Beeson Podcast, Episode #630 Samuel Hagos Nov. 29, 2022 >>Announcer: Welcome to the Beeson podcast, coming to you from Beeson Divinity School on the campus of Samford University. Now your hosts, Doug Sweeney and Kristen Padilla. >>Doug Sweeney: Welcome to the Beeson Podcast, I’m your host, Doug Sweeney, here with my co-host, Kristen Padilla. A few days after this episode airs, today’s guest will be graduating with a Master of Divinity degree from Beeson Divinity School. He happens to be one of Kristen’s and my favorite people. I’ve had him in class. He’s worked as my TA. We’ve really become good friends. And by the time you hear this, he will have preached in Hodges Chapel, which is quite an honor for one of our students. Only one student per term gets to preach in a chapel service. Before Kristen introduces him, let me say a few words about students here at Beeson. Every semester a new cohort of men and women come to study here to prepare for ministry in the Church of Jesus Christ. We are a residential program and expect our students to forgo full time jobs so they can immerse themselves in our family of faith and learning. We believe that in person, face to face education is the best way to prepare for in person face to face ministry. So, our students make sacrifices to be here. The most important way, of course, that you can support them while they’re with us is to pray for them regularly and fervently. But another way you can help is by giving to one of our student scholarships. Would you please pray about making a gift this Christmas to one of these scholarships? Drop me a line. If you do so, I’d like to thank you for your commitment to the future of gospel ministry. All right. On that note, let’s turn to one of our best and brightest students, and listen to what the Lord has been doing in his life. Kristen, who do we have with us on the show? >>Kristen Padilla: Thanks, Doug. We have Samuel Hagos. He is a graduating MDIV student as you’ve just said from Dallas, Texas. And he is also this fall’s James Earl Massey Preaching Award recipient. And just to add in my own comments about Samuel. Samuel started working in my office in the area of marketing and communications, assisting me I believe during his first year at Beeson, before you took him away, Doug, as your TA. And Samuel has just been, as Doug has said, a good friend also to me. And a hard worker. And someone who has contributed greatly to this community. He was also the first president of our newly formed minority student fellowship. So, we’re ecstatic that he’s on the show and for those of you listeners who really do tune in every week, his voice may sound familiar because a few years ago he was my co-host on the Beeson Podcast as we put Doug in the hot seat to talk to him about one of his books. So, welcome, Samuel to the Beeson Podcast again. >>Samuel Hagos: Thank you for the invitation. It’s a delight to be here with you both. >>Kristen Padilla: Well, it’s great to have you on this side of the microphone as our guest. Would you introduce yourself more fully to our listeners? Tell us more about your family, all that you want to tell us about Texas, and how you came to faith in Jesus Christ? >>Samuel Hagos: Sure. I am Samuel. I’m a final semester MDIV student here at Beeson. For the last three years I’ve served as an Associate Minister at New Jerusalem Baptist Church in Bessemer, which is pastored by a two time Beeson grad and a good friend of the both of you, Dr. Reginald Calvert, who has been a wonderful mentor to me for the last three years there. I was born in Dallas, Texas and grew up mainly in a neighboring town, Garland, Texas. I am the middle child of parents who immigrated to the US from Ethiopia in the early 1980s. And they both landed in Dallas of all places, separately, and they met in Dallas, and they were married and settled and built a life there for our family. My older sister [inaudible 00:04:23] and younger brother, Abel. So, I lived there all my life up until I moved to Birmingham to come to Beeson. Part of my faith journey ... something I don’t think many people know about me is that I actually was baptized and was part of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church up to the point I was in about the third or fourth grade, up until the end of elementary school. So, with regard to my faith journey, I genuinely can say that I don’t remember a time in my life where I did not know about the person and work of Christ. I grew up in a really good family home environment, grew up in the church, and I don’t have a radical conversion story like Paul. But from a very young age I can say confidently that the Lord has called me to himself. And that God in his mercy has placed me in a wonderful family and put great mentors and leaders in my life that have helped nourish me in the faith which I’ve been super grateful for as a part of my life journey. And around the fourth grade, my family moved to Garland and in the ironic providence of God we literally lived right across the street from a Baptist Church. And so out of convenience we literally went across the street to church. And lo and behold that’s where the Lord helped develop me in my faith. That’s where I gave my life to Christ. Where I accepted my call to ministry. I had a wonderful pastor by the name of Mark Clemmons who is such a great preacher and a good man who was so generous with me and my family and helped develop me in the faith and in my calling into pastoral vocational ministry. And we went there out of convenience. It was right across the street from our home, quite a distinct shift from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, to say the least. But it’s where the Lord had us, had me from the time I was around the fourth grade. So, up until the Sunday before I left to come to Birmingham to start at Beeson. So, I felt called to ministry around the time I was ending middle school and entering high school. And as I was finishing high school and I was thinking about college and thinking about how I wanted to study theology and biblical studies in my undergrad and really give myself to preparing for ministry, and I had a youth pastor who served as an intern at the time but he became a youth pastor named Kyle who was a student at Dallas Theological Seminary. And so I was ending my time in high school, about my junior year, he was telling me about this small school in east Dallas called Criswell College that he would drive by every day on his way to school. And he told me to look into it. He knew I felt called into ministry. And my junior year of high school he took me to a preview day there. I fell in love with the school. Dr. Tony Evans preached that preview day chapel message. And I really felt a great clarity on this is where the Lord had me. It was the only school I applied to. I was admitted and that’s where I spent my college years, studying theology and church history and biblical studies from 2014 to 2019 up until the time I moved to Birmingham to come to Beeson. >>Doug Sweeney: When did you first hear about Beeson, Samuel? It’s kind of interesting, you’ve said in your story your youth pastor in high school was a Dallas Seminary guy, Dallas of course is a wonderful seminary, a lot of friends there. So, how does someone under the influence of a Dallas Seminary youth pastor even hear about Beeson and get to Beeson? >>Samuel Hagos: So, it’s really interesting. While I was a student at Criswell, I worked full time for three years in the admissions office as an admissions counselor. And so while I was in my undergrad studies I knew I wanted to pursue and MDIV. Criswell has an MDIV program. And a part of the benefits of being a full time employee was tuition. And so I had resolved within myself years before I graduated that I would just stay at Criswell and pursue an MDIV there. They have a really great program there. And it was my last year of college. I was a TA for one of my professors named Dr. Christopher Graham, who teaches church history. And he in the fall of ’18 I got on his calendar to get coffee, we were just going to catch up, kind of wanted to talk about post school, post graduation possibilities and whatnot, and my plans of staying and doing an MDIV there. And in a unique way, he sort of selflessly and kindly was like, “You know? You ever thought about going elsewhere?” And at first I was like, “What do you mean? You want me to leave you, Dr. Graham?” (laughs) But at the time I was 22 years old. My family was in Dallas, but he was helping me see that there wasn’t really much keeping me in Dallas in the sense of the world is so large. The country was so big. There’s so many great schools across the country you can go to. And he was like, “This is the time of your life where you’re able to pack up and move.” He said, “Prayerfully consider it.” And so Dr. Graham really kind of opened my horizons in a real sense. And so we came up with a short list of schools I was interested in and I knew of Beeson mainly because I knew of Dr. Robert Smith Junior. I heard him preach before throughout college, I went to the E K Bailey Preaching Conference every year. And so I knew of Dr. Smith by name. Which led me to do more research on Beeson. And I knew I wanted to go somewhere that wasn’t denominationally affiliated. I wanted to be in an intentionally interdenominational place, which is different than being nondenominational. So, I think the benefit of learning from many different traditions and denominations was somewhere I wanted to be shaped and formed by. And so Beeson really honestly was the only school I applied to. I didn’t have any back up plans. And I really felt a clarity that the Lord had called me to come to Beeson after some discerning. And it really was an act of faith. I actually had not been to Birmingham before. I came for a few days the summer before, but aside from that when I made my deposit, accepted admission decision, I had not been to Birmingham. I did not know anybody in Birmingham. And I can truly say it’s been one of the most meaningful seasons of my life as I look back on it. >>Kristen Padilla: We’re so glad God brought you to Beeson. I thought you were going to say it was our social media post that got you to Beeson. (laughter) >>Samuel Hagos: It was a close second. >>Kristen Padilla: Right. A close second. (laughs) Not to embarrass my co-host, Dean Sweeney, but as he’s already said, you two have become friends, and I can testify as someone who knows you both that you all have formed a special friendship. And it’s not very often, at least in my experience, that students who go to a theological school, a seminary, get to know the Dean of the school – much less have a real friendship. So, I wonder if you can share about your friendship with our listeners and what Dean Sweeney has meant to you personally? >>Samuel Hagos: One of the I think greatest gifts in my coming to Beeson has been getting to know Dr. Doug Sweeney, and Wilma Sweeney. They are two of my most favorite people in the entire world. Sometimes God places people in our lives who see things in us that we have yet to see. People who call out of us that which God has deposited in us. And people who believe in you more than you believe in yourself. Dr. Sweeney has been that person for me throughout these last few years. I’ve had the privilege of being his TA for the last few years. And he’s just been so generous with me and to me. The Sweeney’s have shared so many meals with me over the years. One in particular sticks out to me. One time, just to show you the heart of the Sweeney’s ... One time Wilma Sweeney, Beeson Divinity’s (as I call her affectionately) First Lady, learned how to make Ethiopian food. I don’t think I told you this, Kristen. She learned how to make Ethiopian food one evening. And made it for us for dinner. And it was delicious. And then I think that just kind of gives you a small picture of the heart of the Sweeney’s and how much of a gift they are to Beeson Divinity School. I don’t know if listeners know, but every semester they host all new first semester students at their home for an ice cream social or some sort of event to get to know each other. And it just kind of shows the heart that they have for not only students but the Beeson community at-large. And so Dr. Sweeney’s mentorship/friendship has just been one of the most life giving things to me. I was looking over my transcript and actually Dr. Sweeney, I’ve had you more than any professor I’ve had at Beeson. And you don’t teach that much. >>Doug Sweeney: Oh, you poor thing! >>Samuel Hagos: No ... >>Kristen Padilla: Yeah, he doesn’t teach that much. >>Samuel Hagos: He doesn’t teach that much, that’s the kicker. He doesn’t teach that much these days, but being able to be formed by such a brilliant scholar who is also just a good man has been one that shapes you in ways that will benefit you for a lifetime. And when I think of Dr. Sweeney I think of what is said of Barnabas in Acts 11. He is described as a good man who is filled with the Holy Spirit and through whom many people came to faith through him. I think that’s what describes Dr. Sweeney in his generosity and friendship to me. So, I want to say on record, Dr. Sweeney, thank you and Wilma for your generosity and kindness to me over the years. And when God places people in your life who invest in you, who are upright, and who love the Lord, you can’t help but honor the Lord with your very life. And so, man, thank you for sharing yourself with me. And Wilma, who I love so dearly. >>Doug Sweeney: You are most welcome. We love you, too. But enough about us! (laughter) Let’s talk about some other things here at Beeson Divinity School. You’re nearing the end of three and a half years. This is a significant season of your life. And of course we tell everybody we’re all about forming students in person, helping them grow up in the maturity in Christ, helping them grow in skills and develop gifts that they’re going to need for a long life of ministry. So, as you reflect back, we want you to tell our listeners the honest truth. No pulling the wool over anybody’s eyes. What has your Beeson experience been like? How would you characterize it? Just in case there’s somebody listening right now who is either thinking about seminary or has a good friend or loved one thinking about seminary? What has Beeson been for you? >>Samuel Hagos: Yeah, that’s a good question. I can genuinely say the last three and a half years of my life at Beeson have been very formative and meaningful in a real sense. I feel like the Lord has given me so much grace and favor here at Beeson. When I came to Beeson I felt called to pastoral ministry. I knew that’s what I wanted ... the Lord had called me and placed on my life. And I remember my second semester I was in ... it was the spring of 2020. I was in a pastoral care and counseling class with Dr. Gordon Baals, who is just a gift to the Beeson community at-large. I remember he gives us these real life case study scenarios of a situation that’s brought to the pastor or the counselor. And he would ask us what we would do in that situation. What’s some scriptures that come to mind? What would you admonish them to do? And I remember, Dr. Sweeney, feeling so ill equipped to answer that question. I remember thinking, being so dumbfounded in the sense that I was like, I was questioning ... I knew the Lord had called me to this but I didn’t feel ready to do it. And I can genuinely say that throughout that pastoral counseling class the Lord really used Beeson and Dr. Baals in that class to shape my heart pastorally. In such a way that that class served as a catalyst for me to be able to almost listen in on a different wave length in other classes I’ve had, whether it’s my church history classes or my language classes ... that allow me to be pastorally sensitive in the ways in which I engage my academic theological study. And so I guess I would say one of the gifts of theological education and at Beeson ... One of the things I’ve learned is that tethering the academic with the practice of ministry, you know? If anything, I started the semester right before COVID hit, the fall of ’19. And so just to watch ... the world is very different from what it was when I started even three years ago. Just to think about the global pandemic, think about the millions of lives that were lost, and the millions of more lives that were impacted by loss, the amount of grief that just hovers over the world in a real sense, and political catastrophe, social injustice and division. I think kind of to be in seminary during these days have just been really interesting. And I think by the grace of God he’s allowed me to see that life isn’t just an academic adventure. Don’t get me wrong, academics are important. Come to seminary, if you’re listening to this podcast. I’m here. I’ve given my life to this in a real sense these last three and a half years, and four years of undergrad of theological study. And so theological study is important and crucial, but it must not be divorced from the practice of everyday life of ministry. And I think pastoral care and counseling really helped me marry the two in a sense, that I’m able to sort of have this sort of pastoral sensitivity in my engagement with the world. Because people have real life issues that hit them. People have real life concerns that they’re wondering, “What does God have to say about this?” And these last few years I think I’ve been able to sort of put my head down and do my work, do my research, do my study and also serving in a church throughout my time at Beeson has been a tremendous gift to me. Being able to marry the two. And so having those two married while you’re serving in the church throughout your academic study helps you not come out with the ivory tower mentality, like you’re going to save the world and everyone looks to you for the right answers, in a sense. But it sort of forms you holistically in a way that you’re able to minister and serve like Jesus does. And so I think that class had a tremendous impact on me. So, I’m really indebted to Dr. Baals in a real sense – that the Lord used him in my life that early on. It was my second semester. And that just set me on a trajectory for the rest of the curriculum, the rest of my degree. And another gift and treasure of mine from my time at Beeson is actually the friends I’ve made at Beeson. The Lord has just been so gracious to me to give me several friends that I’ve encountered a deeper level of friendship than I ever have in my life, to be with people who are committed to the work of the ministry who are committed to being faithful to what the Lord has called them to be and do, you know, does something to you. And you kind of have cohorts. You come in with a class and you go through your curriculum almost together in a real sense. And there’s something about going through Hebrew III with people that you love that builds this deep bond with one another. You know? And so that’s been one of the most life-giving things to me throughout my time at Beeson. I know it will exist beyond my time at Beeson and these are lifelong friendships that I’m super grateful for. And to add to that, I think the accessibility and the mentorship I’ve received from several professors have been a wonderful treasure to me as well, personally. Dr. Sweeney, Dr. Robert Smith Jr. who has just been so generous and who is ... I’ve never seen a professor who gives himself so much to students like Dr. Smith does. And so he’s been a tremendous gift to me personally. I can think of Dr. Paul House. I mean, I was with him the other day in his office talking about II Samuel 23, my passage for chapel, and talking about the Davidic Covenant that he just preached on in chapel last week. Dr. Gordon Baals and others who have just been so accessible and so willing to invest in me. They’re willing to invest in their students. They see you more than what you can produce academically. And I think that’s been a wonderful gift to me. And finally, I would add the church I’ve been at serving the last three and a half years have been just a wonderful gift of God in my life. The Reverend Dr. Reginald Calvert is one of my favorite people in the world. One of the best preachers I’ve heard. But also such a good pastor and a good man who served at New Jerusalem for over 20 years now. And the wonderful people there have cared for me so well and they’ve been so encouraging to me in ministry. And I think I’ve had such a positive experience with that church that it just invigorates me to get back into the work of ministry in a full time capacity. And so tethering my academic study to serving a local church congregation and being invested there was a tremendous benefit to my formation throughout my time at Beeson. So, for those who are listening, I would always admonish students to just be plugged into a church. Give yourself to it. Church is messy. People are messy. But there is beauty in the ashes. There is something that the Lord has for us in those seasons. And so I’ve just been super grateful for my time at New Jerusalem these last few years. >>Kristen Padilla: Well, you mentioned talking to Dr. House about this sermon that we’ve mentioned already a couple of times. I know you’re still feeling the weight of it because you haven’t preached it yet. By the time this airs that weight will be gone and we will encourage all of you listeners to go to our YouTube Channel at Beeson Divinity and find Samuel’s sermon there. So, I wanted to ask ... not necessarily about the sermon per se, but about what you’ve learned from our faculty about preaching. And how you’re learning in the preaching courses or maybe even in language courses in which you’ve had to write sermons – how that is preparing you right now to preach in Hodges Chapel on November 29th? >>Samuel Hagos: Yeah, first I want to thank Dr. Robert Smith Jr. and Dr. Doug Webster and the faculty for their selection of me as the James Early Massey Student Preacher Award recipient. To echo the words of Dr. Smith I’ve heard him say before, “I’m undeserving yet not ungrateful,” for the opportunity. It’s a deep honor of mine that I’ll forever cherish. So, I’ve had the privilege of having both Dr. Smith and Webster as my preaching professors. And both classes I think personally have complimented each other so well, that I think have formed me in a more holistic manner, which I’ve been deeply grateful for. I think I’m a better preacher because of it. And one of the gifts I think of having Dr. Smith and Dr. Webster is that they’re both also practitioners of preaching. I saw this with all due respect to the both of them, but they’ve both been preaching and pastoring longer than I’ve been living. And being in a space where preaching is not just merely a theory or an idea, but a concretized reality and being formed by professors who are good, experienced, and seasoned preachers enhances the classroom learning experience for students of preaching. So, that’s been a tremendous gift that I’ve experienced throughout my time at Beeson with regard to preaching. Dr. Smith, in his definition of preaching, he talks about how the preacher is an exegetical escort who ushers hearers by the Word of God into the presence of Christ the Son of God through the power of the Spirit of God for the purpose of transformation. That’s his definition of preaching. And that definition and the way he expounds it in his class was really in a real sense sort of revolutionary for me in the sense that the preacher’s responsibility is to be diligent in their study, to be congregationally sensitive and aware and to be faithful to the text of scripture for the purpose of ushering people by the scriptures to Jesus. And what blessed me the most is that the preacher’s responsibility, as Dr. Smith would say, is to transport people – not to transform people. And it’s the work of the Holy Spirit that is responsible for people’s transformation. And it’s the Spirit who does the heavy lifting in preaching. And the reason I think that really resonated and really was revolutionary for me is that the preacher ... sometimes in preaching or preachers feel that they’re defined by the response of the people. But I think the through line through his class is the reality that the preacher is supposed to be responsible to the text and the Word that God gives them. And that it’s the Lord who is responsible for the response. We’re just supposed to transport people, not transform people. And that lifts a load off of people’s shoulders – to feel like you’re responsible for changing or transforming people. And I think realizing that the preachers are not defined by the response that they receive from the hearers is a really freeing reality in the preaching moment. So, that was really helpful for me to learn through Dr. Smith’s class. Furthermore, I think Dr. Smith taught us a good method for preaching and sermon preparation. He has a ten step method that some think is rather exhaustive, but for my mind it works so well for me. And I’ve benefitted tremendously from it. But also I think Dr. Smith’s integrity and his strong emphasis on the ethos of the preacher, the one who has good integrity, not allowing the message to be tainted by the life of the messenger. And I think having a model like Dr. Smith and Dr. Webster who are both just good upright people, who are faithful to the Lord, and faithful to their families, and faithful to their students – shapes you in ways that are beyond what you can imagine. Dr. Webster, his class, I think I learned about the regular rhythms of preaching and sermon preparation. We preached about five times in that class. And we had significantly shorter sermons than I’m accustomed to. We would preach about 15 minute sermons. Growing up Baptist and being a Baptist 15 minutes is almost like an introduction. (laughter) So, being able to sort of refine, have the discipline of refining the sermon into 15 minutes, which for me is about 2,000 words, I’ve kind of narrowed it down to, it is a real discipline. But then tethered to that is I think Dr. Webster helped us see, helped me see in particular that you don’t have to exhaust everything in the text in one sermon. A whole part of preaching the whole counsel of God is that we have a whole lifetime to learn about the goodness of the Lord throughout the testimony and the witness of scripture. And so being able to sort of have that discipline of preaching for 15 minutes and refining your thoughts so clearly and your message so succinctly was a major tremendous benefit to me; being able to do that. Dr. Webster, he has us ... for every sermon you preach you have to talk to two or three other people about your sermon. Whether that’s classmates or friends outside of school. So, the collective nature of working on a sermon was a lot of fun in a real sense. Hearing people’s thoughts about what you’re working through. And Dr. Smith had us do that, too. We would meet with him several times. I think not working on sermons in isolation is a real gift I think to the church in a real sense, seeing how people hear a certain passage or hearing how a passage may lend itself to application to different contexts or communities have been a major gift. Most importantly, I think the greatest gifts that Dr.’s Smith and Webster have given to me is themselves. I’ve been able to talk to both of them separately on sermons I’ve worked on outside of school. And they’ve always been a wonderful resource and always been willing to listen to me and hear me out and give me resources and encourage me in a real sense. I’ve been super grateful and blessed by my time in preaching classes. And I think finally there’s a sense that the whole Beeson curriculum plays a major role in the sermon process. Whether it’s the preparation or the delivery. And I think for me, my pastoral care counseling class, my marriage and family counseling class, and my pastoral theology class have really allowed me to have this sort of pastoral sensitivity when it comes to sermons. People have come to church with real concerns, real things that are weighing on them and on their shoulders. And they want to hear what does God have to say about this? Some people literally are crawling to church, trying to find some hope. And I find that people are looking for living water. And I think emphasizing the sort of ... having a pastoral sensitivity and having the wherewithal to know that people come with real needs. The sermon can’t just be an intellectual exercise. So, I think in a real sense most of my classes have served to benefit me in preaching in particular. >>Doug Sweeney: Well, Samuel, you’re obviously a wonderful representative of the blessings of Beeson Divinity School. And I’m really excited that we’ve given you an opportunity to tell your Beeson story to our listeners. But let’s look ahead a little bit. You’ve heard me say way too many times probably that seminaries exist not as ends in themselves but in the service of the Church of Jesus Christ. Practically speaking that means we exist to serve real congregations. It’s exciting to me that you already have some plans after graduation to serve a real live congregation. It’s especially exciting to me that the congregation you will serve is pastored by such a fine person. One of the most beloved preachers of our day. Tell us a little bit about where you’re going and how you got to the point where you’re going there? I think you had ... I know you had, because I visited you there, an internship last summer at this church. Tell our listeners just a little bit about what that internship is like, how it was part of your Beeson education, and how the Lord is using it as he guides you moving forward in the service of the Church? >>Samuel Hagos: Yeah. So, about a year ago, back in February, I began to think about knowing this is my last year in seminary, I had one final summer left. I wanted to be very sort of strategic in the sense that I wanted to find an internship where I could serve on a full time capacity for a summer. Through Dr. Sweeney I learned that Dr. Charlie Dates and Progressive Baptist Church were working on a summer internship program that coming summer. In a real sense it felt too good to be true. But as time went on, they had an application process and I ended up submitting an application, going through interviews, and being accepted to serve as an intern there at Progressive. It was Pastor Charlie and Progressive’s interest in bringing in a sort of handful of intern seminary students who felt called to serve as pastors in the Black church. More specifically, engaged in the work of Black church revitalization. Much so like Pastor Charlie’s story in coming to Progressive. So, we throughout the internship, we were able to sort of participate in doing pulpit assignments, leading prayers, and calls to worship, serving with the youth and children’s ministry, and meeting and talking about pastoral ministry with seasoned veterans in the ministry like Reverend James Meeks who was the Pastor for almost 40 years at the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago; who also served as a State Senator of Illinois for about ten years. Bishop Horace Smith of the Apostolic Faith Church in Chicago who is also a medical doctor who served as a pastor for many decades. And so being able to sit and glean from seasoned pastors was in a real sense priceless. As me and my fellow interns, we’re on our way in and in a real sense some of them were on their way to retiring or transitioning to a different vocation. But I think learning from people who have given their lives to the service of the church and seeing so many different seasons of the church was really life giving. I had the privilege of serving in different ways. Also at Progressive I was able to teach a senior adults bible study class on Nehemiah 1, which is a wonderful time. I also got the privilege to officiate my first funeral. I did everything but the eulogy. But for them to be willing to entrust me with that responsibility was a deep treasure and honor. And so it was a wonderful experience being an intern there. I had wonderful co-interns who are all seminary students across the country. And so it was a very life giving season. And I could say that while I was there, it was a gift to see sort of the fruit of my labor, of my study, and my preparation these last few years at Beeson and at New Jerusalem. It was encouraging to be doing on a full time level that summer for nine weeks all that I’ve been studying and preparing for in a real sense. Sometimes when you’re in school for three and a half years, you’re putting your head down and doing your work, you’re wondering, “Is this doing anything?” And so I felt like this summer really kind of gave me a healthy humble confidence in the fact that, yeah, the Lord has been doing a lot in my life in shaping and preparing me to serve the church on a full time capacity. And the people at Progressive and Pastor Charlie and their staff have just been so wonderful to us and to me and so affirming and so inviting that it was such a positive experience that it gave me sort of fuel to finish my last semester of seminary well. And to get back out there in the work of the church. I mean this with my whole heart – if God gives me the grace to be in ministry 20, 30, 40 years from now, I can genuinely say I’ll look back and say one of those catalysts was the summer of 2022, when I served as an intern at Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago; having such a wonderful experience there at the church, being formed by wonderful people like Pastor Charlie and pastor Jamaal Johnson, and Deacon [GWAYNE 00:35:40] Nash and their staff who were just so generous and loving and caring. So, it was a very positive experience. I couldn’t ask for a better opportunity and I know it was the Lord’s doing; opening that door for me to serve as an intern. As I’m finishing my final semester, the Lord in his generosity and grace opened a door for me to serve and join the pastoral staff at Progressive, which I’m deeply appreciative and grateful for. So, at the top of the calendar year, Lord willing, I’ll be making my transition to Chicago to join the staff there. I’m super grateful and deeply honored for the opportunity to return and serve at Progressive where I’ll be overseeing new membership intake and assisting people to get assimilated into the life of the church as well as participating in pastoral care capacities and teaching and preaching. So, I’m deeply grateful and excited. I want to go on record to say that while many people have affirmed me in my giftings and ministry, I think the reason why I have such a deep appreciation and affection for Dr. Charlie Dates and the Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago is that in a real sense they’re the first ones to give me a chance. And so the risk and the faith that they have is not lost on me. And so with the Lord’s help, I want to honor the Lord and be faithful to what he’s called me to do in this new season, and to honor Pastor Charlie and the church and staff to the best of my ability. I’ll be the first one to tell you, I’m not self made man. I stand on the shoulders of many people who have come before me and invested in me and my life in meaningful ways. I want to seek to honor that with my life. >>Kristen Padilla: Well, from Dallas to Birmingham to Chicago. The Lord has really been faithful and will continue to be. We’re very happy and excited for you, and proud of you! >>Samuel Hagos: Thank you. >>Kristen Padilla: As one of our own. We always like to end these shows, as you know, by asking our guests what has God been teaching you these days through his Word and through his people that you would like to share with our guests as we close out this episode? >>Samuel Hagos: There is a line that actually Dr. Baals said to me a few weeks ago that has been ringing in my mind a lot. He said, “the calling that God places on our lives is not something we have to live up to, but something God invites us to live into.” The Lord, I think, has been teaching me that I don’t have to try to prove myself to God, or anyone else for that matter. And if I can be honest, I think that’s the temptation I’ve often felt with the Preaching Award and the chapel sermon that I’ve been preparing. But I want to rest in a line that I read actually in Dr. James Earl Massey’s biography. He wrote in his preface that I’ve made my prayer based off of it, he said, “I pray that God would make me a good steward of the life he’s entrusted to me.” And that’s been my prayer the last few weeks and what the Lord has been teaching me. And so I want to encourage listeners to in faith walk into what God has called you to do and who God has called you to be. Rest in the fact that God who calls you is the God who keeps you. And as far as I’m concerned, God hasn’t lost a battle yet, and he won’t start with you. Trust Jesus. He can do things we can’t. >>Doug Sweeney: Amen. Listeners, you have been listening to Samuel Hagos, he is one of Beeson’s best and brightest. He’s graduating this December with his MDIV degree. He hails from Dallas, Texas. He’s headed to Chicago, Illinois, but we sure have enjoyed having him here in Birmingham, Alabama for about three and a half years. Samuel, thank you for giving us this time today. We sure do love you. We’ll be praying for you as you preach and as you graduate and as you head on to bigger and better things in Chicago. Listeners, we love you, too. We thank you for tuning in. We’re praying for you. We’d ask you to pray for us. And we say goodbye for now. >>Kristen Padilla: You’ve been listening to the Beeson podcast. Our theme music is written and performed by Advent Birmingham of the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama. Our engineer is Rob Willis. Our announcer is Mike Pasquarello. Our co-hosts are Doug Sweeney and, myself, Kristen Padilla. Please subscribe to the Beeson podcast at www.BeesonDivinity.com/podcast or on iTunes.