Editors Note: This article appeared originally on the Lausanne Movement website and was featured previously on Christianity Today. In this article, I consider the strategic priority of pastoral training for intentional global ministry and missions partnerships. I also propose practical considerations for both strategists and practitioners in pastoral training—whether individuals or churches, but especially for formal and institutional programs as well as non-formal organizational initiatives. Examples around the world: the need for pastoral training Recently, the National Fellowship of Born Again Pentecostals informally contacted the Kampala (Uganda) Evangelical School of Theology to help with basic training for their pastors—30,000 of them. Is […]
By Aaron Buer Every church is different. We have different worship styles, staff configurations, values, and preaching styles. This diversity of expression is a beautiful thing. However, there’s one thing that should be consistent in all of our churches. Discipleship. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19-20) It’s kind of “the thing”. If you aren’t making disciples then you aren’t a church. You’re something else entirely. We all know […]
by Aaron Buer blog reposted courtesy of Breeze. Here’s a question: Why is it that some churches grow and others don’t? In many cases, growing churches and stagnant churches look almost identical from the outside. Similar buildings. Similar worship style. Similar budgets. Similar locations. So what’s the difference? Why is it that some grow and others don’t? Something that I’ve noticed through interacting with different churches is that growing churches are typically structured differently than stagnant or declining churches. Growing churches either never had, or at some point shed their start-up structural configuration, while stagnant or declining churches were never […]
The Power of the Gospel Since people move from the lost side of “God’s and-yet bridge” to the right side, the power of the gospel to change a life is the result of salvation. Their biblical status, and even their existential situation, is changed in the exchange. For example, “guilty” is not only a divine verdict but also a personal feeling. When unbelievers embrace the gospel, both the theological verdict and personal feeling of guilt are changed to “forgiven.” Yes, they are theologically forgiven by God, but they also sense being forgiven by God. “To us who are being saved […]
This guest post reshared with kind permission from Breeze. Have you ever worked for an insecure leader? Is it possible you are an insecure leader? Several years ago, I realized I was, in fact, an insecure leader. Fresh out of seminary, a small, out-of-state church hired me to lead its student ministries. I came in wanting to prove to everyone in the community that I could build one of the most successful student ministries in town. I truly believed I had the best strategy for growth and that anyone who disagreed with me was not only wrong but also disloyal. […]
Details: Order: Handbook to Happiness: A Biblical Guide to Victorious Living Read chapter by chapter book overview. “Handbook to Happiness: A Biblical Guide to Victorious Living” by Dr. Charles R. Solomon is a fifty-year classic, with more than a quarter of a million copies sold. Although believers are enriched by deeper life devotional writers like Watchman Nee, Andrew Murray, and Oswald Chambers, people struggling with life-controlling problems assume that “devotional truth” does not directly pertain to their need for personal freedom. In “Handbook to Happiness,” the author bridges this gap, providing a clarified, practical handbook for strategic discipling and […]
Guest Post from Aaron Buer. Reposted with kind permission from Breeze. Hey, it’s a new year! Let’s talk about resolutions. I’m not talking about your personal resolutions, although, I hope you’re able to keep those. Let’s talk about resolutions for your church. It might be a good idea to capitalize on the season and set some goals. There’s an opportunity here. I have a few suggestions to get the ball rolling. 1. Clarify the Mission Everyone is thinking about goals in January. So, what’s the goal for your church? In other words, what’s the mission? What are you trying to accomplish […]
Update and Current Outcomes of the 2016 Global Proclamation Congress for Pastoral Trainers, in continuing the “training of pastors” worldwide by Dr. Ramesh Richard Editor’s Note: For your reference, Dr. Richard’s article appeared originally on the Lausanne Movement website and was featured previously on Christianity Today. Since the original article appeared on the Lausanne website in September 2015, many developments have taken place. Below is an update since its first publishing. We invite you to check back via the GProCommission site for future updates. Date of last update: February 2018 The Global Proclamation Congress for Pastoral Trainers, held June 15 – […]
