Clergy Renewal - Part 3

The Renewal Program has three main components - rest and renewal (this is happening throughout the time frame), connecting with the global church, and learning from other congregations.

The global connections portion is completed, although I still am digesting the profound impact on my life and you'll likely see more entries reflecting that.

Over the next few weeks, I'll be visiting other congregations for more in-depth visits (click on church name for link to their website):

Third Reformed, Pella, Iowa. Kevin Korver is the Senior Pastor. Third has undergone significant growth along with a re-location over a decade ago. There are many friendship and family ties between Third and Trinity. I have known some of the staff for many years. Jon Nelson was discipled at Third while attending Central. Shelly Nelson grew up at Third and her mother is on staff. Her family is greatly involved in a ministry in Haiti started at Third. And Rob Vande Lune grew in Pella, attending Third during high school. Somethings I hope to interact with: relocating without losing focus, multiple services and children's ministry, 24-7 prayer ministry, weeknight worship, healing prayer services, building momentum with all generations.

Living Springs Community Church, Glenwood, Illionois. David Izenbart is the senior pastor. LSCC's calling card is "To be a multi-cultural spirit filled church that radically blesses our community and beyond." David and I both hail from Wisconsin and NWC and Fuller Seminary. He is also a past youth intern at Trinity during his NW days - 1985-1989. Somethings I hope to interact with: reformed in theology and charismatic in ministry, welcoming new cultures into a historically Dutch congregation, launching an intensive leadership training ministry to raise up new leaders for the church and kingdom.

Faith Church, Dyer, Indiana. Bob Bouwer is the senior pastor. Bob and I were both raised in the same church and nurtured in faith by the same pastor - his dad Bill. Faith's passion has been to be a seeker targeted congregation without losing its reformed roots. In their extensive building campaigns, the dedicated certain portions to missions locally and globally (something Third, Pella, also did). Somethings I hope to learn: building and sustaining a gifted team, reaching out without dumbing down, unleashing the creative gifts of lay people in the arts.

As time allows, I'll also be visiting with Mike Pitzenberger of Christ Memorial in Holland, Michigan. Mike serves with Steve Vander Molen, and I'd like to explore with them the nature of care-giving as a congregation grows.

This season of the program will offer the most immediate learning opportunities in the short term future.