“Sometimes pastors don’t avail themselves of things until there is a crisis; we’re trying to encourage pastors to be thinking ahead about what kinds of habits of mind and heart they can begin to make part of their life before there’s a crisis,”
This role is important, because—according to Styers—the problem with executing clergy care is not a lack of concern, but a lack of time on the part of district leaders. “We try our very best to not let people fall through the cracks…
“We’re a church who believes in fully supporting our pastor, so when I realized the benefit he could achieve through Thrive, I was on board in helping him achieve that in his own personal life,” reflected Belliveau.
When asked what he’d say to those considering TFI, Daniel says, “The TFI money is pretty much dependable; but what I’ve really learned in this process beyond that is how God can provide in so many ways you can’t even count on or be sure of… so there
“A pastor cleverly disguised as a professor.” That’s how Rev. Mark Wilson refers to himself.
The hyphen: integrating the immigrant into ministry
As Pastor Amon works through TFI’s first year, he will receive (from the grant) a match of up to $1,000 of what Horizons church has invested in him. In addition, TFI will match another $1,000 from another source that elected to invest in…
Now, nearing the end of the TFI process, the Parker family have worked toward the Thrive team’s collective goals, paying down all $20,000 in debt, and are completely debt-free as they now work on the next step (building their savings fund).
While this year’s conference was the first hosted completely online, its online attendance–5,600 people from 38 states and 3 countries–surpassed the original sold-out attendance of 3,800.
“This is one of the greatest challenges for a teacher at a Christian college – for a teacher that is a believer – how to educate, expose and equip young minds to make their way through a visual culture…”
“Everything you do or don’t do; everything you say or don’t say sends a message–so make sure all you do or say reorients people toward Christ and not toward the world.”
“In the church planting world, a lot of the language we use is colonialist. We say, ‘We have God and we will bring him to these people.’ But one of my discoveries has been that God was always in Portland and at work in Portland,” Doiron said.
“It was a rich experience for me to understand that God is bigger than any one denominational box… All of the different perspectives find alignment and agreement in God,” Jones reflected.
“The church of the future is going to have to simplify. We’re not going to be able to rely on giving as much to support a staff of 15 pastors. We’re going to have to know what we are about – preaching and teaching the word of God, inviting everyone..
If there’s one overarching aim Crisp has developed in 19 years as a pastor’s spouse, it’s authenticity – for her family life and her own spiritual development.
“I love learning; and I love serving those who love learning. So, I see my job as basically finding ways to connect Houghton College with those who have the same love and longing for learning,” Schenck said.
“More than any one time gift or note, the most encouraging thing to do for your pastor is to just show up on a regular basis and help create an overall healthy culture in your church,” says Rev. Mike Cline, senior pastor at Mountain View Church.
“If not for the Kern Program, I wouldn’t be at Ransom. I would have never explored the topic of spiritual friendship that has led me to be in Wesley Seminary’s program — all to steward this vision that the Lord has really laid on my heart.”
The secret to flourishing in your own right as a pastor’s spouse is finding a way to get involved with the things you really care about, Spaugh said.
Like all programs at SWU, the online Ed.D. program is intentionally evangelical in addition to upholding a high academic standard.
Adams reminds people outside the world of prison to avoid allowing fear to prevent them from ministering alongside people in prison.
“SWU gave me the foundation I needed to be where I am today,” he said.
Since its launch in May 2018, Kingswood Extended has filled more than 400 classroom seats digitally.
Stepping out of college and into the world of ministry can be a daunting prospect. After graduation, young ministers often feel unsure of how to use their education and apply it in the “real world.”
