April 19, 2012

 

Dear Friends:

 

Many of our students inspire me. Their commitment to God, their dedication to His church, and their love for people shines through their lives. Recently, Brenda Hafer shared the testimony of her call to minister to children through the local church. She was already teaching special education when she realized that God had something more for her to do. Her greatest joy came from working with children at church! She is a graduate of Baylor University from Waco, TX, and is working on her M.Div. with a concentration in Children’s Ministry.

 

Another person who inspires me is Tom Allen. Tom is a CU undergraduate and serves as Minister of Education and Administration at First Baptist Church, Southern Pines. Tom is tops when it comes to showing his support for Campbell University Divinity School. He serves on the Board of Ministers and the Board of Advisors and consistently connects us with prospective students and potential supporters. Recently, he was honored by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship with the 2012 Jack Naish Distinguished Christian Educator Award. The award, given in memory of long-time Christian educator Jack Naish, is presented to someone who has distinguished himself or herself in excellence and quality as a leader in Christian Education.

 

Evangelism and Christian Missions

 

Recently, we had the privilege of hosting an evangelism conference. The major focus of this conference was on moving from evangelism as program to evangelism as spiritual formation. We are all familiar with evangelistic programs; they have a place in providing tools and training, but all too often they become self-contained activities rather than leading to a lifestyle of being on mission 24-7. Our goal in this seminar was to understand how we are called to “disciplize” – how being a disciple and reaching out to share the good news and disciple others are inseparable parts of our daily Christian lives. We look forward to having more opportunities for students, graduates, and church leaders to focus on evangelism.

 

Coming June 6-9 is another exciting opportunity. In partnership with CBF, CBF of North Carolina, and Plantersville, Inc., we are hosting a New Church Start Academy. Many of our students and graduates are involved in church plants and others have expressed interest in starting one. Michial Lewis will be coming to lead us in a seminar to help us better understand the process and give us tools to use if we feel the Lord leading us in this direction. If you are interested in more information or would like to register, visit http://www.cbfnc.org/Events/NewChurchStartAcademy.aspx.

 

Don’t forget Dr. George Braswell and his students, certified in teaching world religions, who are available to help your church understand your neighbors from other lands and cultures. These trained teachers will lead your churches in understanding how the many other religions we encounter all around us are different from Christianity and how to witness to adherents with sensitivity and compassion. You may reach Dr. Braswell at gbras@campbell.edu or the World Religions and Global Cultures Center at 1-800-334-4111, ext. 1506. Several Wednesday night sessions could make a great fall lineup for your church.

 

Divinity Students as Chaplains

 

 

And one more thing:

 

Don’t forget the early bird discount for OASIS: Renew for the Journey Church Music Conference that features tracks for pastors, worship leaders and other musicians with top clinicians in an atmosphere of renewal and re-creation. Register today at http://divinity.campbell.edu/oasis.aspx. It could easily be the highlight of your summer!