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Whether you're seeking spiritual growth, fellowship or simply want to engage more with our ministry, there are opportunities for everyone.
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What we’re talking about this week
Every week we’ll ask a question to the community. We hope you’ll provide your thoughts and insights and engage with other lifelong learners on this journey of growth and development.
Recently, we completed our second Capstone project with some students who attend a Christian University. Their project was to assess the spiritual needs of Gen Z (those born between 1996 and 2010). We specifically asked these Gen Z students to do this work because they often don’t get a chance to research (speak for) themselves but lots of research is done on this particular generation.
Every week we’ll ask a question to the community. We hope you’ll provide your thoughts and insights and engage with other lifelong learners on this journey of growth and development.
Let’s dig into the evolving landscape of Children's Ministry, exploring innovative approaches to engage young minds beyond traditional crafts and pageants. It discusses the importance of integrating children into the wider church life through family worship and community events. In this post we highlight successful examples of churches engaging young people and the larger community.
Every week we’ll ask a question to the community. We hope you’ll provide your thoughts and insights and engage with other lifelong learners on this journey of growth and development.
From Guest Writer: Rev. Dr. Sarah Travis “A novice preacher recently remarked to me that they would benefit from more preaching courses. I responded, “So would I!” As a professor of preaching, I am aware that there is more to learn about preaching sermons than one can learn in a lifetime. “
We are getting closer to launching our first offerings on CHURCHx (our learning platform for Ministry Forum that joins an ecumenical community of lifelong learners that numbers over 5000). In anticipation of our launch in the coming months, we’d love for you to check out the platform itself - become a member and maybe even try out some of the offerings that are available already from various partners.
An overview of CHURCHx, an online learning platform built to support mission and ministry.
Every week we’ll ask a question to the community. We hope you’ll provide your thoughts and insights and engage with other lifelong learners on this journey of growth and development.
Part of our work at Ministry Forum is to bring your attention to the heaping smorgasbord of content and learning opportunities out there in the vast ocean of continuing education… with that goal in mind, we invite you to check out some recommendations passed along by our Ministry Forum community…
In this post we’re offering you some searchable sites to find a practitioner that might be a helpful companion for you as you serve in ministry. I’ve always said that sometimes we need to pay someone to focus on listening to us when we spend so much of our time and energy listening to everyone else. It is an invaluable investment in ourselves.
Every week we’ll ask a question to the community. We hope you’ll provide your thoughts and insights and engage with other lifelong learners on this journey of growth and development.
One finding that fascinated me - and connects with how we may be feeling at the moment - was this: almost 100% of pastors acknowledge that it is somewhat true that their mental health is important while half use none of the identified services for personal, spiritual, or mental health support (like counsellors, spiritual directors, coaches, psychotherapists, etc)…
Every week we’ll ask a question to the community. We hope you’ll provide your thoughts and insights and engage with other lifelong learners on this journey of growth and development.
On Saturday June 1, Ministry Forum from the Centre for Lifelong Learning at Knox College is hosting a day of inspiration and imagining for Canadians who have a passion to follow Jesus and are curious about creative ways of doing and being Christ’s body - The Church - today.
An overview of a helpful resource: Dandelion Marketplace - a platform that provides progressive spiritual formation content for families and communities.
Whether you need an graphic for your screens, a picture in your bulletin, or you just want to share something on social media - we’ve got some free to use content below for Holy Week, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Every week we’ll ask a question to the community. We hope you’ll provide your thoughts and insights and engage with other lifelong learners on this journey of growth and development.
It’s OKAY, last minute HAPPENS and for that reason, we’ve got you covered! Here are a few resources to help you put together services, activities and events for Holy Week and Easter.
I attended the New Leaf Network’s Co-Creating Plausible Futures for The Canadian Church: Balancing the Past, Present, and Future on March 9. This was a national event featuring local hybrid hubs and onlne participation…
My reflections on our weary pastor’s retreat at Crieff Hills in March 2024.
Every week we’ll ask a question to the community. We hope you’ll provide your thoughts and insights and engage with other lifelong learners on this journey of growth and development.
…I’m often listening to a variety of podcasts. It seems that the Ministry Forum community listens to them too - since they often share recommendations with me.
So if you are looking to fill up your podcast catalog… this post is for you!
Tools and insights for ministry leaders to navigate the complexities of faith transmission and renewal, drawing from recent research, conferences, and collaborative events.
Every week we’ll ask a question to the community. We hope you’ll provide your thoughts and insights and engage with other lifelong learners on this journey of growth and development.
On Saturday June 1, Ministry Forum from the Centre for Lifelong Learning at Knox College is hosting a day of inspiration and imagining for Canadians who have a passion to follow Jesus and are curious about creative ways of doing and being Christ’s body - The Church - today.
What to Expect
A dynamic keynote speaker - Brady Shearer
Panel discussions
Meaningful conversations
Caring for those who care is so very important to us. We believe that any ministry leader can benefit from learning from various practitioners and fields how best to support oneself in the helping professions. Here are a few resources…
Every week we’ll ask a question to the community. We hope you’ll provide your thoughts and insights and engage with other lifelong learners on this journey of growth and development.
Join our growing community
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About
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Welcome to the Ministry Forum, where faith, community, and leadership converge. We are a vibrant and inclusive online platform hosted by Knox College, University of Toronto, dedicated to serving current and aspiring Christian ministry leaders. Our community is as diverse as the ministries we represent, encompassing students, alumni, pastors, psychotherapists, chaplains, and those passionate about spreading the Good News in whatever ministry context they find themselves.
Our identity is rooted in the belief that ministry is not a solitary journey; it's a collective effort. We are a fellowship that values authenticity, fosters connections, and celebrates diversity. Here, you'll find a safe space to explore, share, and grow in your faith, leadership, and ministry.
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At Ministry Forum, our mission is to empower ministry leaders to thrive. We do this by curating valuable resources, facilitating thought-provoking discussions, and offering spaces to gather both online and in person. Through recommended reading, podcasts, the curation of lifelong learning opportunities, and much more, we hope to provide our community with a wealth of insights to enhance their ministry.
We also believe in the power of personal connection. Our Director, John, would welcome the opportunity to talk with you about your ministry context. With 25 years of ministry experience himself, he strives to be a good listener, a trusted advisor, and someone who values maintaining confidentiality. We also believe that Ministry Forum will thrive in the community that surrounds it - to that end, we need your suggestions, ideas, and expertise to shape our content and priorities.
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Our vision is simple yet profound: to ensure no ministry leader feels alone in their journey. Inspired by the words, "Fear not, I will not leave you alone," we are here for you, every step of the way. We envision a vibrant community where ministry leaders think deeply, live authentically, and lead courageously, guided by a shared commitment to spreading the Good News.
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Getting started with Ministry Forum is easy. Begin by exploring our website, subscribing to our weekly email, following us on Facebook and Instagram, and discovering the rich array of resources available. Whether you're a student, pastor, lay leader, counsellor, or someone curious about Christian ministry, you'll find valuable content to fuel your journey.
Join us in this exciting venture of growth, learning, and community-building, and together, let's THRIVE in our ministry and faith journeys.
Podcast
coming soon!
Resource Hub
In the resource hub, you will find webinars, podcasts, books, and videos all designed to support Christian ministry leaders like you on your journey of continued learning and growth beyond graduation.
We’re currently adding to our resource hub, and we are excited to launch it in 2024 - stay tuned!
An overview of Growing Young: Six Essential Strategies to Help Young People Discover and Love Your Church