The first SDB Bi-Vocational Preaching Cohort gathered at the SDB Center in Janesville, WI over the weekend of November 21 – 23. Ten SDB churches and church plants were represented among the participants who honed their faith communication skills through presentations, discussions, and small group activities led by Pastor Matthew Olson (Berlin SDB, NY).
Quotes from preachers participating in the weekend highlight the importance of this cohort:
The biggest blessing I found by participating in the cohort was in connecting with other pastors and preachers in similar positions as me. It can be difficult to relate to ministers who are in a full-time vocational capacity, so meeting with others who are part of a team with full-time marketplace jobs to balance was refreshing and enlightening. I felt encouraged and challenged in pursuing the Lord’s calling on my life through the stories of others God is using in similar ways.
Ministry can be hard. Living outside of a more connected town of SDBs or just feeling like you are remote, in the dark, and asking who could understand is more typical than wanted. This weekend has been an encouragement in connections. It also grated time to dive into process for honing skills, which are vital for impactful preaching.
Pastor Matt did a wonderful Job of leading us through with grace and patience . . . There were so many good takeaways from this weekend. Noteworthy was the emphasis on the use of illustrations, as well as building scriptures for six months for sermon preparations. However, it was the Lectio Divina exercise that broke me and brought me to tears.
Overview
The weekend focused on areas that are of specific interest to bi-vocational preachers—people engaged in the marketplace of vocational work throughout the week while also preparing sermons and lessons for Sabbath Day. Sessions focused on: planning methods for sermon series across an extended period of time, utilizing compelling sermon illustrations, and immersing sermon preparation in prayer that includes intercession for the hearers of the sermon.
Over the course of the sessions and meals, 17 people participated in this inaugural endeavor. Thanks to the renovations at the SDB Center, we were able to host in-person while also having interactive sessions with 4 of the participants who joined via digital meeting technology. The gathering of a number of SDBs who are starting to lean into their skills and gifts as preachers was certainly an encouraging weekend for SDB Director John Pethtel and I!
The weekend was possible thanks to initial grant funding from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and the Lilly Foundation through the Vital Worship and Vital Preaching initiative, and sustaining support from the SDB Memorial Fund.
