David Hankins Is An Extension School Graduate
rcravy | August 6, 2008
David and Amber Hankins have been happily married for one year. They live and worship in Damon, TX, located southwest of Houston. Since August of 2007, David has served as the interim minister for the congregation in Damon. David participated in graduation this May with the Sunset Residential graduates to receive his Bible and Ministry Certificate through Sunset External Studies. The following is an interview with David. What made you decide to take classes via External Studies? I went to Harding one semester. It cost $8,000 and was far from home and family. I had just met Amber, and it was far from her, too. The deacons of the Damon congregation wanted to begin a branch of Sunset External Studies and asked if I would like to be a part. Since I had my own contracting business, I could still work full time and attend the Satellite School classes. I could “work” after “work.” Amber was glad to be close to family and friends. She is a substitute teacher and loves her work. It was the right thing for us to do at the time. How have the classes benefited you? They have really increased my faith in God and in His Word. In some of our Wednesday evening classes, the videos have been used where Amber and others have been able to learn from them. I served summer internships at Seven Oaks in Sugarland and the Sweenie Church of Christ. I was able to use the material I learned from the classes in those places. I also have been a camp counselor at the Peach Valley Youth Camp for four years. The information that I learned was helpful in that area as well. What was most beneficial from this type of study (external) versus coming to Sunset in Lubbock for two years? Would you recommend this External Studies to others? It is a trade-off. We were newlyweds. We could stay home and close to our family and church family while adjusting to married life. It costs less. I had an excellent administrator who held me accountable for completing the lessons. You have to be really self-motivated and self-disciplined. On the down side, I missed the real classroom experience of being able to ask questions of the teachers, interact with students, and face the challenges that only coming to Sunset in Lubbock has. There are difficulties on both sides. I think it has to be an individual choice whether to attend Sunset or take the courses by extension. It was our choice to use the External Studies. How do you plan to use your study knowledge? I want to preach full time in a small congregation. Amber and I are both excited about the prospects. We have sent out resumes. I have served in both youth and pulpit ministries but feel that the pulpit is what I would enjoy most. We want to work with a congregation that will be close to the Word of God as well as to each other. We love working with people who have hearts for the Lord. How has it felt to be at Sunset this final week of school? It has been like a dream! What an encouragement it has been to be at Sunset this week to finish the requirements for my certificate, to meet the teachers personally, and to see their depth of love for the Lord. It has been great. When the Level One students came in to sing and pray with the Level Two students, it was so uplifting and encouraging. I felt like I belonged even though I had not been a part of the actual class. I wanted to change my life. I was going nowhere. I made a promise to God, like Cline did. If He would help me out of the mess I was in, then I would give preaching my all! It took great discipline and hard work. It took Amber and those who held me accountable to finish the job I began. It was a challenge, but a blessing. I worked hard to accomplish my goal, and it means a lot. Thank you, Sunset, and to everyone that makes this opportunity possible!
UPDATE October 2009: David received his Bachelors Degree from Sunset in May, 2009 and is now pursuing his Masters through the Sunset Masters program.
