Gaby Garver
The World In A City: Buffalo Urban Advocacy
Pastors Steve and Ruth Strand have served The Wesleyan Church in all corners of the Western Hemisphere for 30 years. Their latest mission field reaches the world in a single city: Buffalo, NY. Buffalo has one of the highest poverty rates in the U.S., and is also the...
Higher education administrators meet for a better ministerial future
Collective collegiate collaboration brought the five presidents and board chairs of the Wesleyan college and universities together on Monday, November 13 at The Wesleyan Church World Headquarters, Fishers, Indiana, for this year’s convening of the Wesleyan Education...
Ministerial students encouraged at College Day 2017
Ministerial students from five Wesleyan colleges and universities learned more about the denomination at the annual College Day held at The Wesleyan Church Headquarters.
Professor Spotlight: Rev. Dave Ward, MDiv, PhD, Indiana Wesleyan University
Rev. Dave Ward’s first experience with Indiana Wesleyan University occurred when Dave was a student of Christian Ministries. “IWU was a very spiritually transforming place for me. It took my Christianity from a relatively external state to a deeply internal one,” Dave...
Disciples Making Disciples Ministry Spotlight: Ryan Genereaux
“I am excited about mobilizing with the team we have at Maple Ridge Wesleyan. It is neat to see kids who come into youth group and know nothing of God come into a relationship with Him and seek to follow His plan for their life. I love to see ‘disciples making...
Professor Spotlight: Dr. Betty Weatherby, Kingswood University
“Worship reveals who we are and where we are as a church, but it also forms us into what we are becoming.” Dr. Betty Weatherby—a professor at Kingswood University—has a passion to develop students whose understanding of worship extends beyond the surface layer of...
Breakaway 2017 Refreshes, Renews and Restores Pastor Spouses
On November 2-4, Education and Clergy Development and Pastors Spouse Connection welcomed over 80 attendees to Breakaway 2017, a conference aimed at helping pastors’ spouses find renewal and relationship. Pastors’ spouses are often caught between vocation...
A warrior for the cause of Christ: Dr. Gerald Yellowhawk
Known for his quiet ways and love for the Lakota people, Dr. Gerald Yellowhawk (Jerry) continues to work towards his life passion of bringing the good news of Jesus to his people. At 82 years of age, he has finally given up traditional dancing because it is “hard on...
A Warm Welcome at New Pastor Orientation
This year’s Education and Clergy Development’s New Pastor Orientation welcomed 15 new pastors and their spouses to the Wesleyan community, with times of sharing, networking and advice. On October 11-12, new pastors, their spouses and seasoned Wesleyans met at...
The most significant relationship
Research shows that the most significant relationship for pastors’ well-being is with their congregations.
A Dedicated Servant Scholar: Dr. Gary Cockeril
“Dr. Gary Cockerill is a passionate and dedicated servant scholar who has given his life to international ministry and to the training and mentoring of pastors, missionaries, and scholars.” ~Kerry Kind Godly. Dedicated. Passionate. Servant. These are common...
Seeking Resurrection Life in Manhattan: Pastor Jenn Petersen Speaks on Church Multiplication, Urban Ministry and Co-Pastoring
Planting Seeds in Manhattan “Why don’t we have a Wesleyan church in downtown Manhattan?” That question, asked casually on a birthday trip to New York, planted a seed in Jenn and Branden Petersen’s hearts for church multiplication. At the time, Jenn and Branden had...
Professor Spotlight: Dr. Cathy Freytag Shares Her Ministry as Pastor-Teacher at Houghton College
For Dr. Cathy Freytag, teaching is more than instruction—it’s pastoral work. Her day-to-day ministry to her students is fueled by the time she spends each week with her church family. Pastor-teacher at Houghton College Cathy teaches in Houghton College’s Education...
Good Stewards of God’s Creation
Have you ever had the Holy Spirit confirm a calling? If so, you know these moments tend to be catalytic for your life trajectory. Brian Webb—the current Sustainability Director at Houghton College—recalls a moment when he was called to lead other believers in the...
Transformational Worship: Emily Vermilya Shares How Worship Prepared Her for Holistic Ministry
Emily Vermilya’s forte is church worship. She’s studied it, led it, and mentored others in it. A move to an Executive Pastor position sounded like a key change, but Emily found worship has far more to do with holistic ministry than just Sunday morning hymns. When...
‘Once In A Lifetime’ Happens Every Day: 4 Reasons Every Wesleyan Should Be Excited About Immigrant Connection
When it comes to immigration reform, The Wesleyan Church isn’t waiting for a political solution. We’ve taken action, empowering local churches to serve immigrants and refugees in our own communities. And, as Zach Szmara shares, you don’t want to miss the harvest....
Equipped and Encouraged: Justin Leininger Shares 3 Ways Houghton College Shaped His Ministry
Justin Leininger always knew he wanted to go to Houghton. After receiving the Lee Scholarship his freshman year, the door of his dream swung open. The lessons he learned at Houghton continue to influence his ministry today, reminding him to bring his whole self to his...
Servant among Servants: How Octogenarian Jon Heavilin Helps Out in His Hometown
Age hasn’t weakened Jon Heavilin’s heart for ministry. If anything, it’s taught him true servanthood. Now in his late 80s, Jon serves as a chaplain in Marion General Hospital’s Emergency Room. He’s there to serve the servants, assisting nurses and doctors with...
More to Unite than Divide: Stenway Louvé Shares How Diversity is the Church’s Greatest Strength
Stenway Louvé spent his childhood climbing coconut trees, fishing and playing soccer in Anse-a-Galets, Haiti. While he may be hard-pressed to find a coconut tree in Indiana, Stenway feels at home as a Resident Pastor at College Wesleyan Church. His international faith...
Atlantic District pilots THRIVE meetings for licensed ministers
Atlantic District pilots THRIVE meetings for licensed ministers The Atlantic District of The Wesleyan Church has launched a four-year pilot of THRIVE workshops for licensed ministers seeking ordination and in process with the District Board of Ministerial Development...
Flourishing Conference Explores Clergy Well-Being
“This conference offers a unique and much-needed platform for public sharing of important, cutting-edge research and best practices so we can help clergy and their families to flourish for a lifetime of ministry,” said Rev. Russ Gunsalus.
Thrive in 5 – Intellectual- Informing Your Understanding of Culture
Pastors assist people to be faithful disciples of Jesus in the midst of a culture that is in need of redemption. But how can you as a pastor be best informed about the nature of that culture?
Thrive in Five – Spiritual – Bodily Spirituality: Five Reasons to Care
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. Apostle Paul, 1 Cor. 6:19-20 Bodily Spirituality: Five Reasons to...