Ministry Academy

Starting in January of 2012, Saint James will be offering a yearlong workshop series called “Claiming your Personal Ministry.”  All Christians are called to ministry: to share the Good News of God’s love and redemption in their words and deeds.  The workshops in this series will help you to do just that.  If you are looking for a way to more fully live out your Christian faith, this series is for you!  See below for the description of each workshop and for the schedule. 

Of note, you can participate in as many or as few of the workshops as you wish.  And, you do not need to be a member of Saint James to participate, so bring a friend!  Those who choose to participate in all of the workshops can opt for a final independent study that concludes with “ordination” of personal ministry.  Your ministry will be certified and publicly consecrated. 

All classes will be held on Monday nights, and a dinner will be served before each class.  Dinner will be at 6:30pm and the workshop itself will start at 7pm.  Child care to be provided.  Each workshop will cost between $20 and $40 with scholarships available to those who need them.        

Email Randi ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) or James ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) with questions.  

Workshop Descriptions and Schedule:

Talents as Ministry: God gives you special talents to serve Him and to embody His kingdom on earth.  Christians call such talents “spiritual gifts.”  This workshop will help you to identify your spiritual gifts and to claim your personal ministry when you use them.  Work will consist of several assessments and opportunities for reflection.  Classes start on Monday, 1/23 and end on Monday, 2/27.  No class on 2/20 because of President’s Day.  Led by Randi.      

Biblical Foundations for Ministry:  An introduction to the foundation of our faith.  Come learn about the Holy Bible: when it was written, who wrote it, and why it is important today.  Of note, the Bible calls EVERYONE to ministry.  This will be a lecture class that provides Biblical literacy for ministry and offers scriptural support for personal ministry.  Classes will be every Monday in March from 3/5-3/26.  Lectures by James. 

Jesus’ Model of Ministry:  Who is Jesus and what can He teach us about personal ministry?  This class will be an opportunity to learn more about Jesus and to clarify what that means for our own life.  His examples of ministry can be a model for our own.  Class will be a discussion format and a wonderful opportunity to share your faith with others while learning from them.  Classes will start in April with exact dates to be determined.  Led by James.   

Unique Forms of Ministry: You don’t have to preach from the pulpit to be in ministry.  God empowers us and leads us in unique ways to bring His Kingdom on earth.  In this workshop, we will focus on creating our own personal ministry.  We will read Ministry Unplugged by Susan Willhauck about different ways people are living out their faith.  We will explore how we can better do the same by turning our unique passions and interests into ministry for Christ.  Classes will start in May and there will be eight total, with exact dates to be determined.  Led by Randi.