Liz Kirkland – Denver, Colorado … Thirteen new-in-ministry pastors joined together at the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) office with Mickey Mallory, RMC Ministerial director, and Craig Carr, Mid-America Union Conference (MAUC) Ministerial director, for the New in Ministry meeting, March 19-20.
These meetings have been held twice a year since 2022 with the purpose of equipping RMC pastors that are new in ministry with the skills for a life of ministry.
“The early years of a pastor’s ministry are very important,” commented Mallory. “Since it forms the foundation for the rest of their ministry, it is very important that we provide the tools they need to be successful in life and ministry.”
At these meetings, attendees look at one of the seven core qualities it takes to be an effective pastor as defined by the North American Division (NAD) Ministerial Association: character, evangelism, leadership, worship; management, scholarship, and relationship. The focus of this session explored the quality of interpersonal relationships. Mallory remarked, “For pastors to make a difference in their congregations and in their community, they need good people skills.”
When asked what these meetings meant to him, Lucas Lujan, head pastor at Colorado Springs South and Woodland Park Seventh-day Adventist Church in Colorado Springs and Woodland Park, Colorado, respectively, shared, “[It means] growth, nurturing, strengthening, and maturing. I enjoy the Godly fellowship and being able to worship.”
“For me, the biggest thing is realizing that I’m not alone,” remarked another participant of the meeting. “There are a lot of other people that are learning just like I am learning and growing in ministry. Being able to learn from their experience is my favorite part.”
—Liz Kirkland is the RMC Communication Assistant. Photos by Liz Kirkland.
