By Gerard Flanagan, news writer and photographer, Office of University Communications
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - When is the last time you did something for the first time?
Dr. Scott Wigginton, professor of pastoral ministries and counseling, explores this question in his latest book, “Adventures to Godliness: Filling the Hole in Your Bucket List.”
A book signing for Wigginton's latest book is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, April 12, on the Montgomery Library Patio, 116 University Drive, Campbellsville. The next day, Thursday, April 13, he will discuss his book at a Q&A session beginning at 4 p.m. in the Chowning Executive Dining Room at Winters Dining Hall, 411 N. Columbia Ave.
Wigginton, who is also the Master of Marriage and Family Therapy liaison for main campus, explained he wrote most of this book during his 2019 sabbatical in Sydney, Australia.
“The book essentially emerged out of my lifelong passion for adventure and the belief that the story of Christian faith over two millennia is a story of God calling His people to exciting, often risky enterprises with unknown outcomes that require resilience, curiosity and trust,” he said.
Wigginton said the purpose of his book is to highlight the role of adventure on the road to Christlikeness.
“Through the process of Christian spiritual formation, God forms persons in a variety of ways to conform to the image of Jesus,” he said. “He does this through spiritual disciplines, through the influence of other people, and through moment-to-moment circumstances.”
Rather than being consumers of adventure, in his book, Wigginton claims God designs people to be stewards of adventure.
“His invitation is such that every fresh opportunity and risky challenge with an unknown outcome might become a part of an earthly training program for eternity,” he says. “Everyday adventures, whether planned or unsolicited, represent God's invitations to transformation.”
Wigginton said his book doesn't solely focus on travel and adrenaline-based adventure. Rather, Wigginton said he hopes to make the point that some of the best adventures represent our willingness to try out things that are new and fresh, may seem a bit risky and have an unknown outcome.
“For some, this may be climbing a mountain,” Wigginton said. “For others, it may be taking up a new hobby like quilting. Or, as my Aussie friends might say, ‘having a go' at a new career path or a fresh hobby or a new direction in life.”
Wigginton's hope for those who read his book is to whisper a new “yes” to God's ever-evolving call for their lives.
“You'll resolve to not settle for arriving safely at death, but to live with joy and purpose all of your days,” he said.
Wigginton has served at Campbellsville University since 2004. He also serves as executive director of Winterpast Counseling, Inc. in Campbellsville.
Dually licensed as a marriage and family therapist and a pastoral counselor, he is also an approved supervisor for the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). Wigginton has directed several counseling centers over 35 years and has led and spoken at hundreds of events on leadership, marriage and family life, discipleship, godly manhood and spiritual formation. Prior to coming to Campbellsville University, he taught Christian counseling at Boyce College and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have been married since 1986, and they are the parents of three children: Auburn, Hope and Caleb and have one granddaughter, Raleigh.
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university that offers over 100 programs including doctoral, master, bachelor, associate and certificate programs. The website for complete information is fva6.cjpk.net.