As the end of August approaches, we see that the need to recruit more students for the Ministry Training Institute is vital. Through the pandemic, we have continued to lose pastors to retirement and to the struggles of trying to be a pastor in our changing world. It is exciting to hear of emerging leaders stepping forward to take the leadership roles in our churches. One thing we must do is assure they are prepared to take those roles and our Ministry Training Institute is designed to provide that training and mentoring. It is important that you help us identify these emerging leaders and encourage them to prepare. We have worked hard at keeping the cost of the program affordable and there are many scholarships available to help these students move forward. Currently, a number of our students are receiving help from their home churches allowing them to participate while continuing to support their families and avoid going into debt.

This past week, I met with one of our superintendents and he spoke of a number of churches in his region who had lost their pastors and were looking for candidates to consider for their churches. It was hard for him to tell them that right now he had no names to give them. I believe that God will provide leaders, but we must be willing to send them forth to prepare and lead. This will allow new leaders to grow in our churches as maturing disciples just as God designed. I grew up in a small church that supported me as I matured and went off to Berkshire to prepare to be a pastor. Through the years I was blessed with a number of pastors and godly men who discipled me. I remember preparing for my first year at Berkshire and receiving word that someone had paid my first year’s tuition. That was a huge encouragement to me that I was on the path God had for me as he miraculously provided for my needs. How can we allow God to use us in the lives of those he has called to full-time Christian service?