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Are you a pastor with educational debt? Or does your pastor have educational debt? The Northern Baptist Education Society has a Loan Repayment Assistance Program to help pastors.
Here are some guidelines for this program. To qualify, applicants would:
There is no deadline for an application to be received. Grants will be given in 2022 until funds run out! Decisions are made within three weeks of completed application receipt. Distributions are made to the lender.
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What: Connect, a National Best Practice Program, helps communities better understand postvention concepts and develop practices that can be implemented after a sudden death such as suicide.
Why: A suicide or other untimely traumatic death can have a devastating impact on a community. The shock and grief go well beyond the immediate family and friends, having a ripple effect on many others in the community. This training will help faith leaders and funeral directors, who are often emotional responders to family and community members, be better prepared to act with a plan that promotes healing and reduces risk after suicide. When: Thursday, February 17, 1:00 PM – 4:45 PM Where: Zoom – details to be provided Who should attend: Faith leaders of all denominations and funeral directors & staff Training Highlights:
Registration: Contact Steve Boczenowski, sboczenowski@naminh.org This training is made possible by the NH Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Mental Health Services State Family Mutual Support Grant. 85 NORTH STATE STREET CONCORD, NH 03301 TEL. (603) 225-5359 www.NAMINH.org  In the Edwards' household we have a tradition of setting up the family Christmas tree, and pronouncing it the “best Christmas we ever had.” Sometimes that is the truth, and other times it is only tradition. Offering this observation year after year I believe is more of a statement, that our family, our present state, our spiritual journey is well. This is truly the best Christmas we have ever had, because we have the gift of knowing Jesus Christ. Somehow this Christianized symbol, invokes contemplation and gratitude, even peace and serenity. Because even though the world is bitter and brittle for a few days I can sit with food, family, and Christ, and remember all is really well.
Over the Christmas break I had the opportunity to catch up on reading. Now, I know this is an acquired taste, but I did some more reading into the English and Scottish Reformations. Many generations before us, people convoluted their faith with their national and ethnic identities, and not only was the cost horrible, the Gospel was also disgraced. Yet there were some leaders, both Protestant and Catholic who spoke into the miasma and came out the other side never losing sight of Christ. We really do need to ask the Holy Spirit to guard and direct even our best motives and desires, lest good motives fall prey to ego and anger. Maybe it honors God most and gives fruit to the Gospel, to simple speak of and for Christ, absent of any need to win an argument. During the break I also reflected on Philip Yancey’s memoir: “Where the Light Fell.” How desperately we need reminding of God’s grace and mercy, lest we become what we say we abhor. I have also begun to read “Letters to a Young Pastor,” which was a Christmas gift from my son. It is a compendium of letters that the late Eugene Peterson wrote to his pastor son Eric. Like so much of what Peterson wrote, one reads, then thinks, and then reads a little bit more! And then you realize some conviction starts creeping into your own pastoral heart. In particular, Peterson in letter #3 is brave enough to address our skewed concept of leadership, borrowed from the world of MBA training versus spiritual formation. I believe Peterson’s point is we have a deficit of healthy leadership because we are lacking in “followship”. I cannot agree more that encompassing the call to lead, is the call to follow Christ. Some years past, a rather secular person, accused me of being a pastor because that is how I “made my living.” His point was, I was obligated to be a Christian because it was the same as my livelihood. No pastorate, no Christian. I couldn’t make my explanation understandable, that if I was not a pastor, I would still be a Christ follower, and being a pastor was part of my being a Christ follower. In his secular eyes all he saw was profession and compensation, and I hope I did not abet his muddled perception. As the new year has begun, and my calendar fills again, I know this will be another year of questions. Key questions in my world will revolve around finding new pastors, searching for new leaders. In our grasping to understand a future we did not envision well, Christian communities will search for leaders who will clarify and bring direction to this new world. I hope leadership will not be neglected with followship, or we forget the soul’s state precedes public actions and words. I wish everyday in my near future would be the “best day I ever had.” I know that will not be true. But I do know that Christ is the best Shepherd who I can every follow. We only lead, because we are led. In Jesus name, Dale  The Blueprint Ministries (TBM) is a Spirit-led, Gospel-driven organization of believers who have a passion to act on the Great Commission in innovative and impactful ways. Our goals are:
• Outreach: reach the unchurched, and those who have been discouraged by previous church experiences. • In-reach: train, grow, and release Spirit-led leaders who can replicate disciples and train other leaders for the Kingdom of God. • Leadership Development: foster continuous education to help existing leaders grow and strengthen their gifts and leadership skills. TBM is a "Fresh Expression" ministry that emerged as an online faith community in 2013, and has been practicing multi-modal discipleship since that time. Our online gathering has members and guests from various regions of the USA (NH, NJ, GA, PA, MA) as well as other countries (Kenya). During our weekly fellowship, we embrace the "in-between time" (a focus on days "in-between" Sunday worship services) to exalt (God), equip (saints) and encourage (each other) for the Kingdom-business we've been called to. A good deal of our discipling approach centers on unleashing God-given talents of our participants, and reminding all attendees that our journey is a 7-day-a-week lifestyle. All are welcome to participate in our discipleship gatherings, and then challenged to immediately apply what's been poured out into their respective contexts and settings. TBM convenes for weekly fellowship on Wednesday evenings at 7:15pm ET on Zoom. Those wishing to join can use the following information: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/416960617 Meeting ID: 416 960 617 More information about our ministry can be found at our website here: https://www.theblueprintministries.org/ This past summer a young camper arrived at check out without his backpack. His mother questioned where it was, and the boy shrugged, and he said, “I don’t know”. Embarrassed, I asked the camp counselor to go and find it and apologized to the mother. The young boy quickly spoke up and he said, “It’s all my fault”. “Why is it your fault?” I said. “Because I hid it.” "Why did you hide it?" The boy said, “cause I want to stay.”
I feel like this in the stillness of the outdoors, I want to stay. I enjoy seeing campers make new friends, try new activities, enjoy time around Bible study with inspiring words from the Camp Pastor and staff mentors. Camp helps create an atmosphere of worship through the study of God’s Word together. I feel thankful. This sweet melody of camp helps to create harmony in life. 2022 Camp Registration is open! 2022 ENGAGE "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.“ 1 Peter 3:15 2022 theme video Each of us plays an important role as followers of God - as Christians our role is to engage with God and our neighbors. We do this by being prepared to share the reason for the hope we have in God. In 2022, we will equip ourselves to speak the truth in love with gentleness and respect. Reserve your space today with a $100 deposit. More about Camp: Support for camp Please consider helping us finish the year strong. As we continue ministry this season and beyond, we are raising support for two areas. First, Sentinel is MISSION FIRST as we never turn a family away for the inability to pay for camp. Donations are needed to help with scholarship support. Secondly, we are raising funds for new projects: a playground next to the Hobby house and a new bathroom next to the Wigwam. Sentinel Lodge Retreats - experience the stillness in our year round retreats Pines Camp - seasonal camping, reserve your 2022 camping experience. See you soon on the mountaintop, Kevin Van Brunt “Pk” Executive Director, Camp Sentinel Mission Statement Our mission is to create a welcoming environment for Christian relationship building and spiritual renewal. Within the stillness of God's creation and through the guidance of the staff, people are moved from discovery into authentic relationships with others and with Jesus Christ. ______________________________________________________________________________ campsentinel.org (603) 539-4839 29 Sentinel Lodge Road, Center Tuftonboro, NH 03816 |
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