Denver Seminary

September 30, 2024 | Drs. Kristen Kansiewicz and Michell Temple

What factors contribute to pastoral stress, and how can pastors and their spouses maintain well-being and resilience? How do they find meaning and purpose in ministry despite stress, and what role do spiritual and practical coping strategies play? How can they set boundaries, preserve their identities, and build healthy relationships within and outside their congregations to thrive?

Drs. Kristen Kansiewicz (assistant professor of counseling and program director of the graduate counseling program at Evangel University) and Michell Temple (the Dr. Vernon C. Grounds endowed chair of Christian counseling at Denver Seminary) explore these questions, emphasizing the need for friendships, trust, open communication, and seeking support to sustain long-term health in ministry.

September 9, 2024 | Luke Perkins

“When we’re involved with the developing world, elements of control and credit [can] cloud things and make them complicated. In God’s economy, He ought to be the one getting the credit. I don’t need credit. He can get the credit. . . If we can get to a place where we can set that aside. . . good things could happen.”

In this conversation about Haiti and some of the the complex challenges the country is facing, Crossworld President Luke Perkins shares insights into the impact of foreign aid that isn’t contextualized to the culture it’s serving. He also shares about Crossworld’s different approach to missions, which involves sending working professionals to unreached people groups around the world, emphasizing the need for disciple-making in regions with little access to the gospel. As he reflects on the changing dynamics of global missions, Luke highlights the opportunities and challenges for the Western church and the importance of rethinking the traditional roles of “senders” and “goers” in cross-cultural ministry.

Learn more about Denver Seminary’s partnership with Crossworld here.

"When we're involved with the developing world, elements of control and credit [can] cloud things and make them complicated. In God's economy, He ought to be the one getting the credit. I don't need credit. He can get the credit. .…
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"When we look out across the world right now, 3. 4 billion people live in unreached people groups, with less than 2%, of folks who would call themselves devoted followers of Jesus, and that number is growing. Out of those 3. 4…
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"Twelve years ago, Crossworld did some reshaping of its vision and mission to bring disciple making into center focus in terms of our strategy, which brought us into a place where we coud begin to leverage people from all…
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August 26, 2024 | Drs. Mark Young and Patty Pell

“Having difficult conversations about the social issues around us is part of the bigger conversation of the mission of the Church connected to the mission of God. And if we’re a part of that, part of the mission of God and the flourishing of others, then we have to be involved in the conversations about how to make that possible for more people.”

How can Christians engage in conversations about challenging topics in ways that are compassionate, compelling, and credible? Drs. Patty Pell – assistant professor of Theology, Justice, and Social Advocacy and executive director of The Gospel Initiative – and Mark Young – president of Denver Seminary – discuss the importance of listening to and learning from those with differing views, emphasizing the need to let go of certainty as we engage in these conversations. They also highlight the The Gospel Initiative and the resources it provides for those navigating these complex topics.

"It's important to be in the conversation because these conversations are about our common life together. And even though we are people of faith, that doesn't mean that we don't participate in the common life. And so engaging…
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"We often hear distinctions made between stance and posture. The idea is if you take a stance, you have a position, you have a truth that you're going to voice, and sometimes you're going to voice it, you're going to state it,…
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"We want our posture to be one that says, "I want to hear your point of view while I continue to explain my point of view so that we can understand each other." One of the challenges is that we tend to dehumanize issues. We want to…
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"What I think we want to do is first understand what different the points of view in these divisive issues actually mean and how they are being framed. But the end of it all is that we as a community of Jesus testifiers create the…
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August 12, 2024 | Kaitlyn Schiess

“The most fruitful conversations about politics and the church in my own experience [have been] when we are on week six of a Bible study, and we have been able to see that [the people in this group] care deeply about scripture, and that we are trying to discover together what God is saying to God’s people, and whoa, there it is. There’s a verse that applies to our political life, or provokes a question, or makes us think deeper about something. And the trust that you’ve built. . . offers so many more fruitful possibilities for figuring out how we should live in our political life.”

Kaitlyn Schiess, a doctoral student at Duke Divinity School, cohost of The Holy Post podcast, host of the Curiously, Kaitlyn podcast, and author of The Ballot and the Bible: How Scripture Has Been Used and Abused in American Politics and Where We Go from Here, explores the significance of approaching Bible-based political conversations with curiosity and discernment rather than confrontation, to foster deeper understanding and connections. She also emphasizes the importance of context in exploring Christian political theology and urges Christians to read larger passages to grasp the broader biblical narrative as they shape their beliefs.

"I have found the most fruitful conversations about politics in the church in my own experience working in the church, when we are on week six of a Bible study, and we have been able to see that it is true of the people in this…
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"In the midst of all of the misuses, which are just heartbreaking sometimes, especially, there's a whole chapter on civil war and antebellum era and the misuse of scripture to harm people's lives, to justify the enslavement and…
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"Hopefully doing that in community saying, 'I want my posture to be one of curiosity and I need other people who are willing to be curious with me,' then, like you said, leads to curiosity about each other. A lot of the folks that…
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"There are places in Scripture that we don't think of as politically relevant texts that nevertheless should be shaping our public life. Christianity has great gifts to our public life that include things, like how Scripture…
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July 29, 2024 | Drs. Ross Chapman and Ryan Tafilowski

“The Bible uses the word ‘vocation’ to call people into union and communion with Jesus Christ, and to call them to be a particular kind of person before they are ever called to do a particular thing. . . For anyone who is in Christ, that is their primary calling. And you can be conformed to the image of Jesus, even if, and perhaps especially if, you’re in work that you don’t find personally satisfying or fulfilling.”

In this discussion around the book Faithful Work: In the Daily Grind with God and for Others, coauthors Drs. Ross Chapman (CEO of the Denver Institute for Faith & Work) and Ryan Tafilowski (chair of the Theology Department, Assistant Professor of Theology, and lead pastor of Foothills Fellowship Church) explore the intersection of faith and vocation. They discuss how a biblical view of vocation is about being in communion with Jesus Christ rather than simply following a career path. Ross and Ryan also emphasize the importance of balancing work and rest, aligning with God’s example of creation. Additionally, they delve into the opportunities and challenges of living out one’s faith in the modern workplace.

"God is reconciling all things to himself through the work of ordinary people working their ordinary jobs. . . God can use most any kind of work to achieve his purposes in the world. . . what does the call of discipleship mean if…
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"God loves work. God loves the thing that I do. I can direct this somehow towards His purposes in the world. I can bring the sacred into the ordinary by doing my work with competence, with love, with compassion, with great care."…
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"God set out a vision for work and rest in the very beginning by himself being a worker, then taking the time to delight in his work. . . He took time to delight in the work that he called very good and good and rested. . . He was…
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"The Bible uses the word 'vocation' to call people into union and communion with Jesus Christ, and to call them to be a particular kind of person before they are ever called to do a particular thing. . . For anyone who is in Christ,…
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"If you have your identity and purpose firmly rooted in Christ and union with him, you can enter that rest right now. You can go to your job that is frenetic, that is crazy. . . with complete rest because you are safely in Christ. .…
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"God is using work to shape you. It is forming you. Is it forming you towards Christ or away from Christ? What can you implement in your own work rhythms that would help you look more and more like Jesus? And how is your workplace a…
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July 2, 2024 | Jami Nato

“[The Women’s Leadership Cohort at Denver Seminary] is changing the way I view God and the Bible. . . all these stories are connected, and are telling us something about God’s character.”

In this second episode of our series focusing on Denver Seminary’s Women’s Leadership Cohort (WLC), Jami Nato—author, entrepreneur, Instagram influencer, and student in the WLC—discusses her recent book, This Must Be the Place: Following the Breadcrumbs of Your Past to Discover Your Purpose Today, and the importance of reflecting upon your past to understand where you are now. She also shares about the importance of empathy and resilience, what the process of writing the book was like, and the profound impact being in the Women’s Leadership Cohort has had on her understanding of God and His Word.

Engaging in conversations and education around race can be crucial for our witness to the Kingdom. Rev. John Moreland, director of Denver Seminary’s Black Church Programs, explores the opportunity for Christians to engage in racial reconciliation to pave the way for connection and change.

"[Racial reconciliation] is us as humans, entering into each other's story for no other reason other than I love you and I want to be in a meaningful relationship with you." Rev. John Moreland, Engage360 | Engaging in Racial…
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"It begins at the individual level…at coffee shops and kitchen tables with people sitting downwith people who are not like them, like Jesus did, and embodying that principle of Emmanuel – entering into the space with one another,…
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"We have to look at everything critically, and we have to be willing to change the things that don't contribute positively to the direction that we all say we want to go." Rev. John Moreland, Engage360 | Engaging in Racial…
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June 3, 2024 | Chaplain Gwen Hanna and Dr. Mark Danielson

“God has used horses in some amazing ways to bring. . . healing, connection, attunement, regulation, joy, and peace. There is a redemptive presence when a child and a horse come together. . . In places where there is no hope, we’ve seen hope rise. And that’s a beautiful thing.”

Chaplain Gwen Hanna—chaplain at Car-ynne4kids and MA Counseling Ministries alumna—and Dr. Mark Danielson—executive director at Grace Children’s Home and adjunct faculty at Denver Seminary—delve into the transformative power of equine therapy for those facing trauma or other challenges, emphasizing the importance of involving families in the healing process. They also discuss the integration of their faith in their work, recognizing God’s presence in the healing journey, and the joy and trust that can come from spending time with horses.

"God has used horses in some amazing ways to bring. . . healing, connection, attunement, regulation, joy, and peace. There is a redemptive presence when a child and a horse come together. . . In places where there is no hope, we've…
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May 20, 2024 | Dr. Angie Ward

“We lead out of who we are. . . not just what we do.”

In this first part of our series on leadership, Dr. Angie Ward—director of the Doctor of Ministry program, associate professor of Leadership and Ministry, and author of Uncharted Leadership: 20 Case Studies to Help Ministry Leaders Adapt to Uncertainty—discusses the lifelong journey of being a leader, emphasizing the importance of getting on the “balcony” to gain perspective, identifying challenges, and engaging with others for input and collaboration to foster hope and positive change in complex situations.

“Maintaining disciplined attention is related to being able to manage tension. If you can't sit with that tension, you're going to constantly be [looking for] a release valve.” – Dr. Angie Ward; Engage360 Episode 139 | Adaptive…
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“This is not just about a singular, sole hero. This is us doing the work together.” – Dr. Tim Koller; Engage360 Episode 139 | Adaptive Leadership: Finding Perspective and Embracing Change
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“We lead out of who we are. . . not just what we do." – Dr. Angie Ward; Engage360 Episode 139 | Adaptive Leadership: Finding Perspective and Embracing Change
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May 6, 2024 | Kelly Minter

Reflecting on her experiences in life and ministry, Kelly Minter—author, musician, Bible teacher, and MA Biblical and Theological Studies student—examines the importance of being in community as we pursue God, both to grow our perspectives and to be encouragement to one another. She also discusses the importance of resilience in following God’s leading, and His faithfulness through the ups and downs of life.

"It’s not the circumstance that does the refining; the Lord does the refining. But I think if we cooperate with Him in those hard, disappointing moments, He does sanctify us. I think it's made me a more gracious person. And I hope I…
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"It has been awesome to see each journey not be a dead end. . . It's like rivers flowing into a bigger body of water, that flows into a different body of water. It might change, but nothing's wasted." Kelly Minter, Engage360 episode…
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