ECD Feature
Where the rubber meets the road: Dr. Richard Eckley’s ministry of practical theology
For Houghton theology professor Dr. Richard Eckley, teaching and practice go hand in hand. In nearly 30 years as a full-time professor, Eckley has increasingly engaged in settings where applied theology doesn’t always yield textbook answers. From local church to inner...
Houghton College Spotlight: Proud to be a Wesleyan
Dr. Michael Jordan was not raised in The Wesleyan Church, but now considers himself a “proud Wesleyan convert.” As Dean of the Chapel and Chair of the Religion Department at Houghton College, his desire is to be a positive representative of the Church for his...
First street smarts, then book knowledge: PK Hope Guptill
Hope Guptill is in her fourth year at Kingswood University, but that’s not where she learned the most about ministry. As a pastor’s kid, Guptill has experienced the joys—and the heavy burdens—of leading the Church, motivating her to commit to supporting those in...
Assured purpose: Katie Betts
Most of us would love nothing more than for life to move in a straight line on the map — no speed bumps, sharp turns or second-guessing. But Katie Betts could tell you that our journeys don’t always traverse the path so straightforwardly. A talented musician,...
Kingswood University student ministry spotlight: Luciano Latouche
Luciano Latouche grew up in Leogane, Haiti. From the age of three, he was in the Compassion International Program, a child advocacy ministry partnered with The Wesleyan Church in Haiti. Latouche grew up in the Church and became a believer at a young age. When his...
Pastor’s twins: Cori and Leah Glendenning share the lifelong impact of growing up in a Christ-centered family
Twins Cori and Leah Glendenning grew up at Orchard Park Wesleyan Church in Western New York, where their dad served as senior pastor. Through life lessons at home and shenanigans in youth group, Leah and Cori developed a deep appreciation for their upbringing’s way of...
When tank fish meets ocean: Tatyana Russell-Chipp
In her third year at Kingswood University, Tatyana Russell-Chipp has learned social holiness, and the call to become a servant first. “Like taking a fish out of the tank and putting it in the ocean” After being adopted from Birobidzhan, Russia as an infant, Tatyana...
The Ransom Church: Setting people free with the “second half” of the gospel
The Ransom Church is a nine-year-old church plant situated in the heart of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a rapidly-expanding city of 174,000. As their name suggests, this congregation has at its heart the mission of setting the captives free, not only with the truth of...
Leaders from more than 60 denominations gather to address economic challenges facing clergy
Project leaders and representatives from grant recipients of Lilly Endowment’s Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leader’s (ECFPL) initiative gathered from Nov. 27 through Nov. 29. While there, attendees addressed financial issues clergy often encounter and networked...
The value of seminary education: Dr. Clarence “Bud” Bence
Dr. Clarence “Bud” Bence has served within the Wesleyan denomination for most of his life. He first pastored a church in Rochester, New York where many of his congregants would comment on his ability to “teach” the Word rather than “preach” it. From there he was led...
Ten pastors, five questions
We wanted to hear and honor the wisdom of Wesleyans serving across the country. So, we asked 10 pastors from 10 different states the same five questions. Here are some of their answers: What’s the biggest challenge and/or opportunity for growth the church is facing...
Kami Mauldin shares her passion for ministry in 3 points
Seeing Kami Mauldin’s passion for ministry, you might assume she’s a pastor. But instead, she’s a lay leader in her church congregation, with a vision that each member of the body has a unique and serious calling to ministry. “Sometimes I really feel like a weird...
Braving uncharted waters
As the first woman to be ordained in Russia in The Wesleyan Church and the first in her family to accept the good news of the gospel, Rev. Larisa Levicheva-Joseph is no stranger to braving uncharted waters. “Everything happens in God’s timing. Going through a time of...
Joining others on the journey: Karen Bates
A 2008 alumnus of Asbury Theological Seminary, Karen Bates is a minister-of-all-trades. After a career as a newspaper editor, Karen pursued a call to full-time ministry, serving the church as an assistant pastor, ministry coach and communications facilitator. How did...
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...
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...
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...