate the Lord’s help.

The path for Adam and Heather is full of such stones. The day we were baptized. The day we were engaged. The day we wed. The day our children were born. The day they were baptized. The day we kissed goodbye for combat. The day we reunited. Our calling to ministry. Our calling to Las Vegas. Our lives are full of those moments frozen in time and fixed in our memory. Moments that forever mark our lives. Moments made possible by the divine and those in His service.

On December 6, 2024 in Fort Worth, Texas a new Ebenezer was erected. Today, I had the privilege of earning a PhD in Pastoral Ministry from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. I completed the 31st grade, and for the first time since 2012, am no longer a student at Southwestern Seminary. My doctoral studies spanned 8 years, 3 ministry positions, 3 seminary administrations, 3 family moves, and everything in between. The dissertation covers 7 chapters, 189 pages, and over 55,000 words. My heart cries out to the Lord: Here I raise my Ebenezer, hither by thy help I’ve come. The Lord has rescued us indeed!

This day isn’t possible without God’s help and the help of those who have blessed our family. There are too many to name, but God knows who they are. And perhaps the opening pages of my writing summarize my heart best. So, let me conclude with the page of acknowledgment from the dissertation entitled: “Pastoral Exemplar: James T. Draper, Jr’s Diplomatic Role in the Conservative Resurgence of the Southern Baptist Convention.”

Acknowledgements

The list of those who have made this dissertation evolve from concept to reality is extensive. Drs. Tommy Kiker and Madison Grace have been the unseen heroes in this project, faithfully shepherding my efforts to completion even as the seminary transitioned administratively. Men like Drs. Steven Smith, Matthew McKellar, and Deron Biles have faithfully aided in this project from conception. A special thanks is due to Dr. Jill Botticelli Cabal and the team of archivists at Southwestern Seminary.

This work could not have been completed without my colleagues at Southwestern Seminary and those faithful churches in which I have had the opportunity to preach and serve. Most especially, I owe my gratitude to the elders and people of King’s Church in Las Vegas, Nevada. Thank you for loving our family. It is my great privilege to be among you and to be your pastor.

Most importantly, I owe thanks to my family. To my children, thank you for praying for your daddy and giving me the time away to finish this task. Thank you for being patient with me as God works on my heart and helps me to be more like him. To my bride I owe my deepest gratitude. Thank you for your commitment to Christ. Thank you for your investment in our family. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for following me from duty-station to duty-station and ministry assignment to ministry assignment. In the best of times and the darkest hours. I simply don’t finish this work without you. If I lead our home it is only because you follow.