ECD Feature
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...
Strategically Non-Linear
Strategically Non-Linear: 3 Lessons from Zach Aument’s Roundabout Journey to Ministry If you met Zach Aument on the street, you would guess he’s an artist, philosopher or political advisor. And while you’d be correct, Zach’s current job title is strategist. A ministry...
The Courage of Conviction
The Courage of Conviction: Gabrielle Crofford Shares 3 Insights about Family Life in Ministry Gabrielle Crofford grew up in Suffix County, Delaware, running across the tops of chair rows at Laurel Wesleyan Church. The privilege came with being a pastor’s kid, and as...
Flowers Between the Cracks
Flowers Between the Cracks: 3 M’s of Church Multiplication in Mexico City When Alejandro Sicilia came to lead Senda De Vida church 20 years ago, the building served as a bunker. Located in the heart of Mexico City in a neighborhood riddled with crime, drugs and...
Finding Footing on a Firm Foundation
Finding Footing on a Firm Foundation: Silas Vermilya Made His Faith His Own as a Pastor’s Kid Silas Vermilya is 18 years old, starting his first year at Indiana Wesleyan University. For the past 10 years, he’s been a pastor’s kid, as his mom served as a worship pastor...
Learning to Look Outside: Beau Hamner Shares How Southern Wesleyan Impacted His Ministry Journey
Beau Hamner’s 4 years at Southern Wesleyan University were a mix of studies and shenanigans, setting him on a path of pastoral leadership. He had no idea how God would continue to build on the initial foundation, leading him to look outside the traditional boundaries...
Sanctifying Context
Higher education is facing significant challenges but these challenges have prompted reflection on the purpose of Christian higher education in particular.
Polarized: 3 Ways to Preach Unity in a Divided Political Climate
By Ethan Linder | May 18, 2017 What does the church do after a divisive election year? Though we’ve faced this question before, its implications seem particularly important in the wake of this political season. Churches are grappling with how to reconcile...
Sabbaticals: Learning to Thrive
By Jessica White | Oct 14, 2016 The word “sabbaticals” is sometimes accompanied by a negative connotation. When ministers consider a sabbatical they think: “There is never a good time to get away. If I leave now, the church will fall apart.”...
Lilly Endowment Makes Grants to Address Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders Nationwide
The Wesleyan Church has received a grant of $1,000,000 as part of Lilly Endowment Inc.’s National Initiative to Address Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders. The initiative supports a variety of religious organizations across the nation as they address...
Gordon Ritchie: A Physician of the Soul
Gordon Ritchie recently retired from a fulfilling career as a United States Marine Corps Chaplain. After twenty-four years of service, Ritchie has had an influence on many young people in the United States Navy. His career–shaped by honor, hope, presence, and...
A Different Kind of Networking—FLAME student Bonni Eastlack and her counter-cultural call to discipleship
“I have a strong passion for the 21st century church and its place in the community. Every community has its institutions, schools, municipalities. I believe in the church becoming a strong establishment in our community.” Tweet This Bonni Eastlack spent...
National Study of Wesleyan Clergy and Spouses
As we all know by now, studies show that being a pastor (of any sort) is one of the most gratifying, fulfilling vocations around AND AT THE SAME TIME one of the most challenging and stressful. What we don’t know is just how pastors in The Wesleyan Church fit into that...
ECD Hosts Three Summer Interns
IWU public relations, writing, and business major intern at the Division of Education and Clergy Development Rev. Russ Gunsalus and The Division of Education and Clergy Development partnered with Indiana Wesleyan University to bring three interns to gain real-world...
Meeting Christ in a Coffee Shop: FLAME student Willie Vaughan brings the good news to his neighborhood cafe.
“Sussex is in need of hearing the gospel in a way that is accessible and tangible, and that’s what I hope to do.” Willie Vaughan has an out-of-the-box vision for his community church: In place of pews, coffee tables and in place of a tie, a barista...
More Than Head Knowledge: 3 Things Every Wesleyan Should Know about Higher Education
It’s that time of year to take accounts, assess progress and cast vision for the future. At ECD we asked, “What is the state of Wesleyan Higher Education?” ECD Executive Director Russ Gunsalus shared with us three things every Wesleyan should know...
I would have never imagined I would be a pastor today
“I would have never imagined I would be a pastor today.” Pastor Marcelle Hamel never considered she would be called to the ministry. In fact, for a majority of her life she was just trying to survive. Losing her mom at a young age and her father absent;...