Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Supervised Ministry Experience

In September, I started a Supervised Ministry Experience at Hesston Mennonite Church with Pastor John Murray. I have been meeting weekly with John to discuss Hesston Mennonite, church structure, and philosophies of ministry. It has been a very stimulating time, but always too short. Hesston Mennonite is a larger church than my home church of Chestnut Ridge Mennonite.

One requirement in choosing a church for SME is to choose one that is different than your home church experience. CRMC is a single staff rural church of about 80-90 attendees on a Sunday. It has a very close knit family feel, with a lot of multigenerational contact. I have appreciated the support and love that has been my experience there. CRMC is truly a unique and healthy church. HMC is a 4 person staff town church of about 350-400 attendees on a Sunday. It has a close knit feel if you get involved in a Sunday School class and/or small group circle. Multigenerational contact requires a bit more work on our part. HMC is a healthy mature church.

Churches all have their strengths and their issues. Hurts have happened and healing can and does take place. I am enjoying the unique place that we are in life. I am assuming that the freedoms, interactions, and experiences that we currently have will be all togethter different (but yet the same) as we move from this place to the next.

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