A key part of the "Lake Union Day" activities focused on questions the students had for the visiting church administrators, so that after graduation, they can be well-equipped to serve as ministers. | Photos by Katie Fellows
The "Lake Union Day" is a day-long itinerary of meetings and sessions where students are provided with a clearer understanding of issues, processes and pathways to pastoral leadership in the Adventist Church.
Rodney Palmer, the chair of the Department of Religion and Biblical Languages at Andrews, shared that providing practical training is a key goal of his department. “Leadership management, worship, character, all of these different areas, were what we want to help our students to develop in,” said Palmer. A key part of the day’s activities focused on questions students had for the visiting church administrators, so that after graduation, they can be well-equipped to serve as ministers.
The representatives participating were Lake Union Executive Secretary Ted Huskins, Michigan Conference Ministerial Director Cody Francis, Associate Ministerial Director Tom Hubbard, Indiana Conference Ministerial Director Robb Long, Illinois Conference Executive Secretary Michael Campos, Lake Region Conference Treasurer Kent Nichols and Lake Region Conference Vice President for Administration Abraham Henry. The Wisconsin Conference representative, Ministerial Director Bill Ochs, attended remotely and spoke with students virtually due to adverse weather conditions impacting travel, according to Palmer.
Lake Union Day was an all-day affair, starting at 8:30 a.m. with welcomes and a devotional message given by Huskins. Following the devotional, scholarships were awarded to students from Lake Union as a part of its $1 million effort to recruit and hire theology and education majors from Andrews. Two scholarship recipients, Elizabeth Rios and Dan Anderson, are from the Wisconsin Conference, and the third recipient, Isaac Sarmina, hails from the Illinois Conference.
The scholarships are worth $15,000 annually and are subject to several conditions. All three students will be expected to complete the Andrews undergraduate theology program, in which they are already enrolled, and maintain a 3.0 grade point average. They must work each summer at a conference summer camp or a Barnabas internship, submit to an interview process for employment and be willing to work for the conference for at least four years once they graduate.
Other theology students who were juniors and seniors had the opportunity to interview with the conference administrators present for pastoral positions. Afterwards, all students were given the opportunity to ask questions to the different administrators. The questions covered topics on what characteristics were sought after when hiring new pastors, working in chaplaincy positions and balancing personal lives with ministry. The students were able to come away with thoughtful responses to their queries.
“You’ve got to love the Lord, you’ve got to love people, you’ve got to love the Adventist message,” said Michigan’s Ministerial Director Cody Francis in response to a question about the needed qualities of a pastor. “What our churches really need, I believe, is somebody that is going to lead them in fulfilling the mission. …How that mission is fulfilled in the context of the community that you’re working in, with the gifts that are found in the church, the gifts that are found in the pastor, that can be different. But every church is looking for a shepherd that is going to lead them in fulfilling that Great Commission.”
Indiana’s Ministerial Director, Robb Long, when answering a question on how to prepare for pastoral ministry while still in school, spoke about the various opportunities that can be pursued at the churches of students, both on and off the Andrews campus. “One of the most valuable things you guys have is the work you’re doing in the churches while you’re going to school,” he said. “So sit in on the board meetings, ask the pastor, even if you can, maybe lead a board meeting, go to business meetings, see how they operate, go out on business with the pastor if you can, and see how that works. Everything that you know you’re going to be facing when you get out [of school], try to have some experience in doing those things so that it’s not completely new to your own church.”
Another intriguing piece of advice came from Lake Region’s Executive Secretary Abraham Henry, who spoke about how to approach leading a church for the first time. “The ‘unpardonable sin’ when you first arrive at a church, is making a whole bunch of changes, turning things over, trying to make the mega church that we see on television.” Henry advocated for a slower approach, advising, “Have a season of just observing, learning, listening. …There’s something in us that wants to change things, but we have to sometimes really push against that and just get to know people and processes before we push.”
Illinois’ Executive Secretary, Michael Campos, described himself as “a son of the Religion Department here at Andrews University,” and reflecting on his own experiences, he advocated for students to make good use of the mentors and opportunities that are available to them. “There’s just great meaning in being able to sit with someone who’s been doing it for a while and being able to pick their brain and asking them if they would be open to being that mentor.” He continued, saying, “You keep learning every day. You’re experiencing something new that you maybe haven’t had before. And so I would say lean into every opportunity that you can.”
After a break for junior and senior students to have lunch with faculty and the Union and conference administrators, more interviews were scheduled for the upperclassmen. To close, a special mentoring session was held specifically for freshmen and sophomore theology students. The students had more questions answered on topics including dealing with church conflict, career options other than pastoral ministry for theology majors, combating burnout, managing church members, getting through Greek and Hebrew language classes and more.
After the success of this year’s Lake Union Day, Palmer shared that the department plans to continue hosting Lake Union Day, allowing students to gain more exposure to potential hirers and to become more knowledgeable of the field they have been called to serve in.
Andrew Francis is an undergraduate senior at Andrews University studying communications, public relations, and behavioral science. He currently works in various communication positions within and outside of the Seventh-day Adventist church, predominantly as a freelance journalist.
