How to Pastor Your Conference President

By Marvin Wray   

I certainly have a unique privilege in talking about this challenge since my conference president just happens to be a member of my church. Just prior to my arrival, he was also the pastor of this congregation, which certainly gives us some very special connecting points. But let's take a look at this relationship from a broader perspective.

There are some basic approaches to providing pastoral care to your conference leadership team - especially the president. There have been times when I was in the conference headquarters and have taken the opportunity to step into his office, talk for a few minutes and include a time of prayer. I think this is particularly meaningful when you know there are crisis issues or perhaps when a constituency session is near.  Read More 

Ministry with Millennials:

The Power of Relationships

By A. Allan Martin

"The greatest gift that you can give to others is the gift of unconditional love and acceptance." -Brian Tracy 

 

Peer relationships have been assumed to be the gold standard of the youth ministries. But what keeps them in the church after youth group? In this most recent study of Adventist Millennials, conducted by the Barna Group, there were some fascinating findings. Here's what the research revealed, as summarized in Ministry Magazine:
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Preaching: Getting Started

Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. James 3:1 NIV

 

Local elders and other lay leaders often have to preach a sermon or even preach quite often in some congregations. This series of five units on preaching brings together the experience of pastors who have taught lay leaders to preach and seeks to provide a simple and complete presentation that is written with the amateur in mind. It draws from the best of the preaching art; the many great preachers who have written the basics of preaching. These presentations are meant for the week­end warrior, but will also prove helpful to the preaching professional.    Read More 

 
Imagine...

By Esther Knott

...rediscovering your unique mix of spiritual gifts and skills.  The NAD Pastors Family Convention provides opportunities for you to both develop your core competencies as well as raise some of your skills into the rarefied air of mastery. Learn from the best in plenary sessions or break-out groups that bring expertise to the core competencies of evangelism, leadership, worship, management, scholarship, people skills, all built on the foundation of character.

Yet the convention is just the beginning as we roll our new continuing education stream for pastors. We share our dream for regular engagement in a variety of ways that meet your need whether through reinvigorated worker's meetings, conferences, or the exciting new virtual Adventist Learning Community. Return to your church with a completed certificate of continuing education for the year 2015.
Let's Talk About Your Best Practices

Best Practices is looking for articles about what is working for you in ministry. Articles that are one-subject focused and tightly written - 300 to 700 words. We are also looking for top-flight sermon illustrations. Pitch us an idea. Send us an article. Be sure to include your picture and ministry title. Together we can make Best Practices for Adventist Ministry a go-to tool box for NAD pastors and church leaders.
Ideas, Events, Resources, Announcements

What comes to mind when people talk about abuse? In the video presentation, Not in My Church!  Pam and Claudio Consuegra tell us that there are many different kinds of abuse This 48-minute video is excellent for use with special groups and in homes. Portions may not be suitable for all ages. Parental guidance is advised.

 

A recent survey of 1000 pastors in the USA shows that they are often poorly informed on domestic and sexual violence. Read the Christian Post's article about it at: The Devastating Issue Pastors Aren't Discussing. Read the survey itself at Broken Silence: A Call for Churches to Speak Out.

 

Correction: Last week's Best Practices article by Steve Chavez should have said "This article first appeared on April 14, 2014 in the Adventist Review. Reprinted with permission."

 

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Best Practices for Adventist Ministry is published by NAD Ministerial. Opinions expressed belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of NAD Ministerial. Publisher: Ivan Williams;  Managing Editor: Dan Martella. Copyright 2014 North American Division Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists. 
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