Unit 10 Discussion

[randyturpin]

After working through the other Unit 10 assignments, complete the following exercise:

Share one or two insights that you gained from the synopsis writing exercise that seemed especially important to you.

[Emily Hall]

After finishing the synopsis writing exercise I learned several valuable insights about myself.  The positive insights I gained are the ability to lead others and stay on top of things.  The negative insights I gained about myself are I like to micromanage tasks and tell others what to do.  Both the positive and negative aspects have made me more self-aware about my characteristics.  Now that I realize these things I can work hard to improve the weaknesses and put myself in positions where I can utilize my strengths.    

[April Gause]

I felt the same way.  I think these are a great tool that I also hope to employ at some point to help direct others within my scope of ministry.

[Daniel Oscar]

Reflecting on this course I can affirm that it really complies fully with its description on a strong Pentecostal foundation. While I was working the tasks, they also were worked on me to.

On the one hand, the course made me perform an introspective look at my own being, considering where God rescued me, how he has been dealing in my life, using all circumstances to give me experiences and maturity for the ministry. God has been walking with me in a trajectory of personal history that integrates familiar, academic, religious, social and ministerial experiences.

Through this path I could discover my abilities, skills and opportunities; recognizing simultaneously my limitations and threats that are presented to me in my own context. I understand in a more clearly way about my call and my responses as Pentecostal minister I have to give in my environment to contribute more with a culture in which God should be glorified.

On the other hand, the course led me to launch a perspective look to the future, a future in the power of the Spirit and Pentecost. So since this moment the seminary is already a meaningful experience for my life and ministry. The footprints of this program will be indelible in me. Its impact will be felt in the environments in which I will be involved. I praise God for his mercy in calling on Ministry. I thank Him for the establishment of the GOGTS to accompany me and empower to serve better.

Daniel Oscar

[Pastor B]

Dear Class

The most significant insights I gained from the synopsis of assessments were discovered while completing the “Discerning Your Ministry / Vocational Context” form. While completing this form, I seriously evaluated my goals for seminary. It forced me to truly conceder why I wanted this degree. Was it just for the sheep’s skin at the end or was it for a ministerial purpose? By grappling with these questions, I was able to settle the question once and for all. I will finish seminary and the results of this effort will impact the Kingdom of God. So, in the midnight hour, when I don’t want to continue, I’ll simply refer back to the answers to these questions and press on. The second insight concerned my specific educational goals within the MDiv program. How should I tailor my education for the best possible results in ministry? By completing this assessment, I feel I have a pretty good idea of what I want to learn during this journey and I’ll actually looking forward to taking each class. I have thoroughly enjoyed the Research and Writing and History of Christian Thought courses and thank God I’ve done very well in each.

Brian Shepard

[pastormoore]

I suppose the part that I learned that I was most intrigued with was that in my synopsis I learned that I truly love people and want to be a helper to them. The part I do not like about myself that I learned is I just enjoy the moment around me. I do not look at the future. I tend to plan for the moment. As a pastor I really need to be a visionary. I suppose now I know why the Lord gave me my wife. She helps me in my short comings and strengthens the part of me that I am weak in.
Stephen Moore

[Emily Hall]

Isn't it great the way the Lord sends people to help us out.

[Emily Hall]

Paster B

I think it is wonderful that these assessments have encouraged you to continue your course of study.  It is very easy to get distracted and discouraged.  

[SunnyE]

I love how you said, "While I was working the tasks, they also were worked on me."  I can say that I felt the same way.  It started out as my just sitting down to complete an assignment, but during the course of it I could feel God working and stirring things inside of me!  I hope you continue to be inspired about the future and I pray that God blesses you, your family, and this time that you have set aside devote to studying.

God bless!

Sabrina "Sunny" Evans

[SunnyE]

As I looked back over these assessments, in light of this first semester in seminary, I realized how much more specific some of goals were compared to what I wrote on the original questionnaire in the beginning.  Even then I had some hopes about my time in seminary, but the goals were more vague.  I listed "counseling skills" on that one, but during the writing of this assignment I was able to list several "specific" counseling skills I wanted to acquire and how they relate to my vocational goals!  It is exciting to see how things are coming together and I am certain that my vision will continue to be "honed"  ---- which is a great word that April used to describe this process!

[stev]

For me the initial assessment served more as a reflection of the past years ministry, while the Learning Type Measure was more informative in revealing my personality.  I found the result of the Learning Type Measure to be very interesting and intriguing. The scores results showed me that I have multiple profiles. My high scores tied, I scored the same for Imaginative learner as I did for Common Sense Learner. My second scores also tied, I scored the same for Analytic Learner as I did for Dynamic Learner.  I was really fascinated by the result, because is revealed very much to me the outcome of my life. I grew up living in different places under different circumstances and various situations which taught me adaptability.  For me that ability is a strength that enables me to be like Paul the Apostle who said “to be all things to all people.”  The Learning Type Measure also scored me high in liking school, valuing time, creative, artistic and social. Being made more aware of these positives characteristics help me to define and maximize my ministry endeavors in this setting.

[stev]

Daniel, first let me say how much I am thankful for the holidays. I agree the Lord is the one who orders our steps, and lead us through different circumstances and situation that prepare us to be better ambassadors of His kingdom. On the other hand he expects us to intentional in made ourselves as best prepared as we can. Great post!  

[stev]

I agree with your statement about making a greater impact for the kingdom of God. There are days when time management is also a big challenge for me but God has sustained and will see us all the way through so we press on to the end.

[Jason Sharpe]

There have been many things through this course that has caused me to stop and think about how I act and react towards situations as well as assignments.  I definitely know that I am one that likes to think outside the box, but even in doing that I can complete the task at hand.  I like to hear and discuss ideas with others because I know there are always other information and other ways to attack a project or assignment.  In my ministry, I have found that I do however like things to be structured and ordered as well as having one foot outside of the norm.  I believe it is this balance that has kept me moving forward.  I think that if always have to have things in black and white, then we may miss some valuable information, or in the line or work we deal with, people, we may miss the opportunity to fully meet the needs of all people.  It is our call to reach the lost and we must take every opportunity to do this.  We must not be stuck just on what works for us, but we must use the abilities God has given each of us and use that to help better the kingdom.  For me being disciplined and organized, along with looking at the broader view of things, or should I say the grey areas or colored areas some tend to forget about will allow me to continue working for the Lord.  Although I have wondered about many of these assessments who I really am, I find comfort that I can fit into almost any model with relative of ease.  Lord I still pray that you expand my horizons even yet.

[Jason Sharpe]

Brian,

I totally agree with you.  Many of these tests have caused me to truly evaluate my life and my specific purpose as it relates to the seminary.  I know that there are going to things that will come up that I will not understand, and I'm sure that I will fill like not completing it many times.  But I know whom I serve and know why I am doing this.  Not just for a piece of paper, but for the knowledge that comes with it and the rewards that will come from it.  Seeing people come into the kingdom or getting the opportunity to council  or share with them because of something I learned, then what a reward.  Thanks for sharing.  

Jason  

[Rhonda Kinches]

One of the most important insights I gained by the exercise was realizing that assessing and reflecting on my strengths and weaknesses was actually an answer to prayer.  It's as if God and I are focusing on specific areas of my life that need to be transformed in order to fulfill my desire for effective full time ministry.  

I confess; I was a little irritated at the thought of once again having to spend time reviewing the results of my assessments for this assignment.   But by the time I finished the writing assignment, I discovered something!  The MADCF degree is not my ultimate goal; I knew this in part from the beginning.  What I didn’t know was really how specific my goals for this journey need to be.  The hours spent completing these assessments and reflecting on the outcomes has resulted in a detailed list of areas of my life that if not altered, will make the degree itself less effective!  
         
And for me, that journey is right now.  I don’t have to wait until graduation day for God to use me.  My prayer is, “Lord use me, while you prepare me.”  Surely that is scriptural!  
I will keep my list of goals before me until one by one I see God transform my weaknesses to strength for His glory.

[Rhonda Kinches]

Pastor B,

I agree that these exercises have resulted for me, in a more detailed list of objectives that I am desiring from this experience.  It's almost as if I can sense my focus shifting from the grades and the degree, to the more complete work I am desiring God to do in my life in preparation for full time ministry.  

Rhonda K.

[Rhonda Kinches]

Jason,

I do agree with your comment about "not being stuck on what works for me."  The section on Learning Styles expanded my view about teaching in a way that will hopefully engage everyone; not just those who assimilate information the same way I do.  

Rhonda K.

[Rhonda Kinches]

Sunny,

I felt the same way after this exercise.  I realized my goals have become very specific and my focus has shifted some from the academic achievements, to the personal achievements.  

Rhonda K.

[Alex Madincea]

         Undoubtedly, the information offered me through this course made clear in my mind certain things that I consider to be essential in the ministry God called me to be part of. These are things such as: week and strong points, fears and personal needs, specific and general purposes for which I follow this master program, personal abilities and ministerial gifts etc.
        The great advantage offered me by this course is the fact that it has "forced" me to remain still and to offer to my self a deep time of reflection. The fact that I had to question myself and to look for answers, the fact that I had to make a real introspection of my life wasn't quite easy for me considering the rapid rhythm of this world in which we are living, but it was more than necessary the spiritual stopover that this course brought me. In all this time God spoke to me a wonderful  thing from Scripture; in Galatians 6:9 Apostle Paul warns and advice  us: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will  reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
        I understood that in order not to become exhausted (burnout) it is necessary from  to time to time to stop towards yourself for introspection, for  redefining, for restoring life priorities, in a word, to assure my self that I understand well and clear God purpose for my life.

Alex-Sebastian Madincea