Friday, April 15, 2016

"eConnection from NTS - April 2016" Carla Sunberg, Nazarene Theological Seminary President of Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Friday, 15 April 2016

"eConnection from NTS - April 2016" Carla Sunberg, Nazarene Theological Seminary President of Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Friday, 15 April 2016

SPECIAL INVITATION FROM PRESIDENT SUNBERG

This fall, September 28-30, NTS is pleased to host the 2016 USA/Canada Theology Conference in lieu of our annual Hugh C. Benner Preacher's Conference. The theme of the conference is "The Pilgrim People of God Living in Exile."
Registration is now officially OPEN and I want to extend a personal invitation to you attend. Click here to register online today. Given the nature of this event, we believe that the limited number of seats available will go quickly, so don't delay! The early bird registration rate of just $79 is available today through April 30; beginning May 1, the cost will increase to $99.
I hope to see you in Kansas City in September. REGISTER TODAY!
Grace and Peace,

Carla Sunberg
President
THE JOY OF GIVING
Tim McPherson, Dean for Advancement

Who has most deeply touched your life, or influenced your family, as a giver?
As we think about being Christ's joyful disciples in every area of our lives, we must consider how we follow Jesus with "our" possessions. For the past two months, we have begun constructing our own "Philanthropic Autobiography" through early childhood memories, such as:
What is your earliest memory of giving or receiving?
Did your family talk about money in your home? What did you learn from your family about giving and volunteering?
Today's question is, "Who has most deeply touched your life, or influenced your family as a giver? What makes this mentor memorable?"
Click here to read the full article...

THE JOY OF GIVING
April 15, 2016
TIM McPHERSON
Dean for Advancement
Who has most deeply touched your life, or influenced your family, as a giver?
As we think about being Christ’s joyful disciples in every area of our lives, we must consider how we follow Jesus with “our” possessions. For the past two months, we have begun constructing our own “Philanthropic Autobiography” through early childhood memories, such as:
  • What is your earliest memory of giving or receiving? Did your family talk about money in your home? What did you learn from your family about giving and volunteering?
Today’s question is, “Who has most deeply touched your life, or influenced your family as a giver? What makes this mentor memorable?”
We’ve known them, haven’t we? Heroes of generosity, seemingly unbound by financial anxiety or greed. People who exude joy, even in sacrificial giving. People who think of others first, and whose faith fills in the rest. People who give discreetly, not desiring acclamation. People who give as though they were ministering to God himself. These refreshing examples are placed in our lives by God—yes, to help in times of need, but also to further the cause of Christ and to light the pathway of true discipleship.
Perhaps we would find further inspiration in the book of Matthew, where we encounter some of theKingdom principles by which these faithful examples live:
  • “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40 NIV)
  • “Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19:29 NIV)
  • “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21 NIV)
  • “Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:4 NIV)
  • “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:31-33 NIV)
Whose lives will be touched as we put these Kingdom principles into action?
FACULTY CORNER
Dr. Dean Blevins - Didache: Faithful Teaching

Dr. Dean Blevins, NTS Professor of Practical Theology and Christian Discipleship and Director of the MACFD Program, is the Senior Editor of Didache: Faithful Teaching. Didache is an interdisciplinary academic journal offered online that explores the intersections of Christian conviction, culture and education. It serves to foster a conversation among our diverse international communities of higher learning, each seeking to educate in various academic disciplines but all guided by Christian conviction shaped through a Wesleyan heritage.
With this international context in mind, the focus of Didache is to include articles and resources that explore intersections between:
an emphasis on Christian faith and practice,
an awareness of cultural influences, and
the exploration of educational practice and administration.
Click here to look through past issues of Didache, including the most recent volume released in December which focuses on the shifting socio-cultural setting of ministry in light of the millennial generation. Most issues include articles written by NTS faculty and alumni.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Kirstyn Grani

Kirstyn Grani is a student and member of our Recruitment team. Prior to NTS, she graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University with a degree in Therapeutic and Community Psychology. We recently did a video interview with Kirstyn during which she reflects on her call to ministry and her time at NTS thus far:
“My journey to Nazarene Theological Seminary feels unique. I was a psychology major at my undergrad at Point Loma Nazarene University…and as time wore on, I really started to feel that I was being called into pastoral ministry…I really didn't feel prepared to enter into ministry, but I knew that one of the best ways to be prepared was to attend Seminary and more specifically Nazarene Theological Seminary; and it’s been a great journey so far. Having professors coming alongside me, pour into my life and just help me grow, spiritually, help me grow theologically, and help me be prepared for something that I feel called to do for the rest of my life.”
Click here to view Kirstyn's entire video response, in which you will also get a chance to visit another new coffee shop near the Seminary.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT - "Faithful & Effective"
The mission of NTS is to prepare "faithful and effective ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ." The stories of alumni in ministry are the story of NTS.
Steve Estep ('96)

Dr. Steve Estep (NTS Class of 1996) is the current President of the NTS Alumni Association. Since 2008, he has served as Senior Pastor of Clarksville Grace Church of the Nazarene in Clarksville, TN. Prior to his ministry in Clarksville, he served as Senior Pastor of the Harrisonville, MO Church of the Nazarene for 11 1/2 years. At a recent meeting of the Alumni Council, Steve shared about the impact that NTS has had on his ministry:
“When I came to NTS I was a product of 'folk' theology. At NTS I learned what it meant to think like a Wesleyan, to really know our theological foundation. This has served me well every single day of my pastoral ministry. One image that stands out to me from my time at NTS was being in a class with Dr. Morris Weigelt. He taught several classes on specific books of the Bible. When he taught, it was as if the Word was dripping off him. Many times he taught through tears. It was evident that his tremendous academic mind never trumped his passionate love for the Word. To use the words of Robert Farrar Capon, he was definitely 'more smitten than smart.' He inspired me to never lose my love for the Word."
Table of Contents
Quick Links

QUICK FACTS
Did you know that courses for the NTS Master of Divinity degree can be taken not only in Kansas City, but also in Bethany, OK; Mount Vernon, OH; Nashville, TN; Quincy, MA; and San Diego, CA? Click here to learn more about NTS as a Multi-Campus Seminary.
Did you know that an NTS graduate who is currently pastoring serves, on average, two years longer than someone who has not attended Seminary?
Did you know that in all ATS-accredited schools (including NTS), there has been a steady increase in recent years in the number of Seminary students who are age 50 and above?
Did you know that in the 2014/2015 academic year, NTS had 366 "unduplicated" students enrolled in our courses? (The average for our peer schools was 210.)
Did you know that NTS is the only Nazarene institution in the U. S. whose Master of Divinity Program is nationally accredited by the Association of Theological Schools?
CENTER FOR PASTORAL LEADERSHIP (CPL)
The CPL continues to add new content to the LIFELONG LEARNING COURSE LIST on the CPL WEBSITE. Website subscribers have unlimited access to CPL sponsored webinars and other events which, when viewed, are automatically reported on the website to help the busy pastor keep track of their 20 hours of lifelong learning hours needed each year. NEW WEBINARS recently added include When a Woman Preaches featuring Rev. Tara Beth Leach, and Making Sense of Revelation led by pastors Jon Middendorf and JR Foresters.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Keep informed about upcoming continuing education events, CPL webinars and other happenings at NTS by visiting the EVENTS page of our website regularly! COMING UP NEXT:
CPL WEBINAR: "Evangelism with Millenials," with Rev. Keith Davenport, April 25, 7:00pm (Central).
2016 COMMENCEMENT, May 1, 2:00pm.
CPL WEBINAR: "Images of Holiness in Scripture," with Pastor Jim Fitzgerald, May 17, 11:00am (Central)
WOMEN CLERGY Conference at MNU, June 20, 2:00pm - 5:00pm.
WOMEN CLERGY Conference at NNU, June 27, 2:00pm - 5:00pm.
FOOTSTEPS OF THE REFORMERS

In partnership with MVNU, NTS will host a trip to the main Protestant Reformation sites in Germany and Switzerland May 8-17, 2017. The trip coincides with the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Click here to learn more and reserve your spot today.

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