So this past year I have met weekly
with a pastoral resident from College Church named John Supica. John is a young
seminary graduate who is gaining experience before moving into a full role as a
pastor. This is helpful for me because I am a double major in both business and
BITH and I think that at some point I will end up in pastoral ministry. John, then, is on much the same path that I
wish to walk except he is many years ahead of me. This means that there are
many things that he has been able to talk with me about that have helped
sharpen by thoughts about God and about the future.
One thing that we have talked about
is my “philosophy of ministry.” What this means is that we have talked about my
vision for what church should look like and how that vision can become a
reality. This has really tied into our course on management this semester. In management
we talk about how we need a vision to guide our companies so that they can
accomplish their purposes. Similarly a church also needs to be guided by a
vision so that it too can accomplish its purpose. A vision needs to be something firm and
compelling, but it also needs to be flexible because every person who joins you
in a vision will shape that vision as they bring their own experiences and passions
into play. This, I think, is relevant for anyone who wants to lead because it
means that we need to learn to put the communal good before our own grand
designs. We will never be able to seek a vision alone, but instead it will take
a community.
Another similarity that has stuck
out to me is how we must balance both unity and our own convictions. In Church
this means doctrinal truths and fellowship with believers, but in a business
this means that when you are working together as a team to accomplish a task,
you must work in concert with each other even when people disagree about how
things should be done. You must keep
the unity of the team without compromising the ability to complete the project.
Meeting with John has helped me see
how leading is a discipline that can cross multiple arenas. No matter what
fields we all go into, we all need to be able to both lead and follow others.
Caleb, I think it is awesome that you have found someone to mentor you that is so similar. Finding a mentor is hard enough and the fact that you found someone who is on the same path as you can be so beneficial. I myself am having a hard time finding someone who I can call a mentor, but I hope to find someone that aligns with my passions just as you and your mentor align.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that impresses me is how you have been able to draw similarities between what we have been learning in management and your "philosophy in ministry". To be able to draw certain aspects of management and add them into you spiritual life is very impressive.I think you are establishing a foundation that will make your future very impressive in ministry or the business world. It shows that you have the openness and the priority of combining good practice in whatever it may be and implementing God into the equation. I hope that you continue to make good conversation with your mentor and that it is a relationship that you can continue to grow in wisdom in.
Caleb, I think it is awesome that you have found someone to mentor you that is so similar. Finding a mentor is hard enough and the fact that you found someone who is on the same path as you can be so beneficial. I myself am having a hard time finding someone who I can call a mentor, but I hope to find someone that aligns with my passions just as you and your mentor align.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that impresses me is how you have been able to draw similarities between what we have been learning in management and your "philosophy in ministry". To be able to draw certain aspects of management and add them into you spiritual life is very impressive.I think you are establishing a foundation that will make your future very impressive in ministry or the business world. It shows that you have the openness and the priority of combining good practice in whatever it may be and implementing God into the equation. I hope that you continue to make good conversation with your mentor and that it is a relationship that you can continue to grow in wisdom in.
Caleb,
ReplyDeleteIt is really encouraging to see that you get along so well with your mentor. Your mentor, John, seems to be showing you how to lead very well. Being able to lead in various aspects of life is so important and it seems like John has done an outstanding job of that. I also really liked what you said about not being able to do everything on our own. It takes a community or group to accomplish a vision and goals. Great to see that you have found a great mentor for your life.
Caleb Selk
Hey Caleb,
ReplyDeleteIt's great to hear you have found someone who can connect to you on a spiritual and professional level. I definitely see the importance of coming up with a "philosophy of ministry". It's really necessary to have a clear direction in mind when you start out. Especially if you are in a leadership position as a pastor I imagine it will be extra important to have a clear vision that you can articulate and communicate to the rest of your staff and the rest of the church. A vision can unite the body of Christ, and unity is so important among Christians. I wonder if the "philosophy of ministry" idea can be transferred to other areas of our lives? It may be a helpful practice to come up with a visionary/goal based statement before we start out on any journey: academic, a career, etc.
Natalie