As War Rages, TCM Supports Ukrainians in Ministry
TCM, which has a long history of ministry in Eastern Europe, wasted no time in working within their network of believers to help those affected by the war in Ukraine. . . .
Articles for tag: Seminary Education
November 19, 2020
A Study of Alexander Campbell (Part 2)
And now, part 2 of John L. Morrison’s series on Alexander Campbell from 1967.
Training Leaders for the Future
How One Church Is Equipping Young Adults for Ministry Without the Financial Burdens of Pursuing a Four-Year Degree By Kim Harris In 2019, 45 million young adults in the United States held more than $1.5 trillion in student debt, or more than $33,000 per debt holder, Forbes.com reported. Students are graduating with four years of knowledge and many more years of debt. Seminary and Bible college students are no exception. In 2011, roughly 25 percent of individuals graduating with a master of divinity left school with more than $40,000 in student debt (according to BusinessInsider.com), but could expect to earn
March 20, 2017
Basic Training
By Jennifer Johnson A few years ago I wrote a proposal for an online initiative that would provide customizable resources for churches wanting to develop their pastors, worship leaders, campus ministers, church planters, elders, and key volunteers. I suggested an online portal with everything from 101 to seminary-level books, articles, podcasts, and videos, as well as suggested “tracks” with curated lists of resources for specific groups. I referred to research from the Barna Group and Ed Stetzer as well as insights from the leaders of Orchard Group, Stadia, and some of our megachurches to support my argument. It was summarily
March 7, 2017
Her Final Lesson
By Mark A. Taylor What should we note about the life of Eleanor Daniel? Thousands of her former colleagues and students are telling what they remember about her now, after her death March 2 and her memorial service yesterday, March 6. They speak of her skill and passion as a Christian teacher. The remember her encouragement in their own teaching ministries. They recite her faithfulness in Christian service. They note the impact she made on three seminaries among the Christian churches and churches of Christ. (Some are quoting from Bruce Parmenter”™s tribute, published last December, in which he describes her
November 24, 2014
Life, Love, Liberty, Language
By LeRoy Lawson Four Steps to Spiritual Freedom Thomas Ryan Mahwah: Paulist Press, 2003 Younger Next Year: Live Strong, Fit, and Sexy””Until You”re 80 and Beyond Chris Crowley and Henry S. Lodge, M.D. New York City: Workman Publishing, 2007 Generation iY:Â Our Last Chance to Save Their Future Tim Elmore Atlanta: Poet Gardener, 2010 Made in America Bill Bryson New York: William Morrow Paperbacks, reprint edition, 2001 I teach a seminary course called Theological Integration. Students take it in their final semester. First comes this class, then commencement. As the name indicates, the course is designed to encourage a summing up
August 17, 2014
Charting Some Changes (a Seminary Professor’s Reflections)
By Robert Hull Professor of New Testament, Emeritus, Emmanuel Christian Seminary, Johnson City, Tennessee I have had the rare privilege of spending my entire teaching career (33 years) at Emmanuel Christian Seminary in Johnson City, Tennessee. With all the caveats about the risks of generalizing, here are my reflections on some changes during the last couple of decades. The Students Educationally, about half our students come from Christian colleges or universities (20 years ago we would have said “Bible colleges”) and the other half from secular colleges or universities. Some of them are ready to hit the ground running, but
June 28, 2014
Practical Advice for Productive Ministry
By LeRoy Lawson From Midterms to Ministry: Practical Theologians on Pastoral Beginnings Allan Hugh Cole Jr., editor Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2008 Leadership Handbook of Management and Administration James D. Berkley, editor Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2007 Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action Simon Sinek New York: Portfolio/Penguin, 2009 One Size Doesn”t Fit All: Bringing Out the Best in Any Size Church Gary L. McIntosh Grand Rapids: Fleming H. Revell, 1999 Everybody knows there”s a world of difference between life in the seminary and life in the church. Almost everybody complains that seminaries and Bible colleges
March 28, 2012
Is Seminary Worth It?
By Josh Tandy I am a statistical anomaly. I am a young minister who went to seminary almost immediately after receiving my undergraduate degree. More and more, people like me are opting to bypass seminary and go directly into full-time ministry. Some of these individuals have been spectacularly successful. The incredible stories of new churches being planted and existing ones becoming vibrant again make me think about the time, effort, and resources spent on a seminary degree, and I wonder: Was it worth it? Has a world of blogs, conferences, and books made a seminary degree obsolete? It doesn”t take
March 10, 2010
Interview with Keith H. Ray
Keith Ray By Brad Dupray Keith Ray is in his 12th year as president of Lincoln Christian University. Ray earned his bachelor”s and master”s degrees at Lincoln and his DMin in leadership and cultural studies at Trinity International University. He also served for a decade in preaching ministry in the local church. Ray came to Lincoln after an eight-year tenure at Dallas Christian College, where he served five years as president. Ray and his wife, Jeaneen, have been married more than 30 years and are blessed with three daughters and one granddaughter. What does a Bible college education do to
October 4, 2009
Preparing for Ministry, Preparing for Community, Preparing for Change
 by S. J. Dahlman Emmanuel School of Religion President Robert Wetzel retired in May, succeeded by Michael Sweeney. A few days before the transition, the two men sat down to talk about the once and future seminary.    In his 15 years as president of Emmanuel School of Religion, Robert Wetzel saw how seminary education must include more than simply learning theology, history, and ministry methods in a classroom. Intellectual rigor and academic discipline are crucial to Wetzel, but the education must “make it more than that. It must be head and heart.” Wetzel retired at the
March 28, 2007
They Deserve Our Support!
A reflection on the enduring value of Christian colleges and seminaries—forming faith, scholarship, and future leaders—while honestly naming pressures and questions that deserve cooperation and thoughtful support.
October 29, 2006
Confessions of a Compulsive Adventurer
By Paul Boatman “Grandpa, my friends don”t know I”m this kind of girl.” Six-year-old Allison was reflecting on our day of hiking in the canyons of Indiana”s Turkey Run State Park. “What kind of girl do they think you are?” “They think I”m a girly girl, but I”m an adventure girl!” Adventure! The term is a dominant theme in contemporary culture. I receive winsome advertisements for “adventure travel.” So-called reality television shows contrive adventures for their casts of exhibitionist participants. Interactive Internet adventure games invite virtual participation in activities ranging from mysterious to obscene, all intended to stir a sense
