26 Comments
User's avatar
Heaven Blog (Julie Bonn Blank)'s avatar

I’m so very sorry. He has something amazing for you ahead.

I too had to leave my job over a year ago now, and it made no sense. I had planned to retire from there. But when I look at all God has done since then, it blows my mind. He needed me diving into His learnings for hours, writing full time, getting the heaven book out (now being translated into other languages too!), speaking for Him, praying for others and teaching. He added starting a nonprofit and finishing up the advanced abuse recovery curriculum I started. lol!

There were key people in my process that also kept saying weird things like “I don’t know what God has for you but it is going to be amazing…” I just kept shaking my head! How? Why? When? And trusting Him, of course.

I am feeling the same for you right now. We are in the last season, my friend, and He is equipping and sending His troops to pave the way. We are to bring more and more to Him, expanding His Kingdom widely. I will be praying for you as you discern and step forward. Know that He’s got you and all those concerns, whether financial or relational or whatever—He knows of and plans to provide as you bury yourself deeply into Him. 🙏

Joseph Lear's avatar

I’m so appreciative of your kind words and prayers. I’m looking forward to the fruit the Spirit will bear through all this.

Agora's avatar

I bear witness to your contribution to this academic community at Evangel. Students spoke highly of you and I am saddened by this decision. You are a viable candidate for European and African seminaries and universities, if you consider the international route for remote learning. Our loss will be their gain.

Joseph Lear's avatar

Thanks you 🙏🙏🙏 I’m open to whatever God has for me

Tyler Burns's avatar

Bro so sorry about the job! It seems to be the common theme I’m seeing at almost all AG universities. Your book was like a glass of cold water to my soul!! I would love to connect again sometime. I’m praying for you right now.

Joseph Lear's avatar

mad respect for you, man. Thanks for your kindness.

Douglas Russum's avatar

I will never admit or confess to being an intellectual.

In truth, I’m slow, but I’m worth waiting for…

I won’t lie, though it makes me highly frustrated and angry. The way people are treated sometimes, including yourself in these so-called Christian institutions.

Seems to me that Christian politics is just as ugly as democratic politics.

But again, I’m just a man with eyes that see.

I love you, Dr. Joseph Lear.

I’ve seen your heart for years and it’s just a shame and a disappointment that others haven’t.

I pray now that you are led by our dear Papa to the place that you belong.

I pray that you would overcome through any hurt or pain this has caused you.

You are a good man. And I honor and respect you deeply.

Joseph Lear's avatar

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Hillbilly in Exile's avatar

I'm very sorry to hear the news about your position with EU. For the record, I have considered you one of the bright spots at my alma mater, and in A/G world more generally, and I have promoted your substack on my own.

Joseph Lear's avatar

You’re very kind

Brian Roden's avatar

As to what that marketing-speak (possibly generated by AI?) actually means, maybe it's "Now that someone has built an online education system that works, we're going to hand it over to the regular on-site faculty and make them learn how to run it as part of what we already pay them for, even though they may not be as tech-savvy."

Having interpreted many a sermon from English to Spanish (and a decent number in the other direction) for other preachers, the few times I have been called on to preach in a context where both languages are needed to cover the entire audience, I have always interpreted for myself. I'm quite persnickety about precision in translation, and don't want to get distracted and lose my place because of disagreeing with the translation choice of the person interpreting me.

Joseph Lear's avatar

Persnickety is one of the best words in the English language.

Brian Roden's avatar

But ironically, I don’t know a good Spanish word for that off the top of my head.

Maximos McClure's avatar

Joseph Lear, I am a past student of yours, and having just heard about this news breaks my heart! You were my favorite professor I had, you had such a love and passion not only for the students, but also for the curriculum. May the Lord be with you during these times!

Joseph Lear's avatar

Thanks for the kind words, Nathan. It’s a privilege to know you, and I hope our paths cross again soon

Carl Thomas's avatar

Sorry about the job loss. Praying you land somewhere quickly.

Joseph Lear's avatar

Thanks so much for the prayer. I’ll definitely take it 😊

Steve Pulis's avatar

Joseph - Thank you for all your work and excellence. You’re a gift to the church. I’m so sorry to read this. I’m praying for you and Holly.

Joseph Lear's avatar

I’ll take your prayers. I’ve heard God listens to you.

Cole Feix's avatar

Joseph - so sorry to hear this. Praying for your path forward and that Jesus would be near in the time of unknown!

Joseph Lear's avatar

Thanks so much. Wanna start a radio program together?

Cole Feix's avatar

Could the speakers of the world even handle that?

Joseph Lear's avatar

We’d blow out every subwoofer the techies have to offer 😮‍💨

Matt Stenhouse's avatar

That’s tough news! Thinking of you and praying a good next step opens up soon.

Kaleb Amos's avatar

Brenton is such a sharp dude. He asked me to team up with him for a breakout session on intergenerational ministry dynamics earlier this year at a leadership summit for the SoCal Network. Small world!

And man, I will pray for you this morning. Being let go is so disorienting. God has great plans for you and He's never taken by surprise. We're in the middle of a huge life transition right now too, so I get some of the feelings of change and detachment, just from a different angle. You're gonna crush whatever's ahead!

Joseph Lear's avatar

I’ll pray for you right back. Thanks for your kind words