April 2017 » GProCommission

April 27, 2017

Money and the Bible

The Table Podcast featuring Dr. Darrell Bock and Bill Hendricks via Hendricks Center for Christian Leadership and Cultural Development at Dallas Theological Seminary “Today we are going to talk about money. We’re not going to ask for money, but we’re going to talk about what does the Bible tell us about money, and let’s start with the fact that a very oft quoted, we might say misquoted, passage is in 1 Timothy, which many people believe says money is the root of all evil. Tell us more.” To hear the whole podcast, visit The Table podcast.

April 25, 2017

Do we need a Special Ethics for the Last Days?

By Thomas Schirrmacher and Thomas K. Johnson Via World Reformed Fellowship Churches, evangelists, and even politicians love to base their imperatives on the argument that we are living in the Last Days. And speculation that we can know that we are truly in the last hours or weeks seems to recur every few years. But is that biblical? Read more at World Reformed Fellowship’s archives.

April 22, 2017

Takeshi Takazawa Prayer Update

One of the core values of the GProCommission is exchanging encouragement and a vital way we encourage one another is through prayer. For many of us, a very real battle began at the conclusion of the Congress and is still ongoing, like our wonderful GProCongress morning MC, Brother Takeshi Takazawa, who has been grappling with severe kidney issues since the Congress ended. He and his wife Dorrie, have been grateful for your ongoing prayers and gave their kind permission to share the most recent update. Please take a moment to pray for them but you may also find yourself encouraged […]

April 21, 2017

How do you dream bigger?

Pastor J, a former family court probation officer, could be enjoying his retirement years by taking a well-deserved rest, perhaps using his nest egg for a once in a lifetime getaway. This man of God, however, is currently studying at Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) and investing his time, energy, money and fundraising efforts into ministry. An evangelist involved in several ministry streams including youth and prison outreach, Pastor J first heard about the Congress while attending chapel at DTS. The chapel speaker for that day “happened” to be Dr. Ramesh Richard. Pastor J asked Dr. Richard if there would be […]

April 20, 2017

Theological Engagement in Pastoral Training

Theological Engagement in Pastoral Training (with special reference to Paul) by Dr Willem G. Semmelink Michael Rogers (2015) [1] argues in his dissertation that local churches have the primary responsibility for training future pastors. If this be the case, then the church should play a major role in the student’s formation and preparation for the ministry. In many seminaries, work-integrated learning is brought into the curriculum to ensure that students are prepared for the responsibilities in the ministry practice. In Pastoral Training, the emphasis should be on both the scientific and the relationship, the objective and subjective. Theology cannot just be […]

April 18, 2017

A Third Way: Shifting the Paradigm of Formal Theological Education

by Rev. Don Allsman Dr. Ramesh Richard has articulated a startling challenge to the Lord’s Great Commission in our day: how to provide for the 95 percent of pastors who have not been trained for ministry. In a world that is becoming increasingly urban and poor, there needs to be mechanisms in place to train millions of pastors, elders, deacons, youth workers and church planters just to address the current situation. If revival were to explode in urban centers globally, the growth would be beyond our ability to respond. Current Formal/Traditional (FT) approaches are useful and helpful, but cannot meet […]

April 13, 2017

It’s All About Our Love Relationship With God

By Joe Handley As I reflect back on the GProCongress, I can’t forget the dynamic sharing in our Spiritual Engagement Track. The wisdom shared each day from several pastoral trainers and the interaction Q & A as well as post-workshop conversations each afternoon were very motivating. Among all of that, though, is one crucial piece that I want to emphasize in this first post-Congress blog from our track: It’s all about our Love Relationship with God! I know. I know. Many of you are thinking, “Of course, all of us already know that.” But, I would suggest otherwise. In […]

April 11, 2017

MARRIAGE AND MINISTRY: A REALITY CHECK

“How can a pastor nurture their marriage and family in the midst of the pressures of ministry?” This was one of the questions asked at the Global Proclamation Congress for Pastoral Trainers held in Bangkok last year (2016). It is a question that probably haunts more ministry couples than we care to admit. It is no secret that ministry can be extremely stressful, and the demands overwhelming. Ministry can demand a lot, if not all, of a pastor’s time. Pastors can end up becoming so busy with “God’s work” while neglecting their marriage and their family in the process. And […]

April 6, 2017

Return to the Word: Stirring Up a Second Reformation through Digital Technology

by Dr. Lloyd Estrada Johannes Gutenberg (c. 1398–1468) is credited with devising the techniques that led to the development of the modern printing press. The impact of the printing press was undeniable: cost of book production was reduced significantly, information was made available more easily to people, and knowledge was disseminated and stored in a more permanent and standard format. The Gutenberg Bible, completed and sold at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 1455, was one of the first printed literature that sparked the information revolution of the 14th and 15th centuries. This year, churches all over Europe are celebrating the Reformation […]

April 3, 2017

The Changing Landscape of Theological Education

by Reuben van Rensburg The landscape of theological education worldwide is changing rapidly and pastoral trainers need to be alert as they consider further studies, or recommend their trainees begin studying at tertiary level. I will divide this article into three sections, namely international, the African continent and the situation in South Africa. International It is clear that throughout the world the institutions which are evangelical and which remain faithful to the Scriptures are generally doing well, whereas those which hold to a liberal view are shrinking. Mary Ann Mueller, in her article Episcopal Seminaries Struggle to Survive, aptly […]