Things to Know (July)
A monthly newsletter for Chicagoland Baptists
Have you ever thought about pursuing a Doctor of Ministry? When Alana and I were interceding around the city with Cheryl Dorsey on the Prayer Bus this spring, one of the pastors we visited had a lengthy conversation with me about the possibility of pursuing this degree himself. While I cannot speak for every DMIN program in the SBC, I do have experience as a candidate, as a graduate, and now as an adjunct professor in the department at Gateway Seminary. I can honestly say that pursuing this degree became one of the most pivotal points not only in my ministry, but also on my personal spiritual journey. While academics clearly is not something everyone enjoys, if you are a pastor or vocational minister of any kind, and have already completed your MDIV, the terminal DMIN degree is certainly worth the time, effort, and expense.
One thing you should know about a DMIN is that the seminars are accomplished through distance learning. This is both a combination of some online/Zoom courses and some travel for a couple of weeks at a time to the main campus. Assignments and readings are mainly accomplished beforehand, and a research paper you write afterwards serves as the final exam for the longer seminars. Those core seminars include learning more about leadership, spiritual formation, and personal relationships in ministry.
Another thing you should know is that the ministry project you choose to research and then implement is supposed to consider a real need in your actual setting. The process of the project is one that is designed to be repeated when facing additional ministry needs in the future. This includes working through a Theological Rationale, considering various Theoretical Presuppositions, setting clear objectives, planning a useful methodology, engaging in actual implementation, and completing a thorough evaluation afterwards. I personally continue to find this pattern useful in our ministry at C3.
Finally, one of the most vital aspects of Gateway’s version of the DMIN is the 360-degree evaluation they do of your ministry through their eight credit-hour DM410. Through interactions with a field mentor, ministry action contact verbatims, a lay consultation committee in your ministry, and a peer support group you will intentionally develop further not only your ministry skills, but also focus on personal spiritual growth. This likely will prove to be a great blessing not only for those in your church, but also for yourself, your family, and your friends.
If you are interested in considering a Doctorate of Ministry, I would be happy to talk with you more about Gateway’s program, or you can check out their website yourself and let me know if you have any questions. May Jesus bless you however you continue to grow your competency in the ministry God has called you to serve here in Chicagoland.
Here is somewhere to know about – Lakeview
Just north of downtown, home of the best baseball team in the world, is the center-city neighborhood of Lakeview. This Chicago neighborhood right on Lake Michigan was founded by immigrants from Luxembourg, populated by immigrants from Sweden, and grown post-war by people from Appalachia. This one square mile of the city has over 80,000 residents, but many more who work and play here. This neighborhood is rather affluent, very well educated, and quite diverse. The majority of the people here are young millennials / older generation Z.
The strategic impact of this neighborhood far outweighs even its dense population.
The massive Brown/Purple/Red Line hub for the “L” and DuSable Lakeshore Drive easily bring the whole region to this community. Not only athletic teams, but comedians, theaters, bands, and other artists have impacted the entire country from this place. In neighborhoods like this the aggrandized and the marginalized negotiate what will be America’s culture.
Two Penningtons and Two Carters serving at the Belmont Shefield Music Festival
The community is postmodern in its philosophy, post-Christian in its religious outlook, and thoroughly infused with many of the morally worst aspects of western society. While crime and violence has increased in the neighborhood, the major problems are still spiritual and moral, of which the 1,000,000-person annual Pride Parade is a clear symptom. Few Christians, and even fewer evangelicals, represent Jesus here in this place. The spiritual warfare here is often palpable and obvious.
Would you join us in praying for this very spiritually dark Chicago neighborhood? John Fuder led a project a few years ago that developed videos praying for all 77 neighborhoods of the city. Because of C3’s ministry in the neighborhood, he asked me to voice the prayer for this community. Here is a link to the prayer I prayed.
Here are some events to know about –
Weekly Prayer Calls every Wednesday from 9:00 to 9:30 AM.
Monthly Discussions on the first Wednesday of the month from 9:00 to 10:00 AM.
Upcoming Pastors’ Lunches for fellowship:
The monthly Women’s Hangout is CANCELED FOR JULY
We’re hosting the Minister’s Wives & Widows Luncheon at the Garfield Park Conservatory on 9/27. Brenda Croston is the speaker. Registration is now open here.
The annual All Church Equipping Conference (ACEC) put on by our African American Pastors Fellowship is 10/17-18 at Hillcrest. Jeff Iorg is the keynote speaker. Mark your calendars.
Send Network is having a One Day Gathering on 10/29 at Cityline Bible Church in Niles. To register, click here.
The Chicagoland Baptists Annual Meeting is on 11/15 from 10:00 AM to noon at the Torrey-Gray Auditorium on the campus of Moody Bible Institute. We want you to bring a bunch of people from your church and make it a city-wide celebration.
Here is a book worth knowing about –
The Other Half of Church
Jim Wilder has become a dear personal friend and mentor of mine. His perspective on the intersection between ministry, counseling, and neurology is both fascinating and highly practical.
This book he wrote with a pastor named Michael Hendricks is a beautiful discussion of including often ignored aspects in our ministries. This book will help you learn how to include relational joy, attachment love, and group identity in your church. It also will help you navigate including healthy correction, and even discuss how to combat that horrible “Relational Infection” known as narcissism.
This book is well worth the time it takes to read and even includes discussion questions and surveys if you want to take your staff or church leaders through this material together. Learn how to fully engage the other half of your brains to beneficially activate “The Other Half of Church.”
Following Jesus,
Dr. Jon R. Pennington
Chair of the Administrative Council, Chicagoland Baptists
Adjunct Professor of Research Methodology, Gateway Seminary
Coordinating Pastor, Chicagoland Community Church (C3)
836 W Aldine, Chicago, IL 60657
www.chicagolandcc.org
773.213.4858 | jon@chicagolandcc.org
You can see a map of all the member churches of Chicagoland Baptists here.
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The mission of Chicagoland Baptists is to facilitate relationships among the Baptist churches of this Great City so that they can more effectively fulfill the Great Commission.