We are excited to announce a new series of Ongoing Education Events for Pastors, designed to equip and inspire ministry leaders.
This series will be hosted in person on the NCU campus in Anderson Chapel and in various locations throughout the region, with recordings being made available afterwards online in an effort to make this resource accessible for pastors beyond our local community. Pastors are invited to first attend NCU’s Chapel that takes place from 10:50 a.m. – 11:40 a.m. The workshop, along with lunch follow directly afterwards until 1:30 p.m. We look forward to having you join us for these enriching experiences designed to enhance your ministry and support your ongoing education. Please register below so we can plan lunch accordingly.
Series Schedule
November 18: Bridging the Sacred and the Civic
Facilitator: Keisha Spivey
This workshop examines the role of church leadership in advancing community development and social transformation. Drawing on her expertise in both the nonprofit and faith-based sectors, Dr. Spivey explores strategies for identifying and addressing local needs, fostering civic engagement, and promoting constructive social change through responsible activism. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how congregational leadership can serve as a catalyst for sustainable community impact and collaborative partnerships that enhance the well-being of the broader society.
Previous Workshops
September 17: Preaching Workshop
Facilitator: Dr. Darnell Williams 
Dr. Williams delivered an engaging workshop that enhanced preaching skills and equipped pastors to communicate effectively in their ministry.
October 29: Pastoral Counseling Workshop
Facilitator: Dr. Andy Schuttinga
Dr. Schuttinga discussed some of the basics of how pastors can help parishioners with mental health needs and when it might be best to have someone else help instead. Additionally, Dr. Schuttinga pointed out how certain messaging from the pulpit can help and hinder those dealing with mental health issues.
November 19: HR and the Church
Facilitator: Neely Tamminga
Using the Trust Triangle to Assess and Advise in the Workplace. Broken trust is a common issue facing any organization and is more often than not the source of peer conflict. Fixing trust issues in the workplace requires a tailored assessment of self and others. Using the core elements of authenticity, logic, and empathy, we explored common situations that lead to broken trust and surprisingly simple solutions to rebuild trustworthiness in the workplace.
February 18th: The Formative Power of Christian Worship
Facilitator: Dr. Vinnie Zarletti 
Dr. Vinnie Zarletti shares his incredible wisdom and insight on “The Formative Power of Christian Worship: Why All Pastors Should Be Thinking About Worship as Often as Worship Leaders Do.” We are all looking for ways to disciple our people and make sure they are maturing in their faith. Dr. Zarletti will encourage us to not discount the incredible tool that worship is in spiritual formation and give us practical ways to utilize worship in the growth of our congregations.
March 11th: Women in Ministry
Facilitator: Allen Tennison
Dr. Tennison explains the theological support for women in ministry. He provides a biblical understanding of the role women play in the church and gives a theological foundation for a call to ministry.
April 15th: Trauma Informed Ministry (Recording Unavailable)
Facilitator: Pamela Beaudry
Professor Beaudry offers practical wisdom on how to lead and care for others whose lives have been impacted by traumatic events.
September 16: They Didn’t Teach Me That in Bible College
Facilitator: Dr. Adam Sikorski
Have you ever faced a situation in ministry and thought, “They didn’t teach me about this in Bible college?” This workshop explored the critical gap between theological education and real-world ministry challenges. Building on real world scenarios, we provided strategic insight into contemporary ministry challenges. The session incorporated case study analysis, peer group discussion, and practical skill building.
October 14: Trauma Informed Churches
Facilitator: Pamela Beaudry
For our first regional session of Pastors Ongoing Education—held in St. Cloud, MN—Professor Pamela Breit Beaudry returns for an encore of last year’s breakout session on trauma informed churches. In her seminar, Professor Beaudry offers a Scriptural framework for ministering to those who are suffering along with several definitions of trauma, and an exploration of how this can affect people in a variety of ways. Participants will walk away equipped with a set of practical strategies to care for hurting people in our churches and a list of resources for further study.
Other Events
The Urban Preaching Conference
Hosted by the Preaching Institute for City Transformation