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Thriving as a Single Person in Ministry

Churches large and small across the world and in every denomination have rising numbers of single people on their leadership staff. This book presents a research-based perspective on the joys, opportunities, and challenges of being single in vocational ministry. Through extensive interviews and focus groups, the authors present both a practical application and a positive message for those serving God as single clergy or pastoral leaders.

Paperback, Hardcover, eBook 166 Rowman & Littlefield Publishers 2021 ,
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Meet The Author

Kevin Lawson

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Children’s Spirituality, Second Edition

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The Society of Children’s Spirituality: Christian Perspectives launched in 2003 with its first conference held at Concordia University Chicago, in River Forest, Illinois. An earlier edition of this book, composed of chapters based on presentations from that conference, was published in 2004. In 2018 a decision was made to revise this book from the inaugural conference, updating some chapters and providing a new perspective on the ongoing work of the organization, now called the Children’s Spirituality Summit. What this revised volume provides is a collection of chapters offering theological perspectives, social science research, and insights on ministry practice about the spiritual lives of children: how they relate to God, how this relationship grows, and what helps in promoting the spiritual formation and vitality of children in the home, church, and school.

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Nurturing Child and Adolescent Spirituality: Perspectives from the World’s Religious Traditions

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Nurturing Child and Adolescent Spirituality: Perspectives from the World’s Religious Traditions provides a forum for prominent religious scholars to examine the state of religious knowledge and theological reflection on spiritual development in childhood and adolescence. Featuring essays from thinkers representing the world’s major religious traditions, the book introduces new voices, challenges assumptions, raises new questions, and broadens the base of knowledge and investment in this important domain of life. It specifically and intentionally focuses on theological and philosophical perspectives from within religious traditions, creating space for the religious traditions to find their voices.

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Understanding Children’s Spirituality

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How important is childhood in the spiritual formation of a person? How do children experience God in the context of their lives as they grow? What does God do in the lives of children to draw them to himself and help them grow into a vital relationship with him? How can adults who care about children better support their spiritual growth and direct it toward relationship with God through Jesus Christ? These are critical questions that church leaders face as they consider how best to nurture the faith of the children God brings into our lives. In this book, over two dozen Christian scholars and ministry leaders explore important issues about the spiritual life of children and ways parents, church leaders, and others who care about children can promote their spiritual formation.

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Handbook for Supervisors of Doctoral Students in Evangelical Theological Institutions

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Theological education is a vital aspect of Christian mission. The training of evangelical doctoral students in theological subject areas is therefore an important part of the mission of God. This handbook presents doctoral supervision as a task involving both academic and spiritual formation. Designed to be practical and relevant, and to encourage self-reflection at both individual and institutional levels, it combines theological foundations with educational theory accompanied by questions, exercises and case studies to develop doctoral-level skills. Central to the theme of this handbook is the promotion of excellence in academic training combined with a strong focus on the spiritual and pastoral dynamics of supervision – a combination that evangelical students desperately need from their supervisors.

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Infants and Children in the Church: Five Views on Theology and Ministry

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A congregation rejoices when a new child is added to its midst, yet the church often wrestles—in both theology and practice—with how to best receive and minister to infants and children entrusted to her care. Frequent questions arise like How are infants and children impacted by sin? How does God treat people who die in their infancy or childhood? When and how are children considered members of the church? When and how are children instructed in Christian doctrine? Infants and Children in the Church addresses these critical and sensitive questions from a variety of rich traditions, including Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Reformed, and Baptist, so that Christians can make the most of every opportunity as they minister to children.

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Feeding the Soul of the Bible Study Leader: 52 Devotionals

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This collection of 52 devotionals is for all who lead Bible study groups, whatever settings you are in, to encourage your own spiritual growth as you study the Scripture and lead your groups. This book grows out of nearly 50 years experience leading various kinds of Bible study groups and over 30 years of equipping others to teach the Bible in ways that promote spiritual growth and transformation. God wants to be our teacher, and I know from experience this can be difficult at times. These devotionals remind us of how God wants to work in our lives first so that we can encourage others on the same path of growth. Let God nurture your soul even as you seek to lead others in studying the Bible.

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Churches large and small across the world and in every denomination have rising numbers of single people on their leadership staff. This book presents a research-based perspective on the joys, opportunities, and challenges of being single in vocational ministry. Through extensive interviews and focus groups, the authors present both a practical application and a positive message for those serving God as single clergy or pastoral leaders.

Book Insights from Kevin Lawson

Dr. Jane Carr and I share a burden for supporting people in vocational ministry leadership roles. Some of my past research and writing focused on the needs of associate staff in ministry settings, and on those who supervise and support others in ministry staff positions. Coming out of that earlier work, we began to see a need to better understand the experiences of those who are single in ministry, and how to help them thrive in their service. This book, based on research with about 45 single ministry church staff members in various kinds of roles, is the first to focus on the needs of single ministry leaders, to listen to their experiences, and to offer ideas to help them maximize the opportunities and joys that being single can bring in ministry. The book also shares the common challenges that often come with being single on church staff, and offers ideas for addressing those challenges and navigating them well. Our hope is that through this book we can encourage and offer practical advice to those who serve on church staffs as single persons and help them find deep satisfaction in that service.

Editorial Reviews

Much more than a how-to book for singles in ministry, this is a profoundly personal book filled with stories portraying the joys and challenges that single persons face in ministry. A helpful resource for church leaders from a variety of denominational and theological perspectives.
Bruce Epperly, author of Process Theology: A Guide for the Perplexed and Become Fire: Guideposts for Interspiritual Pilgrims

Through careful listening and research, Kevin Lawson and Jane Carr open the doors of faith communities to more joyful and less lonely ministry for both male and female pastoral leaders.
Richard P. Olson, Distinguished Professor of Pastoral Theology, Retired, Central Baptist Theological Seminary, senior co-author, A Guide to Ministry Self-Care

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