Prayers for Emerging Leaders
This past summer I ended up taking an unanticipated partial sabbatical from blogging. While I had taken part or all of the summer off in previous years, this summer I had hoped actually to catch up on writing in this space and a few others after a full, hectic, and blessed first year at LTSP. Alas, that wasn’t to happen. The summer was busier, and I was more tired, than I’d anticipated and apart from the weekly “Dear Partner” posts for preachers, I ended up writing exactly nothing.
Once I realized that was the way things were going to roll, I intended to start up again after Labor Day. But then classes started….
Actually, classes started last Monday on our campus and we’re now in the second week, and the presence of our students, new and familiar, back on campus, preparing for lives of faithful leadership in a variety of ways, has filled my heart with joy and prompted me to ask you to pray for them.
I won’t ask you to pray for the “future” leaders of the church, because they already are leaders. Some were leaders in their youth groups in high school and college. Others were leaders in the various jobs they held before coming to seminary. Others still were leaders in their congregations. And others still were and are leaders in the community. They are not future leaders, but rather emerging leaders, as they bring their gifts, experience, and passion to school in the hope and expectation that they will be stretched and trained further as God prepares them for a lifetime of service.
And so I’ll ask that you pray for these emerging leaders. For strength to complete the course of study they’ve set for themselves. For good humor and patience as so much is unfamiliar at the beginning of a new term. For endurance (and good humor again!) as they strive to balance school with work and family and many other commitments. For strong financial support from their congregations and the many, many donors it takes to make graduate theological education possible in a way that doesn’t burden them with student debt. For a vision of the church and world that aligns with God’s vision. And for whatever else you may imagine they need.
Thank you for your prayers. These are our leaders. I feel blessed to lead an institution that works to prepare them to serve you and so many others. And I’m grateful for their dedication and for your support of them via prayer, encouragement, gifts, and more.
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