Jose has two posts on his blog that I think you should check out. One is about education and the other is about what’s the right move when we are not satisfied with our denomination. Good stuff.  I found it particularly interesting to me because: 1) I am currently ABD (all but dissertation) and expect to be finished with my dissertation and all its components by March and should graduate in June 2007. I will be Rev. Dr. Liz Rios. But the question in my mind is "and what?"  Sure, I "read" that more education equates to more financial success but the operative word is "eventually". I feel like I owe, I owe (although I had a few scholarships in my past for school, most of it was financed by Uncle Sam). Now comes the time to pay the piper but I am not making nearly as much money as I know I should be making. Most of my friends in academia tell me in order to really make it as an educator you need to move around. I need the gift of discernment to flow heavily because I am not just an Educator I am a pastor building a church in South Florida. All which again leads to what Ed Stetzer says is not just faith but "extraordinary faith" because God has to make a way if this was all ordained by Him. I’ll be able to use my education, talents and gifts to put food on the table while simulteanously pastoring. Again…its in His hands if this was His command.

Jose’s other post on denominational blues is another thing we’ve been pondering because we are wondering should we stay AG. The issues are not that simple. For example, it is true that any denomination you affiliate with has their own issues and eventually they will find you. However, the difference between other denominations and my present AG reality is that AG doesn’t do anything for church plants as far as financial resources are concerned. Sure they have a ‘boot camp’ training and yes they’ve had some conferences but what about real help like

1) allowing church planters to give 100% of their income to THEIR church not the denomination

2) giving their church planters a mentor even if they ‘cant’ attend a boot camp because they are bi-vocational

3) giving their church planters money for a set # of years between 1-3 years so that they have a better chance of survival  as 75% of all church plants fail within the first two years.

While we do live in a post-denominational world and most churches that do have denominational ties don’t even public promote them, it’s still hard to decide which one is best or even if you should be independent. For all intensive purposes, we ARE independent but are covered by our home church in NYC as a sounding board and a small stipend to cover one necessary equipment. Otherwise, our little church has raised all of its support on its own and we’re very close to beating the stats having survived in January 2007 to our year 2. Praise God.