Ministry Mentors®

Advent 2008

Regional Clusters

Illinois

Dr. Arthur A. R. Nelson, Leader
   Rev. Richard Bergstrom

Rev. Jo Ann Deasy

Rev. Marc Eix

Rev. Herbert Hedstrom

Dr. Everett Jackson

Rev. José La Luz

Rev. Virgil A. Robinson, Jr., Leader

Dr. Gessel Berry, Jr.
Rev. Sarah Sarchet Butter

Rev. Sheri Delvin

Rev. Peter J. Hawkinson

Dr. Emery Percell

Dr. Kirk Reed

Dr. James E. Roghair
 

 Thomas Ventura, Leader

Dr. Donald Dempsey
Dr. Jeffrey Dire

Rev. Howard Roberts

Rev. Kristina Weber
Rev. Kory Wilcoxson

Dr. D. Darrell Griffin, Leader 
 

Colorado

Dr. Ralph D. Anderson, Leader

Dr. John Bengston

Rev. Philip N. Erlander

Rev. Jerry Jordan            

Rev. Hank Maertens

Rev. Linda Patzke

Rev. Kenneth C. Stenman

Dr. Rodney Schofield, Consultant

Florida

Dr. Frank S. Lee, Leader

Rev. Michael Basden

Dr. Ronald M. Patterson 

Dr. Ted Sauter
Rev. Steve Wigdahl

North Carolina

Rev. Linda Foster Momsen, Leader

Rev. Joseph Harvard
Rev. John Singletary       

Rev. Ruth Harper Stevens

Dr. Gates Vrooman

Wisconsin

Dr. Richard H. Jones, Leader

Rev. Bruce Bartel
Rev. Charles Bauer-King
Rev. Nancy Bauer-King

Rev. David Busker

Rev. Frank Gaylord

Rev. Robert Kenas        

Rev. Lynn Kollath
Rev. Skip Meracle
Rev. David Werner

Preparing for Christmas

During this season pastors help their congregations remember that we are preparing for the coming of Jesus Christ, not only as we reflect on his coming 2,000 years ago, nor as we speculate about his coming again in a time known only to God.  We are preparing for Christ’s coming daily into our hearts and lives. 

But who helps the pastor prepare?  Pastors may have positive or negative remembrances of their own busy-ness that threatens to crowd out their own (and perhaps their family’s) spiritual preparation.  Ministry Mentors is concerned about all aspects of the pastoral life, including personal and family spiritual growth. 

Advent is a “welcome home” time as God welcomes us to our true selves by reminding us that we belong to God, and that no matter what our personal circumstance, God is with us – Emmanuel.

I worshiped recently at a congregation where I am mentoring the pastor and was delighted by the warm genuine welcome that I received. Remembering a poster that I used to see at my dental hygienist’s office, I see a parallel that can be applied to churches as they seek to become more effective welcoming agents of Our Lord.  The sign read easily from the dental chair stated: “You only have to floss the teeth that you want to keep.”  Perhaps pastors should have signs posted at their churches: “You only have to welcome the people that you want to return.”

It takes effort to reach out to others.  It takes effort to reach inward to feed our own spiritual life.  You only have to feed the life that you want to nurture and grow.  Advent is a time to reach in both directions, making the present moment holy, and discovering that we are being welcomed by the Lord who is always both coming and already here.

Blessings to you this holy season.

In the Name of Emmanuel,

Don Fagerberg
President, Ministry Mentors 

To find out more, please visit us at: www.ministrymentors.org

Or contact us at: info@ministrymentors.org

©Ministry Mentors, December 2008