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Simple Ways To Connect with Your Pastors
Our recent pastor opinion poll last Fall tells the story of what pastors really desire the ministerial department or directors to be. They desire the provision of helpful resources, relevant training, and coaching/mentoring. They don't want micro-managing from the ministerial directors or a strong connectivity with administration to feeling like a boss. They simply want someone to care, be an advocate, and help them in the face of conflict. In order to meet their needs we need to find natural ways to connect, share, and support.
Here a few suggestions. 1. Celebrate the annual celebrations in the pastor's life. Celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, births, major accomplishments, milestones, etc. These will be celebrated by family and friends already, so why not join in with them to truly celebrate? 2. Coach and encourage pastors in their passions and giftedness. Focusing and supporting the strengths and God-given abilities of pastors in ministry is a great starting place for their professional growth and it will aide you in your relationship building with them. Also, give pastors assignments to enhance and grow their giftedness. 3. Connect with the support systems pastors already have. Because of the demands and expectations on the minister's family, connecting with their family can alleviate the false expectations of ministry placed on the family by others. In addition, through the prayerful education of congregations about ways in which they can better support pastors can be a real congruent way to aid better support systems all across our Division. Finally, ministry becomes a lot simpler when we remember, it's all about relationship. Relationship! Relationship!
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NAD Ministerial Focus:
Continuing Education |
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Focus: Continuing Education
 Being a member of the clergy today is very involved work. In a very busy, pre-occupied society, we are charged with building a community for the kingdom of heaven. We work with people in the midst of personal crisis and grief, trying to balance their need for compassion with our need for perspective. For our own health, and the health of our congregations, we need time for rest, reflection, and learning.
"Continuing education, whether pursued during a sabbatical, or shoe-horned somehow into our crowded schedules, can be one source of renewal. Sometimes we need to focus on the practical, how-to issues of ministry. At other times, we may need to step back and "relearn" the faith and traditions that first drew us into ministry."
Continuing Education for NAD Ministerial is a real focus. What are the elements that contribute to a pattern of life-long learning? What resources are available in classrooms, small groups, retreats, and even electronically? It would be great to hear your suggestions on Facebook.
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NAD MINISTERIAL DIRECTOR VISITS
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY
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Blessing Those You Shepherd
Ivan Williams, NAD Ministerial Director, visits Wade Brown,
Director, Church and Comunity Care at Focus on the Family
Blessing Those You Shepherd
by Wade Brown
I'll never forget the first time I experienced receiving a benediction at the end of a worship service that was different than a closing prayer. The pastor walked to the front and said these words: "Now, I want to give you the good word. Please stand." He kept his eyes open and with raised hands and palms facing outward, he began to pronounce a blessing on the entire congregation. Some people closed their eyes. Others extended their hands in front of them with palms facing upward as if they were actually receiving something tangible. A lady to the left of me started weeping, and with a quick glance I could see a gentle smile on her face as if to say, "These are tears of joy!" Read entire article.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO LESTER RILEA AND HERMAN KIBBLE
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 Lester Rilea has given fifty-seven of excellent ministry for youth, the National Servicemen's Organization and Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries (ACM). He began educating youth about military service as boys dean in several academies where he taught the Medical Cadet Corps program. As conference youth director he continued to counsel young people about military issues and assist those with Sabbath observance problems. In 1986 he became a civilian chaplain in the Southern Union, then assistant director for ACM in the Southern Union. He retirement leaves an unmatched legacy of consistent outstanding commitment to the youth of this denomination.
 Chaplain Herman Kibble's outstanding ministry will culminated with sixty years of service to God, country and church in June 2012. After seventeen years of productive pastoral ministry, he became a Navy chaplain. When he retired after twenty-three years at the rank of Captain, Chaplain Kibble held the distinction of being the first African American Seventh-day Adventist chaplain to attain the rank of O-6. His ministry then continued equally effectively in Veterans Affairs at the Jerry Pettis Memorial Veterans Affairs Hospital in Loma Linda, California. Chaplain Kibble left a positive, credible impression for the Church on all those in his extensive circles of influence.
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| News & Notes |
NAD Ministerial Director visits with the Focus on the Family Vice Presidential team. Ivan Williams says, "To my surprise as I visited with members of the Focus on the Family leadership team, they were very interested in partnering with Seventh-day Adventists around family issues and community care."
 The North American Division has formed committee to study ministerial ordination in relationship to the Bible. Dr. Gordon Bietz, president of Southern University, chairs this committee.
Follow our new "Best Practices Newsletter" on our own Ministerial Directors facebook page.
Did you know the Seventh-day Adventist Church has had a long standing relationship with the American Bible Society. Visit their website American Bible Society for current news about the Bible and resources for your ministry.
The General Conference Ministerial Association and Ministry Magazine will begin a brand new approach of sharing best practices and supporting continuing education for ministry through a new television and archived web programming entitled "Ministry in Motion."
Please share with us what's happening in your conference or Union. We would love to share what you doing with other Ministerial Directors in our Division.
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RESOURCES
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The Davidson Clergy Center in Davidson, North Carolina - The Clergy Program offers a unique, comprehensive personal assessment and continuing leadership skills for clergy and church professionals of all faith traditions. Participants receive access to experienced professionals who provide tools to build stronger resilience, health, and wholeness. The leaders have high levels of experience, education, and training with and for clergy.
The Clergy Program is designed as an opportunity for church professionals to sustain faithfulness to their vocation as well as discern options in time of transition, sabbatical, and retirement.
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"Being new in the faith sometimes is like being a stranger in a foreign land. It can mean losing old friends, forsaking cherished practices and habits, and in some instances, even beloved family members. Betty and Justin Bonuke, Jersey City, New Jersey
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