Well, almost. I finished all but a 500-word essay of my Berean coursework that the district told me I had to supplement my degree with to get credentialed (I went to a non-A/G Christian college, so I was missing some courses on the Holy Spirit, lol!).
All I have left is the BIG test this month and my interview in February. Be praying that all will go well...I'm more than a little nervous!!
But I'M DONE with my coursework!!! Now I have to get busy unearthing my house so we can have people over for Thanksgiving tomorrow.
You'll do GREAT! I know you will! Puppetmaster, I know what you are going through because although I went to an A/G college, I had to supplement and make some courses up through Berean to get credentialed.
Okay...I did not know you are A/G! How cool. So it's very possible that you and I might run into each other at an A/G gathering sometime. Are you going to General Council in Denver? Ever been to any A/G national events? I hope to meet you sometime. And hey, if they have anything going on as far as a conference you are going to in my neck of the woods here in FL...stop by!!!!
What district are you in, if you don't mind my asking? If you'd rather not post it (I understand!) just e-mail me, unless you would just rather me not know. FYI, we have served as pastors in the NJ, OH, Potomac, and now Pen-FL district. (Where I hope with all my heart to retire unless Jesus comes back.)
Nah, I don't mind . I'm in the Minnesota District. I've lived in MN all my life, and have never been to any international events...unless you count the Senior Bible Quiz invitational in St. Louis, MO that I went to in 7th grade, lol! I don't think I'll make it to General Council this year - I still work a full time day job (at North Central University - know anyone there?), and I'll already be taking off a bunch of time for our district council and my interviewing, etc. They need to do another one in Mpls (the last one there was in '93)!!
Thanks for the encouraging words...they meant a lot! Now that my coursework is done, I feel a lot better about the whole process. Can I just say how horrible it is that December 1 is the deadline for getting it all in? I mean, we are presumably either a.) working in a ministry at a church already, during the busiest time of the year for most churches! or b.) a college student getting ready for finals week!! Talk about frying the brain! Okay, end of rant!
So in addition to your work in the church you work at North Central. I assume you know a lot of students there...and you are a children's pastor. Here's the deal...
My husband and I are seeking a FT children's pastor for our church right at this moment. The search is going very slow. When we went through our youth pastor search, we had HUNDREDS and I do mean HUNDREDS of resumes to go through. The children's pastors just aren't out there in the same way. We have only gotten about 13 resumes through a couple month search now. And, most have not been very good. Perhaps you could get the word out to your friends and help us out. I have called NCBC as well as most of the other A/G schools and posted our ad on what sites I knew about plus A/G jobs.
We are looking for an A/G credential holder (or someone currently applying), preferably a grad of an A/G school...Staff member will handle oversight of all programs for kids birth-5th grade. Great children's workers already in place...just waiting for a FT pastor. My dh and I are looking for someone very enthusiastic...not someone laid back. Someone with contemporary ideas...
I could go on, but I'll stop here. Just let me know if you know of anyone who fits the above that we might want to talk to...or pass our name along to your friends and ask them to send a resume. Send it to mine and Larry's attention at our church address....Northside A/G, 16235 Lake Magdalene Blvd., Tampa, FL 33613.
THANK YOU, PUPPETMASTER!!! By the way...since you are up in Minnesota, I just have to ask...do you know Pastor Darren Daugherty? He is my husband's dearest childhood friend, in fact...he led Larry to the Lord! They are lifelong friends. He is highly involved in ministry to children & families at an A/G church there in MN.
CONGRATS PUPPETMASTER! HOPE THINGS GO WELL FOR YOU IN FEB.
GOD BLESS! LW
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...... Then they came for the Catholics, and I was a Protestant, so I never said anything. And then, they came for ME, and there was no one left to speak up. Martin Neimoller, German Pastor, WW2
I will pass the word on to Dan Rector so he can post it in the school's "Friday Update," which is the weekly bulletin of things happening on campus, job openings, internship opps, etc.
Sad to say, children's ministry majors are in much shorter supply than youth ministry. Big Dan's theory on that is that the very last person in a kid's life who has an impact on them before college is their youth pastor. So, they feel a call to ministry, and of course it's to youth ministry! I also had a friend of mine say to me (to ME, of all people!!) that children's ministry is 'glorified babysitting.' I shook my head and said, "Just for future reference, NEVER say that to a children's pastor again!!" But sadly, that is the mentality of some. I wish these people could see just one of my fourth graders up at the altar on their knees just worshiping, or have a conversation with the 6th grader I just spoke with who didn't think that God could really forgive him when he asked Jesus into his heart. This is not babysitting, people!! Anyway, yeah. There are some students at NCU who believe the same that I do, and I will pass your name and church on to them...I don't think we have any mid-year graduates in that department, but I know there are several seniors who are graduating in the spring.
I have never had the pleasure of meeting Darren Dougherty. I have heard nothing but good things about him - a lot of the professors I work with go to his church, and an old friend of mine is the assistant youth pastor there.
P.S. Did you read the latest Pentecostal Evangel (or one of the last few)? The guy featured on the cover - Rich Skerbitz - who's a youth pastor with no legs and only one arm, is a friend of mine. We were in youth group, Bible Quiz, Teens for Life, and a bunch of other stuff together back in high school. I was so excited to see an article on him! I am finding more and more that the A/G is the world's biggest example of "6 degrees (or less!) of separation." Everyone is somehow connected to everyone!!
quote: Originally posted by: LW "CONGRATS PUPPETMASTER! HOPE THINGS GO WELL FOR YOU IN FEB. GOD BLESS! LW"
Thanks, LW! I appreciate it. Just an update - I got the 500-word essay done and everything mailed yesterday, as well as notice that I had passed my "History and Polity of the A/G" course. So I officially have just the BIG test left before the interview!!
Puppetmaster - actually I did call NCU and spoke to Dan Rector just the other day...and posted on the A/G site he told me about. He told me the same as you did -- no graduates in Dec., but a few in the spring. We didn't want to wait that long but looks like we may have to. Please pass the word on to anyone you think might be good for this position and tell them, get their resume to us. It's so appreciated!!!
Yes, I did read that article in the Evangel...it was awesome.
. I'm in the Minnesota District. I've lived in MN all my life, and have never been to any international events...unless you count the Senior Bible Quiz invitational in St. Louis, MO that I went to in 7th grade, lol! I don't think I'll make it to General Council this year - I still work a full time day job (at North Central University - know anyone there?), and I'll already be taking off a bunch of time for our district council and my interviewing, etc. They need to do another one in Mpls (the last one there was in '93)!!
