Emily Hines |
March 1, 2016 |
Blog Thriving Clergy Education & Clergy Development
Much like hiking, church planting requires extensive preparation, the right tools, and an abiding sense of purpose. Fortunately, Julie Collins Penta is both church planter and mountain hiker. Much like hiking, church planting requires extensive preparation, the right...
Russ Gunsalus |
February 25, 2016 |
Multiplication Blog Thriving Clergy
Please forgive me for the sensational title but the news about Wesleyan pastoral retention is indeed shocking. If I asked you, “How many pastors washout of ministry in their first five years?”, what would you say, 30…40…50…even 60...
Russ Gunsalus |
February 25, 2016 |
Culture Blog Thriving Clergy
Please forgive me for the sensational title but the news about Wesleyan pastoral retention is indeed shocking. If I asked you, “How many pastors washout of ministry in their first five years?”, what would you say, 30…40…50…even 60...
Gabriela Garver |
February 18, 2016 |
Multiplication Blog Thriving Clergy
Oklahoma Wesleyan University maintains a growing cultural influence, developing a generation of Christians ready to engage their world. To hear OKWU’s vision for 2016, we talked to Dr. Everett Piper, President of Oklahoma Wesleyan University, who offered three...
Marty Phillips |
February 16, 2016 |
Blog Thriving Clergy Education & Clergy Development
Having recently returned from deployment, Military Chaplain Jim Miller describes his ministry in three themes: nurturing the living, caring for the wounded, and honoring the dead. Chaplain Miller describes his ministry in three themes: nurturing the living, caring for...
Jessica White |
February 16, 2016 |
Colleges Blog Thriving Clergy Education & Clergy Development
“The goal of Wesleyan higher education is to cultivate in students the desire and capability to bring the light and hope of the gospel to the 21st century world.” -President Shirley Mullen, Houghton College As the oldest Wesleyan institution of higher...
Marty Phillips |
February 16, 2016 |
Blog Thriving Clergy Education & Clergy Development
Having recently returned from deployment, Military Chaplain Jim Miller describes his ministry in three themes: nurturing the living, caring for the wounded, and honoring the dead. Chaplain Miller describes his ministry in three themes: nurturing the living, caring for...
Emily Hines |
January 26, 2016 |
Blog Thriving Clergy Education & Clergy Development
Kelli Ward is a busy mom who loves to laugh; she is also the Connections Pastor at Forest Hills Wesleyan Church, Evansville, IN. She and her husband, Wayne, also an ordained pastor at Forest Hills, have four children, Karis – 8, Josiah – 7, Maria – 5, and Anna – 3....
Jessica White |
January 26, 2016 |
Colleges Blog Thriving Clergy Education & Clergy Development
“Our mission is to impact the world for Christ by raising up the next generation of leaders, pastors, and congregants, to grow the church and turn society toward Christ.” – Todd Voss, President of Southern Wesleyan University Many high school graduates no...
Gabriela Garver |
January 20, 2016 |
Discipleship Thriving Clergy
On November 18-19, 2015, Education and Clergy Development hosted its annual New Pastor Orientation at Wesleyan Headquarters in Fishers, IN. The conference reached out to pastors newly ordained or serving in their first appointment in The Wesleyan Church. This year, 23...
Marty Phillips |
January 19, 2016 |
Discipleship Blog Thriving Clergy
Since 1964, a group of around forty Wesleyan and Free Methodist scholars and graduate students gather to rub elbows at the Graduate Student Theological Seminar. Consistently, the conference has served individuals pursuing theology and biblical studies as a place to...
Gabriela Garver |
December 5, 2015 |
Blog Thriving Clergy
Piang Lian Sometimes the path into ministry winds around unexpected corners. For Piang Khaw Lian, the path hasn’t been straight. Born into one of the few Christian families in New Dehli, India, Piang never foresaw himself as an ordained Wesleyan pastor in the...
Joel Liechty |
November 17, 2015 |
Discipleship Blog Thriving Clergy
On Monday, November 16th, the presidents and chairs of the boards of trustees of each Wesleyan College and University met at The Wesleyan Church World Headquarters to strategize about leading to advance Wesleyan Higher Education. The colleges and universities of The...
Gabriela Garver |
November 17, 2015 |
Blog Thriving Clergy Education & Clergy Development
Ashley Brooks now knows a thing or two about leadership. But fresh out of undergraduate and seminary programs at Indiana Wesleyan University, she wasn’t quite so equipped. When mentors suggested she pursue residency, Ashley contacted Cypress Wesleyan Church near...
Ethan Linder |
November 1, 2015 |
Multiplication Blog Thriving Clergy
Over 130 District Superintendents, District Board of Ministerial Development members (DBMD), Religion Faculty, and non-traditional program instructors (FLAME) gathered at five regional meetings aimed at implementing best practices for developing healthy, fit, and...
Gabriela Garver |
November 1, 2015 |
Blog Thriving Clergy Education & Clergy Development
Shawn Oswalt was always eager for real-life experience with urban ministry. A pastoral residency program at Awakening Church of Colorado Springs, Colorado offered him the chance to engage in real ministry—but he never imagined the risks they’d joyfully take for...
Emily Hines |
October 20, 2015 |
Blog Thriving Clergy
Chaplain Purvis recently was promoted to Lieutenant Commander – a professional success he attributes to the men he serves. “Promotions have little to do with me and everything to do with those I serve with; they, the enlisted and other officers, make...
Ethan Linder |
October 19, 2015 |
Multiplication Blog Thriving Clergy
“It’s rare to have an opportunity to be able to help members of your congregation to inhabit their vocation as part of a Kingdom calling, much less work with other church leaders to strategize how to transform your church and community. Psalm 104 gave us...
Joel Liechty |
October 14, 2015 |
Multiplication Blog Thriving Clergy
Pictured: Luke and Kyla, residents at All Shores Church in Spring Lake, Michigan. “We should have just had you Wesleyans send us all your materials and not even met” a co-host half-joked to me after the Wesleyans gave a strong presentation of our residency...
Ethan Linder |
September 23, 2015 |
Blog Thriving Clergy
“When I accepted the Lord in 1983, I dove headlong into lay ministry. I was involved in a senior executives’ small group at the Pentagon; I volunteered in youth, prison, and men’s ministries. But just over two and a half years ago, I felt a calling...
Ethan Linder |
August 26, 2015 |
Blog Thriving Clergy
Because we’re pretty young, seeing behind-the-scenes ministry has been tremendously important. Knowing everyday church ministry has been huge, and we’ll be able to apply what we’re learning here at All Shores to our ministry overseas. –Luke &...
Ethan Linder and Elyse Garverick |
July 16, 2015 |
Blog Thriving Clergy
“I’m still in training, but I get real-life experience. Messy people walking alongside messy people: you can’t get that in a classroom. Until you’re in it, you have no idea.” –Christine Kaye Residency exists to train pastors for lifelong...
Ethan Linder |
July 10, 2015 |
Discipleship Blog Thriving Clergy
“If you want to know God, organize your day around connecting with God.” –Dr. Michael Jordan, Houghton’s Dean of the Chapel Houghton College was founded in 1883. After over 132 years, they still offer an “Academically Challenging,...
Ethan Linder |
June 30, 2015 |
Blog Thriving Clergy
“A lot of people have a hard time believing their pastor loves them; so I learned to knit so I could get closer to my congregation.”-Tim Witte (pictured below) If there’s a resident pastor who knows about loving a congregation, it’s Tim Witte....