CLOSING THE GAP

CROSS CHURCH SCHOOL OF MINISTRY OFFERS HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE

Jeff Crawford, president of the Cross Church School of Ministry Monday, Aug. 5, 2013 in the area under construction at the church that will house the ministry school. Crawford has a doctorate in education and will lead the school for men and women who are pursuing careers in ministry. So far 11 students are signed up for the school from the ages of 19-34 years old. The school is a one-year residential program, not an internship, and it is a supplement to their formal education.
Jeff Crawford, president of the Cross Church School of Ministry Monday, Aug. 5, 2013 in the area under construction at the church that will house the ministry school. Crawford has a doctorate in education and will lead the school for men and women who are pursuing careers in ministry. So far 11 students are signed up for the school from the ages of 19-34 years old. The school is a one-year residential program, not an internship, and it is a supplement to their formal education.

The gap between knowing what to do and knowing how to do it is shrinking, at least for some students of ministry.

The Cross Church School of Ministry in Springdale will welcome its first class of students Thursday. The school, a one-year residential ministry experience, will teach men and women who are called into ministry how to be ministers.

“Many (pastors and spiritual leaders) are placed into local churches, having no experience before they enter into the ministry, and the result many times is just not good,” said Ronnie Floyd, senior pastor at Cross Church.

“We are providing this ministry residency experience, so that people do not have just academic achievement but hands-on ministry experience.”

The school is meant to complement formal education, not replace it, said Jeff Crawford, president of the school.

“Most people fail in ministry or burn out in ministry - not because of poor theology, but because they don’t have the skill to manage ‘life’ issues in ministry, such as finances, family, stress,” Crawford said. “It is common to graduate from college or seminary and not truly know how to do ministry.”

Crawford likened the experience a student can expect at Cross Church School of Ministry to a medical student who must fi rst complete a residency before being allowed to practice medicine.

“Our students will function as ‘resident ministers’ during their one year with us,” Crawford said. “Our students will spend one day a week in class reading, studying and writing about what we consider to be essentialcompetencies for ministry.

The remainder of the week is spent doing ministry under the supervision of a seasoned Cross Church staff member on a customized ministry track.”

Students will choose a ministry track - such as worship ministry, children’s ministry or global missions - and be paired with a Cross Church staff member from the chosen track who willserve as a mentor and supervisor throughout the program.

Students will function as Cross Church staff members under the leadership and guidance of their mentors, according to the school’s website.

Staff members from all Cross Church campuses will work with the students.

During the program, students will participate in three mission trips: one international and two in the United States. Crawford said locations are not yet determined, but considerations include Venezuela and China for the international trip and New York and Seattle for the domestic trips.

Cross Church has formed partnerships with colleges and seminaries in the region and across the nation that will give students of the School of Ministry credit hours - between nine hours and 18 hours - toward degrees, according to the school’s website.

The school also has a partnership with the North American Mission Board, which will pay program costs for those called to church planting in North America. Students entering the church planter track also will receive credit from the board for their training, which is required before placement.

The cost of the school is $12,000, which covers the cost of the three mission trips, program fees, housing, utilities, ministry mentoring and customized ministry tracking, according to the website. The cost is $10,000 for those who opt out of housing. The school does not qualify to receive federal or state fi nancial aid, but the website encourages students to raise money for tuition by asking family and friends to support their calling, much like many people raise support for mission travel.

Crawford said 11 students are enrolled in this first session, but the school and the church are preparedto take as many as God gives.

The students will arrive from Arkansas and neighboring states Oklahoma and Texas, as well as Virginia.

The first class of students will graduate Aug. 3, 2014.

“We are striving for 100 percent graduation, but more importantly, a higher level of minister ready tostep into the local church and serve the kingdom of God for a lifetime,” Crawford said.

“I want them to launch into their ministry future with a greater vision of God using them to change the world,” Floyd said.

“It is a joy to influence and invest in others to win the world for Christ.”

Religion, Pages 8 on 08/10/2013

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