Here you can read how students have found their experiences in the Pastoral Leadership track.
Student Reflections: Preachers Corner
"It could be terrifying. It's one thing to preach to a congregation of nice church people, particularly when you've still got novelty value as the new Carey student. Most of them thank you and say your sermon was good/lovely/interesting. But it's quite another to preach to your peers, who are all pretty excellent preachers themselves.
Formation Tuesday gets kicked off at 9am with Speaker's Corner, where all PLs take turns preaching to their year group, and a staff member. We preach for 15 minutes, and spend the next 15 bravely listening to all the detailed constructive criticism your congregation won't give you (at least when you're new!).
Are my gestures out of place? Not enough variation in pitch or pace? Am I speaking too fast? How balanced and varied are my illustrations? Am I showing something of myself in my message? Am I treating Scripture well? How's my eye contact? At Speaker's Corner, a dozen eagle-eyed observers answer these sorts of questions, evaluating the preacher at the macro and micro level. Thankfully, they're also very encouraging, and quick to point out the preacher's strengths.
It seems that people who have taken Paul Windsor 's preaching course often have him as the imaginary presence keeping them honest as they prepare sermons. At Speaker's Corner, he's actually there in person, along with other Carey preaching gurus. It could be terrifying. But mostly, it's just incredibly useful and insightful, and we wouldn't be without it."
Reflections: Summer Pastorate
Gary Nathan reflects:
Probably the main thing I have learned about myself on this assignment is the fact that I can do this pastoral stuff. If I am honest with myself, I have wondered at times as to whether I have what it takes to be a Baptist pastor, despite some of the positive comments that people have made. Not so much in terms of the abilities needed to being a pastor, but whether I can maintain my integrity with the pressures that come with being a Baptist pastor, that’s the challenge.
I had a real sense that God was wanting me to step up to the mark. The days of God giving me space in terms of allowing me to deal with some of the issues I have struggled with, and have had to work through and overcome over the last couple of years now seem over for me. It seemed like he was saying, are you willing to step up to the next level Gary, are you willing to step into your calling, are you willing to take on the responsibilities and pressures that your calling demands. Are you willing to go where I send you, follow where I lead you, even at the risk of your own life. Are you willing to lay down your life for me?
As soon as I said yes, God put me in situations that not only took me out of my comfort zone, but also stretched me beyond what I could bear. I had no choice but to press into him.
For example; I have never done a non-Christian European funeral. The fact that I did two non-Christian funerals and attended two others was a big deal for me.
He also thrust me into a community that was hard and unfriendly to try and help build Maori and Pakeha relationships. This was a huge challenge, because of the nature of the task.
He also allowed me to experience spiritual warfare at a level that I have never really experienced before (with the exception of one other time). This was a huge wake up call for me. The realization that Satan now sees me as a real threat, means my faith has to be strong, my life blameless, and my heart pure. In other words, the honeymoon period is over for me. This is the real deal!
But the fact that he allowed me to experience what I experienced really boosted my confidence and my faith, confirming the call of God upon my life, and the fact that I can do this PL stuff.
