Weekly Meetings with Tommy Post #1

            There are a number of experiences that have shaped me throughout my time as the junior high teaching intern at College Church.  I think the most influential have been my weekly meetings with the junior high pastor, Tommy.  Tommy and I meet every week on Thursdays, and the content of each meeting varies greatly from week to week.  We started out our meetings by going through Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology, paying specific attention to his sections on the doctrine of Scripture.  It is difficult to describe the immense amount of growth that occurred during these discussions.  Tommy holds a Masters of Divinity degree, so he is well-versed in systematic theology which makes his insights and thoughts on the doctrine of Scripture compelling.  Tommy also does a great job of explaining deep, theological concepts in a way that is easy to understand, but does not take away from the depth of the concept.  This phenomenon is probably because Tommy preaches to junior high students and adults regularly; he consistently exposits the Word of God across a large span of ages, and this experience definitely shows itself when he explains his ideas to me. 

            Perhaps the most helpful part of these discussions is how Tommy allows me to drive the conversation.  We both read a chapter beforehand and then, when we come together to meet, Tommy lets me ask any and all the questions I want about the text.  If he feels that I have glossed over an especially important concept, he is sure to draw my attention to it.  Tommy, in some ways, acts as my personal tutor for whatever theological concept I am interesting in, but the situation is much different than the average classroom.  Instead of the professor preparing a lecture and me writing down notes so that I can later take a test or write a paper on the material, my discussions with Tommy are closer to a peer-to-peer level.  Tommy is absolutely more knowledgeable than I, but occasionally I can hang with him intellectually.

            Another aspect of these meetings that I distinctly appreciate is how Tommy and I connect on a personal level.  We usually spend the first ten minutes sharing what has happened in our lives the past week – anything from spiritual struggles and triumphs to ways that we like to spend our free time.  Then follows our discussion on whatever theological topic is up for that week.  Next, we talk about the state of the junior high ministry which usually includes discussing how to effectively shepherd struggling students or support volunteers who are overwhelmed.  Finally, Tommy and I talk about strategies for advancing in a video game that we both play together.  Tommy’s wife, Precious, finds it very hilarious that we connect so much over something as simple as a video game.  All in all, the meetings between Tommy and I have produced immense personal, spiritual, and academic growth.