As a professor of youth ministry that supervises interns and consults with churches as they hire personnel, churches often ask my advice about the appropriate salary for youth ministry personnel: Youth Pastor, Youth Director, Associate/Assistant Youth Director, Youth Ministry Intern, etc.
Are You Cultivating Your Church Or Fertilizing It? #SlowChurch
I don’t know any pastors or church leaders that want the ministry of their church to be a flash in the pan for the spiritual lives of disenfranchised sometimes church-goers. We all say that we want a ministry that lasts, even into eternity. But somehow many of us still resort to microwaving discipleship and producing worship services. [Read more…]
The Pilgrimage Is Like Life: Reversing the Metaphor
Our first day on pilgrimage we were greeted with a pretty significant hail storm.
It’s not uncommon among those that are versed in the life of a pilgrim to speak of life being like the pilgrimage. They note that living life requires navigating a path and going toward your life mission.
Medieval Christians would have said this in the reversed fashion. For Medieval Christians life is the pilgrimage, and the various place pilgrimages such as the Holy Land, Rome, or Camino de Santiago are just small samples of this much greater pilgrimage. No matter which direction you take your metaphor, you learn a great deal from becoming dependent upon your surroundings.
As we started our long awaited walk, it was already raining. But when you have travelled for this one purpose, you don’t decide not to walk just because the conditions are not ideal. So we set out through the rain and the mud that resulted. The walking was slower than expected, but there were enough moments of sunshine that we could soak in the beauty of the place that we were traversing. Even as it rained we walked past centuries old churches and monasteries, ate our first empanada con jamón y queso (ham and cheese pie), and strolled through countryside covered in wild flowers.
Just a few hours into our walk we decided to take our first real break in a very tiny village. As I said, it had been raining off and on most of the morning. But it was mostly sunny now. Just as Jen suggested that we start walking again, it started to rain lightly. We were glad to stay under the covered bus bench a bit longer as the rain would likely pass. Just a few moments later it began to hail very badly. We considered it quite a privilege to be covered and watching from a dry bench.
Today we learned that life (like pilgrimage) requires that you take what you are given if you are to pursue a mission. Living life aimlessly might allow you to “stay out of the rain.” But living life on purpose requires that you take the rough moments and the moments of provision with joy as you take another step toward your calling.
Related post: What is a Spiritual Pilgrimage?
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How to Start a Spiritual Pilgrimage
The biggest difference between tourism and spiritual pilgrimage is the intention and way of the pilgrim’s travel. That journey actually begins long before the pilgrim leaves his or her house.
[Read more…]
A Collection Of The Most Stunning #MyStealthyFreedom Pics
#MyStealthyFreedom is one of the most beautiful movements to ever hit social networking. I am first and foremost a Christian theologian. So my comments on these pictures are pretty humble, since I am so distant from the world of these women. But I will comment on two things briefly. [Read more…]
What is a Spiritual Pilgrimage?
Photo by Miguel Ángel García
Within Protestant Christian circles, interest in spiritual pilgrimage has grown significantly in recent years. For many years this practice had mostly been left to Catholic Christians. Protestants have always made journeys to the Holy Land or significant churches within their tradition. But now Protestants are beginning to rediscover the rich language and practice of pilgrimage that makes these trips significant opportunities for spiritual formation. [Read more…]
To A Student At Graduation Time: An Open Letter From The University Chaplain
Photo Courtesy of Hagerstown Community College
Dear Student,
You are leaving this place for new adventures and new responsibilities. Some of that is exciting and some of it is scary. Some of it is just unknown.
But you can be certain of one thing. The relationships that have been so meaningful for you while you have been here are about to change radically. [Read more…]
Dr. Jeremiah Gibbs 