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Discerning “The Spirit” in Mark 2:8; 8:12 and 14:38
This paper makes the argument that the writer of Mark’s Gospel always references the Holy Spirit or “unclean spirit/s” when he uses the term πνεῦμα. Continue reading
The Intentionally Intercultural Church: A Place for All Peoples
The purpose of this paper is to examine Jesus’ mission for the church and argue that an intentionally intercultural ideology will make churches within diverse communities safe places for people of any racial or ethnic background. Continue reading
“Drinking It New in the Kingdom of God” (Mark 14:25) – An Assertion of Ownership?
The reference to drinking “the produce of the vine” in Mark 14:25 usually is seen as a reference to the eschatological banquet motif. In this article the argument is made that the Markan narrative does not refer to the eschatological banquet motif… Continue reading
Adaptive Versus Strategic Planning: Planning for Results
The process of ministry planning has become a key part of most leadership boards or staffs. It is either implicitly or explicitly expected that most high-level leaders will be able to point to a well thought through strategic plan in order to explain the actions they are taking or the outcomes they are pursuing. This article suggests that it is time for a change… Continue reading
Shrinking the Margins: The Church and Diversity
This article continues an ongoing exploration of inclusion and widens the biblical worldview lens to consider marginalization based on diversity in ethnicity, race, culture, and values. Continue reading
Pornography and the Local Church
Arthur Birch, MA Two thousand years ago, the Holy Spirit, speaking through the Apostle Paul, warned believers in Jesus about sexual immorality. Writing to the church in Ephesus, in a letter that would be shared worldwide in coming years, the … Continue reading
Mark 13:14 – A Cryptic Prophecy of the Messiah’s Death?
Larry J. Perkins, PhD Generally, current explanations of Mark 13:14 identify the “desolating sacrilege” or “the abomination of desolation” with the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. While certainly the agent of this desolation, the Roman action is not … Continue reading
Competency-Based Theological Education: Origins of the Immerse MDiv at Northwest Baptist Seminary
Ruth McGillivray, MA As seminary enrolment in North America declined through the early 2000s, a small Canadian school, Northwest Baptist Seminary, struggled to survive. Accepting that its conventional model of education was not producing the type of leaders needed by … Continue reading
Moving Beyond Inclusion: The Story of One Family
Stace-Smith, H. & Pudlas, K.A. (2020) In a previous article Pudlas (2019) provided an introduction and overview of the current pedagogic paradigm known as full inclusion and argued that the church, which is the body of Christ here on earth, … Continue reading
In Celebration of Small Churches: Size As an Indicator of Church Health
Ron Johnston, DMin Introduction While mega-churches and their leaders have received much attention over the past half century, numerically the small church still dominates the ecclesiastical landscape in Canada. While the author of this article has not found any hard … Continue reading
Camp Youth Leadership Training: A Hidden Resource for the Church
Julie Bayley, BA Introduction Where are the future leaders of churches and ministries in Canada going to come from? Is there anything being done now that is effective in reaching these future leaders? How can churches be part of training … Continue reading
Choosing a Children’s Curriculum
Nikki Lanigan, BAR, former Director of Children’s Ministries, Northview Church, Abbotsford, BC Baby Moses floating in a basket. A staple component in a central story of every pre-school curriculum written. But did I read that right? Do they really want … Continue reading
Posted in Author Submission
Tagged Bible training, children's ministry, church children, Nicole Lanigan
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Starting an Early Childhood Learning Centre in Your Church: What could possibly go wrong?
By Kathleen McMillan, BA, ECE I’m on vacation. The first substantial vacation I’ve taken in 5 years. Exhausted and discouraged, I stare; watching waves crash against the shore; feeling the waves wear down solid rock. I fret. One day someone … Continue reading
Posted in Author Submission
Tagged church, early childhood education, early learning, Kathleen McMillan
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Faithfully Inclusive Communities: How Welcoming is the Body?
By Kenneth A. Pudlas, Ed.D. “Full inclusion” is a term that elicits visceral responses in the public education system. Within the Body of Christ, His Church, is the term even known let alone discussed? It ought to be, for a … Continue reading
Posted in Author Submission
Tagged church, diversity, inclusive, Ken Pudlas, Ministry Education
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Doing Research in the Context of Ministry
By William Badke, MTh, MLS Introduction Imagine that someone in your congregation has come to you with a URL to a website that has been intriguing her. She tells you that she is not sure the site is believable. When … Continue reading
Posted in Author Submission
Tagged church, leadership, lifelong learning, ministry research, William Badke
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