Leadership
Building Up New Leaders
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Passing on a piece of wisdom. Bob Munger was a deeply loved mentor for many curr...
An interview with Nate Miller, CLP2 Student from Amarillo, TXTell us a bit about your life: your family, your faith, your church, and your job. Well, I’m a pretty simple guy, I have two boys (2 and 3 years old) and married my high school sweetheart. I’m currently working at the county jail as a medical officer and love the outdoors and spending time with my family. My hands are pretty full between working, school, and my little guys, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. God has given me so much to be thankful for and has surrounded me with a great church family that has been so encouraging and loving towards my family and I.
Describe to us what led you to enroll in the CLP program. My pastor actually introduced me to the CLP program and encouraged me to learn more about it. After talking with him and expressing my desire for ministry, he received some information from ECO about the CLP and thought it would be a good opportunity for me to grow in my studies and learn more about the reformed tradition of ECO. I have always felt called to ministry, but haven’t had the opportunity or time to fully devote myself to seminary or the “traditional” model of pastoral schooling. Through the CLP program, I have had the chance to deepen my faith and learn more about our denomination and exactly what we base our beliefs on.
What has your experience been like so far as part of the CLP training cohort? What are you learning? My experience so far in in the CLP cohort has been great. I have had the opportunity to meet and grow relationships with other believers from around the country. The members in my cohort are pretty diverse and in different walks of life, which is great for viewing things through a different perspective. Through the online cohort meetings I have been able to see how God is leading others and working in people’s lives all around the country. Personally, my experience has been amazing having been given the opportunity to learn and discuss topics with believers as well as receive support and encouragement from people who seem to genuinely care. Recently, we discussed the Essential Tenents, how they pertain to everyday life, and how they apply to out individual church families.
How is God using the CLP training to clarify your calling and show you what’s next? God has been using the CLP training, my cohort members, and individuals from my church to clarify my personal calling to a life of ministry. With so many doors opening and the encouragement to walk through them, I have recently applied and been accepted to the Master’s program at Gordon Conwell. I would have never had the gumption or opportunity to grow in my theology without having become part of the CLP program.
What are you most excited about as you sense this calling and move towards deeper equipping through CLP and our online seminary classes? Personally, I am excited for the future and the classes I will be taking to better understand the reformed theology and grow my faith.
If you were to speak to other lay leaders out there, who have families and are working full time jobs but feel a desire to be more deeply equipped to do God’s work, what would you say to them? Take the opportunity and just go for it! The CLP program isn’t too time consuming and gives you great chances to better yourself and others around the globe. The CLP program is easily maneuvered into any schedule and is definitely worth your attention and time – you won’t regret it!
Want to know more about the Commissioned Lay Pastor program? Email clp@flourishmovement.org!
