Leadership Seminar Held in Conjunction with MIP
Cleveland, TN–As part of the recent Ministerial Internship Program (MIP) Commissioning weekend, the 2014-2015 MIP Leadership Seminar was held at the Leadership and Communications Center at the Church of God International Offices.
The seminar focused on the theme for the Church of God during this International General Assembly period: “One Faith, One Lord, One Mission.”
The seminar began with Bishop Bruce Rabon, administrative bishop of Kentucky, and Richard Shelby, state MIP coordinator, reviewing their study of the number of ministers in Kentucky and the proportion of ranks in the state. They discovered that the number of ministers advancing in ministerial rank and the number of young people obtaining ministerial credentials were not increasing. In response they developed a strategy to increase the advancement in rank and new ministers. Last fall, the plan was implemented, and already the state has seen a significant increase in the advancement in ministerial rank and young people obtaining credentials.
“Each month, the MIP candidates are brought into the state council room at the state office where there is a map of Kentucky,” Rabon stated. “We ask the candidates to pray over the map and a specific city. One candidate did so and became led to relaunch a church in the city that caught his attention. The relaunch occurred a few weeks ago; and on the first Sunday, there were 22 in attendance.”
Bishop Stephen Darnell, administrative bishop of South Georgia, and Dr. Dan Tomberlin, state MIP coordinator, described how they are providing additional ministerial training after the Ministerial Internship Program. Bishop Darnell shared a story about a group of aborigines in Western Canada that were challenged by changes that were happening.
“The older natives knew only one way to survive, and it was not succeeding,” Darnell stated. “Younger natives began asking how they could adapt to the challenges so that they could survive.” Darnell applied the illustration to the ministry with the question: “Are we equipping our ministers with tools that they can use in presenting the gospel in contemporary times?”
Darnell answered the question in South Georgia by creating the South Georgia Ministerial Development Initiative. Monthly seminars have given the ministers opportunities to take what they learned in the School of Ministry courses to a deeper level through discussion and practice. The ministers have shared that they have gained knowledge through the courses, have deepened their knowledge through the seminars, and have developed strong bonds with other ministers.
Some of the South Georgia ministers have completed the doctrinal section of the School of Ministry’s Certificate In Ministerial Studies (CIMS) program during the first year of the Ministerial Development Initiative and will be awarded the doctrinal studies certificate at camp meeting. The testimonies of the ministers and this achievement indicate that the Initiative is fulfilling its goal.
Dr. Terry Cross, dean of the School of Religion at Lee University, dealt with the topic, “One Faith in a Pluralistic Society.” He used a recent study by the Pew Research Center that showed the increase in the number of people without a Christian faith in the United States. From the study, he stated that, “we must be serious about reaching our society with the gospel, and developing a sound reason for the Christian faith is essential.” He and others in the seminar commented on how important it is for us Christians, especially our ministers, to be able to give an account for the hope that we have.
Erin Burleson, director of LEAD INstitute in North Georgia, and Sam Burleson, the Family Minister pastor at The Bridge Church in Cleveland, Georgia, spoke on the topic, “One Lord in a Pluralistic Society.” They explained how the concept of God in America has changed over the years, particularly in the last few years. They illustrated this point by sharing that in their town three prayers—a Christian, a Jewish, and a Hindu prayer—were recently offered at a school event. They indicated that knowing the thinking process of secular people, especially millennials, is critical in reaching out to them.
Jeremy Isaacs, campus pastor for Mount Paran North in Canton, Georgia, addressed the topic, “One Mission in a Pluralistic Society.” Isaacs did an exposition of Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 17:16-21, emphasizing the mandate in Matthew that believers are to go into the world and that they are to make disciples. Isaacs gave an exposition of Acts 17:16-21, using the passage as a point of reference for how we could connect with the world, as Paul did in Athens. Isaacs summarized that the primary mission of the church is to make disciples and that knowing the secular world and how to present the gospel reasonably to a secular audience are essential.
The purpose of the seminar was to assist state ministerial training leaders with ideas and approaches to equip new ministers with tools to minister effectively in the 21st century. From the testimony of several state ministerial training leaders, the purpose was achieved.
–J. David Stephens, D.D., Assistant General Overseer, Exec. Director, Division of Education
