Category: Shepherding

EFCA Recovery Church

In 1990 the EFCA Ministerial Association started a program to help pastors who had fallen into sin or experienced burnout in ministry, as a place to help them recover. Over time several churches around the country were designated Recovery Churches and a two year… Continue Reading “EFCA Recovery Church”

EFCA Crisis Response

Kevin Watterson joins Darin along with Glen Schrieber (Southeast District Superintendent) and John Secrest (pastor in Naples, FL) to share the history and heartbeat of EFCA’s Crisis Response ministry. Kevin got involved through a trip to NOLA following Katrina in 2005, eventually joining the… Continue Reading “EFCA Crisis Response”

The New Guy

by Kerry Doyal, District Superintendent Allegheny District Thank God for the Last Guy Great Guy Gifted Guy Godly Guy I ain’t the Last Guy That is hard for many  –  disappointing, discouraging, disorienting   –  I don’t. I can’t. I haven’t. I won’t.  God bless… Continue Reading “The New Guy”

Mentoring

We all need mentors. With so many voices telling us what to do, it’s vitally important that we have godly, thoughtful, experienced people showing us what to do. Preparing for a life in ministry is demanding work—and I’m not just talking about your seminary… Continue Reading “Mentoring”

Covid and Aslan – C.S. Lewis Wisdom for our current time

Don’t leave the Lion of Judah out of your Covid calculus. He is the equation. He is the sum. He is moving; He has plans; He is arranging things for your good; He is preparing to come; He is using Covid for His purposes,… Continue Reading “Covid and Aslan – C.S. Lewis Wisdom for our current time”

Family Ministry: an Overview and Proposal

In response to increasing numbers of kids who grow up in church but walk away from their faith as young adults, many churches have begun to rethink how ministry to children and youth is done. This began in the mid ‘90s with just a… Continue Reading “Family Ministry: an Overview and Proposal”

5 Ways Through Covid-19

As we walk our churches through this unprecedented pandemic, there are five key lessons God is teaching us. Darin Anderson’s presentation is an excellent theological and biblical overview! This would be an excellent resource for adults or students! The link below has another video… Continue Reading “5 Ways Through Covid-19”

Crisis as Opportunity

History proves that crises provide opportunities for Christians to demonstrate what makes our worldview different. This article from the Gospel Coalition provides a helpful summary of ways the early church stepped up in the plagues of the third and fourth centuries that wiped out whole villages.… Continue Reading “Crisis as Opportunity”

Responding to COVID-19

This article from Christianity Today is very helpful in explaining why early response is critical to contain a virus like COVID-19. Excerpts here: Seventeen years ago, I was working for the World Health Organization (WHO) in Beijing when the SARS coronavirus epidemic broke out in… Continue Reading “Responding to COVID-19”

And He Sent a Wolf

By Pastor Kelly Larson (Bishop Creek Community Church, CA) All in all, it had been a pretty good run, at least as far as church ministry goes. My wife and I had been at Bishop Creek Community Church, in a beautiful area of central… Continue Reading “And He Sent a Wolf”