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Published by Blog Administrator at 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 […]

Published by Blog Administrator at March 28, 2017

Elder, Encourage Thyself

by Chuck Gianotti Encouragement is a commodity in short supply. While not alone in needing this, a leader of God’s people more than others can readily relate to David’s experience: “David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (1 Sam 30:6 NASB). Hopefully, this is not the elder’s usual experience, but there are times when the task seems overly daunting. The word translated “strengthen” in the NASB, is rendered in the KJV as […]

Published by Blog Administrator at 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 […]

Published by Blog Administrator at 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 […]

Published by Blog Administrator at 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 […]

Published by Blog Administrator at 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 […]

Published by Blog Administrator at 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 […]

Published by Blog Administrator at May 18, 2017

How To Overcome Inevitable Resistance to Change

by Chuck Gianotti “We never did it that way before!” You have sought the Lord’s guidance and are now leading His people in a new direction of ministry. But, there is resistance to change. Certainly, change can be misguided—like trying out the latest fad to sweep the Christian world. And change is clearly wrong if it involves compromising biblical principles or doctrine. But, the Lord can also inspire change in ministry methods. The visionary elder or church leader longs to adopt Paul’s creative attitude in 1 Corinthians 9:23, “I have become all things to all men so that by all […]

Published by Blog Administrator at May 9, 2017

Christ-like Leadership (It’s all about Christ-likeness)

As we reflect back on the GProCongress in 2016, we recall that pastoral health is key to church health, societal health and ultimately transformation. It was a running undercurrent or theme to the GProCongress. Why? Because the quality of our influence hinges on being a holistically healthy pastor. During the parallel session on Spiritual Engagement, we hammered this theme hard, digging ever deeper into the importance of what it means to be a Christ-like leader! It’s so pivotal that the movement I’m a part of, highlights it as our second of four core outcomes. Even the Lausanne Movement in […]

Published by Blog Administrator at May 16, 2017

The Secret to Longevity in Marriage and Ministry

On May 5, 1959, two sweethearts exchanged “I Do’s” in a small church, in a remote barrio (countryside) north of the Philippines. This year, 2017, they celebrate their 58th wedding anniversary. They also celebrate the same number of years in service to God’s work. This couple is Met and Ina Castillo, my dear parents. Dad is now 82, while Mom is 80, yet they are still active and passionate about the ministry. Wherever they go, people will often ask,“What is your secret?” They have much advice to give, but one ingredient that I have had the privilege to witness growing […]

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