President’s February Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Ordination services reenact what the Holy Spirit has determined. God has called a person to ministry, and the church publicly confirms that work by laying hands on the candidate. The gesture originated in the wilderness when Aaron and his sons were ordained in Exodus 29:15. The new priest placed his hands on a sacrificial bull, and the people literally “filled the hand” or ordained the priest with the blood of a ram.

Most pastors carry that feeling into the pulpit and throughout the community. Their hands are usually overflowing with responsibilities and opportunities. Ordination symbolically fills their hands to proclaim the gospel, send the church on mission, and connect them to a community for the journey ahead.

This February at Northern, we’ve seen God continue to move in the hearts of our students and friends. We’ve met many people whose hands are filled with the daily tasks of ministry. They’re now discovering that Northern Seminary can train them to manage the responsibilities, deepen their faith, and sustain them for the adventure of church. Our hands are full and overflow with the important mission of training pastoral leaders for the church.

ATS APPROVES NORTHERN LIVE FOR MASTER OF DIVINITY AND MASTER OF ARTS IN CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES

Northern Seminary will offer accredited Master of Divinity and Master of Christian Ministries degrees through Northern Live beginning fall 2019. This means you can take these degree programs from anywhere around the world, interact live with the professor and other students from your laptop, and study within any of our various program specializations. Contact Greg Armstrong for more information or Linda Owens to register for classes.

NORTHERN SEMINARY ALUMNUS JOSEPH VO COMMISSIONED TO VIETNAM

Amy and the Rev. Joseph Van Vo of Garden Grove, California, have been endorsed to serve with International Ministries (IM) as development workers in Vietnam. They will work with IM partner the Baptist Convention of Vietnam (BCV) in Discipleship, Education and Economic Development. Their home church is the Vietnamese Grace Baptist Church in Fountain Valley, California.

CHURCH PLANTING AND RENEWAL RESIDENCY

Northern Seminary, American Baptist Churches of Michigan, and Christ Community Church of Greater Lansing have partnered together to establish a Church Planting and Renewal Residency in Lansing.
Christ Community Church (CCC) will host up to three church planting residents from Northern Seminary from 2019-2022. Beginning in Winter 2019, the residents will help renew CCC’s Lansing location and plant a new, fresh expression of Christ Church in Lansing, while completing a Master’s degree at Northern Seminary. The first resident will begin in 2019, followed by two others in 2020 and 2021 respectively. ABC of Michigan will provide housing for the residents.

JOIN US FOR A NORTHERN SEMINARY TRIP TO ISRAEL

FEBRUARY 5-16, 2020
HOSTED BY SCOT MCKNIGHT AND BILL SHIELL
Deadline for deposit to secure your spot is March 15

REGISTER NOW FOR A WEBINAR ON MULTIETHNIC CHURCH LEADERSHIP

MARCH 5TH | 11AM CT
WITH DERWIN GRAY AND MARK DEYMAZ
Join Derwin Gray and Mark DeYmaz as they talk about the theological vision for multiethnic church and their experiences building and sustaining multiethnic congregations.
Derwin and Mark both pastor multiethnic churches and are prominent leaders shaping the future of the church. They will be sharing from years of experience in leading local congregations and teaching other pastors. Join our webinar to hear stories of creative ministry in multiethnic contexts and to learn vital principles and practices for how to think biblically and theologically about multiethnic ministry.

NEW PODCASTS AVAILABLE FROM SCOT MCKNIGHT AND DAVID FITCH

Listen to and learn from the latest Theology on Mission podcast as Dr. Fitch discusses his forthcoming book Us vs. Them.

Listen to and learn from the Kingdom Roots Podcast as Dr. McKnight discusses Paul and Palestinian Judaism.

NORTHERN RECEIVES $75,000 CHALLENGE GRANT FOR THE GREATER CINCINNATI CENTER

Thanks to an anonymous donor, we have a received a matching challenge grant to grow the Greater Cincinnati Center in Fairfield, OH. Please join me as we match this gift and meet the challenge.
Have a blessed week!

Your friend,

William D. Shiell
President, Northern Seminary

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