MB Biblical Seminary's Fresno Campus will offer two seminars around the topic of church health in January 2008.
Healthy Churches, offered as a seminar January 7-8 and credited seminary course January 7-10, will feature guest presenter Rev. Stephen A. Macchia, DMin, and focus on how to create healthy, vibrant, growing congregations. Macchia is Director of the Pierce Center for Disciple-Building at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He also serves as president of "Leadership Transformations, Inc.," which focuses on the spiritual formation of leaders. He is the author of Becoming A Healthy Church: 10 Characteristics and Becoming a Healthy Disciple: 10 Traits of a Vital Christian.
Additional instructors for Healthy Churches include Rev. Larry Martens, PhD and Rev. Jim Westgate, DMin. Martens is past President and Professor of Pastoral Ministries at MB Biblical Seminary and a retired pastor. He is currently providing leadership on church health matters in the Pacific District Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches and is serving as a consultant to churches on church health. Westgate is recently retired from his position as Associate Professor of Practical Studies and Director of the Center for Training in Mission and Evangelism at MB Biblical Seminary's Fresno campus. He brings with him years of experience as a pastor as well as director for various urban non-profit organizations.
Married to Ministry is a unique five-evening seminar for pastors' spouses, offered the evenings of January 14-18. Topics such as: "Your Call: But I don't play the piano!," "Your Ministry," and "Your Marriage: I didn't marry the church so why am I sleeping with the preacher?," will help nurture pastor's spouses for effective marriage, ministry, and life.
This seminar will feature Dawn Penner, BSW, MA, MEd, RSW, a pastor's wife who has over 20 years of experience as a clinical counselor. She is founder and executive director of Healing Streams, a not-for-profit international organization focused on the well-being of Christian leaders, their families, and the organizations they serve.
To inquire about either seminar, visit the CEU page or call (559) 251-8628.