The Ministry Pipeline
Restoration Movement colleges struggle to produce enough ministry graduates to meet the growing need for pastors. College presidents explain why.
Articles for tag: Career Ministers
Training Second-Career Ministers: An Introduction
By Staff Our October 7, 2007, cover article asked, “Should We Hire From Within?” This week we”re offering solutions for Christian leaders who decide to change careers and enter professional ministry. We asked six schools with graduate divisions or offering graduate degrees how they”re helping the nontraditional student who believes God is calling him or her away from a chosen field to full-time church service. Here’s how they responded: — Hope International University, Fullerton, California — Johnson Bible College, Knoxville, Tennessee — Cincinnati (Ohio) Christian University — Kentucky Christian University, Grayson, Kentucky — Emmanuel School of Religion, Johnson City, Tennessee
How Hope International University Is Training Second-Career Ministers
By John Derry Hope International University (www.hiu.edu) Among the many challenges faced by growing and active churches is, “How do we find enough qualified servant-leaders to meet the needs of our congregation?” Demands on the pastoral staff make it difficult to devote the kind of time required to prepare comprehensive training sessions that address critical issues. At the same time, emerging leaders with outstanding potential are assuming more responsibility and desire to refine their ministry skills. They recognize the importance of doing their jobs well, are eager to put new ideas into practice, and want to be sure they have
How Emmanuel School of Religion Is Training Second-Career Ministers
By Robert F. Hull Jr. Emmanuel School of Religion, Johnson City, Tennessee (www.esr.edu) Like most seminaries, Emmanuel annually welcomes older students transitioning into vocational ministry from other careers. Most of these students are interested in traditional degree programs, including three who entered in the fall. ESR is also eager to serve those who can come to campus for only short periods of time or can benefit from the educational opportunities the school exports to churches. Campus-based programs will increasingly be centered in three new institutes that have already begun to sponsor some programs ideal for second-career ministry staff: The Institute
How Lincoln Christian Seminary Is Training Second-Career Ministers
By Paul E. Boatman Lincoln (Illinois) Christian Seminary (www.lccs.edu) Seminary students are an increasingly diverse lot. The 88 students entering Lincoln Christian Seminary (LCS) in the fall of 2007 all hold at least a bachelor”s degree from one of 37 colleges or universities. Of those students: 32 (36 percent) are female; 37 (42 percent) are between 30 and 57 years of age; just 33 (38 percent) are age 25 or younger””the traditional age for beginning graduate school; 60 (68 percent) are Bible college graduates; and the other 28 (32 percent) come from universities. The reasons for entering seminary vary widely,
