Pastoral Interview Paper

Libby Anderson Thigpen is a native Mississippian. She attended Jackson Public Schools and Jackson State University (JSU). Mrs. Thigpen serves as the Assistant Director for the Institutional Aid Title III Program at JSU and has been employed there for 11 years. Her expertise includes grants managements, budget and proposal development. Prior to JSU, she worked sixteen years at the Edison Walthall Hotel, where she worked in hotel accounting, payroll, front desk and management. Mrs. Thigpen has extensive experience in leadership at her church, where she has served as Finance Chair, Membership Secretary, and has spearheaded the Annual Homecoming drive raising more than $20,000 under her leadership. In addition, she has served on various committees

Theologically conservative leaders from United Methodist Church have formed a group within the denomination known as Wesleyan Covenant Association.

In 1860 approximately four thousand Western Apache Indians occupied an enormous portion of the present state of Arizona. Ranging from the Sonoran desert environs to the ponderosa pine forests, the Apache subsisted on wild plant foods which they collected; corn, beans, and squash which they grew; animals which they hunted; and livestock which they stole in raids south of the border. Within forty years, however, the Apache way of life was inexorably altered as a result of contact with the White man. Following a series of bloody skirmishes with federal troops as well as savage massacres, the Apaches were confined to reservations for their own protection. Soon new words entered the Apache vocabulary—words like smallpox, scarlet fever,

Coming from a different culture but still embracing the Christian values that Loma Linda University emphasizes, I believe that my unique background and personal experiences distinguish my application from others. Growing up in Egypt, where the gap between social classes is significant, my parents always stressed the need to prioritize service into my life encouraging me to dedicate time in volunteering and helping others. As a result, my experience has grown from volunteering to serve as a camp leader for orphans in the summer to participating in international dental service trips. These involvements would allow me to use my skills in organizing missions trips at Loma Linda. Being a Coptic Orthodox Christian enables me to add diversity to the

“As surely as each of them brought a toothbrush with him, he also brought with him his loves and hates, his fears of death and his fears of life, his anxieties, his longings, his pride his doubts…and so did the one who traveled to New Haven to hear them lecture.” This statement from page three of Telling the Truth left me naked and vulnerable as I continued to read the following words of this brilliant work by Fredrick Buechner. As a young college student, pursing ministry, I can’t help but be challenged as I read recognize my self in these words. Every time I get up to preach, I bring with me the world that lives inside of me, and so does everyone who is listening. I am speaking to broken hearts, different personalities and family situations, people who are experiencing extreme financial and marriage trials. Each of who is seeking new life shed on them. Whether they are searching Christ or not, they are undoubtedly searching for and absence or void in their lives to be filled. Thus sets the plot for this work that guides readers on a journey to what it means to tell the truth and

“South Carolina’s poverty rate is ninth highest in the nation, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s annual American Community Survey.” It is a circumstance in which most South Carolinians’ live, and many of them not by choice. Thus, what does poverty look like? Poverty is working hard and yet still struggling to make ends meet. Poverty is working a full time, year-round minimum-wage job, but many South Carolinians are unable to feed, house, clothe, and educate their children. Poverty is too many South Carolina children going to school or bed hungry. Poverty is not knowing where their next meal is coming. Poverty is real! As Christians, we are the body of Christ, and have been called to love more than ourselves as we work together to achieve

I’m applying to GMU in hopes of obtaining a bachelor’s degree in psychology. I want to obtain my degree not only for myself, but for my mother as well. She left her native country of Nicaragua as a political refugee at the tender age of twenty-one. Leaving her family and leaving all hopes of ever completing her degree in education behind. I admire her for coming to a foreign country, not knowing the language and having very limited opportunities, but not letting that discourage her. My mother is a great source of inspiration for me. Being raised in a one parent household in addition to being a minority in this country has always plagued me with limited resources but I’ve never allowed it to be a deterrent. The under privilege I’ve experienced

Pentecostalism, is a Christian based faith that accentuates an immediate individual involvement with God through water and spirit baptism, intercessory and corporate prayer, and moving under the influence of the Holy Spirit in the speaking of tongues and the prophetic. Like many other denominations, Pentecostalism doesn’t just have one type. They have a variety that takes root from the Feast of Weeks and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit spoken of in Acts. “1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Bible Hub).

The Wounded Healer by Henri J.M. Nouwen is one such book which is simple yet very insightful, solemn yet very challenging. He stirs up our interest as he deals with the biggest concern of our modern day leaders in our churches and society – the struggle with our weaknesses. And I believe his philosophy goes much deeper than what is actually written. I personally felt that this book is not only for Christian ministers or leaders but for everyone and anyone because, as mortal human beings, we live in a societal world where caring or helping each other is indispensable. I like the way Nouwen makes us see the four chapters of this book, as entering into four different doors, each representing the ‘problems of ministry in the modern world’ (Nouwen, 2010, p.3). I’ve categorized my reflections on this book into three particular headings.

Richard Baxter’s writings on the “The Reformed Pastor” is a wake up call to every shepherd of the flocks to examine their soul’s condition and their flocks as well. So, the minister, coming into ministry with much infirmity, has before him a great responsibility and yet difficult office to undertake and to accomplish. Every minister’s success in accomplishing God ordained duties and responsibilities depends on the thoroughness of his examination of his own soul – “It is most necessary, therefore, that men of so much infirmity should take heed to themselves, and be careful in the oversight of their own souls.” While he takes care of his own soul diligently, the same way he needs to care for his flocks welfare – soul’s betterment. Richard Baxter’s writing had been a humble yet an authoritative call to reform ministers’ actions and live their lives as if the souls of his flock depend on his actions. Moreover, he also clearly pointed out some of the utmost important applications for ministers to consider

This includes being a leader out in the world and in his home. “The Bible instructs men to lead their families and often refers to leadership as shepherding. God designed the church, in part, to equip men to do the work of the ministry, and ministry begins at home.” (Navey, 2014) Being a servant leader is a vital part of biblical manhood. Jesus is clear on how man should be a servant leader in Luke 22:25-26, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves” Being a servant leader considers the joy of others that he is leading while working along side

himself. Again and again our missionary appeal is on the basis of the Christian responsibility to

The aim of this report was to investigate what disadvantages the homeless face in Australia, the steps that are taken by the government and other support groups to alleviate or eliminate these disadvantages and what still needs to be done in order to solve the homelessness epidemic in Australia.

Ed combats this view with the idea that the point of discipleship is not information, but Christ-like transformation. The second “broken view” presented is the fact that we try to program discipleship. Ed infers that discipleship is so much more than a six-week course, and people are looking for relationships more than discipleship classes. The third “broken view” is that we equate discipleship with our preaching. In fact, 56% of pastors surveyed believe their weekly sermon was the most important discipling ministry in the church. Ed battles this idea with the truth of how discipleship is a daily process and commitment. The fourth “broken view” is that we think that we will grow without effort. Ed then implies that discipleship takes intentional effort to grow in their relationship with the Lord. The fifth “broken view” of discipleship is we don’t offer practical steps to discipleship. Stetzer argues that we need to be intentional about implementing discipleship

During the interview with Timothy Hughes, Pastor of the First Baptist Church, many difficult and probing questions were asked to discover the heart of his decision making process. The pastor, making himself available for this interview answered with much openness and transparency revealing how he makes decisions regarding a variety of issues. In regards to fear and its impact on his decision making, one could ascertain that this pastor uses acknowledgement of his fear to provide balance in this process. Decision made in regards to sermon preparation time is deemed to vary as he tries to “utilize a variety of sermon methodology or sermon preparation.” The importance of having a mentor relationship has been important in his life and has aided in making challenging decisions. The aid of such individuals have helped in molding the philosophy he has regarding decisions now. The use of small groups have aided in growth in his life and decisions he has made regarding the issues of focused study. The relationship he has with his family has a great impact on his decisions made. His wife is an