By Joshua Stewart Over the past several years, as our world has witnessed far too many instances of people being abused by others, the verse in Scripture that has resonated with me is Genesis 1:27. “So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created … Continue reading
Last week my colleagues and I over here in the Pastoral Residency program at Wilshire traveled to Indianapolis, IN to meet, compare-notes, and brainstorm with other young ministers funded through the Lilly Endowment’s Transition into Ministry program. Lilly was an excellent host, the worship time and guest speaker were both phenomenal, and it was a great … Continue reading
“When pastors start with spirit–that is, begin their ministries with a commitment both to faithful excellence as pastors and to well-being of body, mind, spirit, and relationships–they experience a sense of joy and meaning amid the challenges of ministry.” Such is the central message of Dr. Bruce Epperly, most recently of Lancaster Theological Seminary, in … Continue reading
Last week was our annual Resident Reunion here at Wilshire, where all of our now 15 former pastoral residents are invited “home” to catch up with each other, meet the new residents, and update the church on where they are and how they are doing. As a first year resident, this was my first Reunion … Continue reading
As the preacher, of course. This past weekend I experienced first hand one of the great “gifts” of ministry when I officiated the wedding of my little sister. It was a beautiful outdoor ceremony and reception on one of the most picturesque pieces of farmland Western North Carolina has to offer. My parents were radiant, … Continue reading
Greetings CBF friends, I’m writing to ask you to extend an invitation through your networks for “younger” pastors (20’s, 30’s and 40’s) who might be interested in our Lilly-funded initiative called “Companions in Ministry.” The two-year program is modeled after the Academy for Spiritual Formation, with a coaching component for follow-up with the pastors who … Continue reading