One of our most significant priorities as believers is to invest in raising up the next generation of Christian leaders. First Church has embraced the ministry of providing scholarships and mentoring pastors-in-training who are completing their Master of Divinity degrees at Gordon-Conwell Seminary in Boston. Pastor Doug Pratt personally chose four students for their superior academics and their deep commitment to Christ. In January, Noah Karger, Dan McAuley, TJ Ono, and Christian Schmitt were here for an intensive two-week internship. They received practical training and skill development in areas of ministry that graduate schools cannot provide. We pray that this experience will help and equip them to move others toward deeper faith. The Epistle asked these pastors-to-be to share some of their journey with us.
How has your seminary experience shaped your identity in Christ?
Christian: My first-year survey course on the Old Testament introduced me to the concept of God’s covenant faithfulness. Seeing how God’s many promises to His people are fulfilled in Christ gave me a firm foundation for my relationship with God and a new sense of trust in Him.
TJ: Seminary has allowed me space to interrogate the narratives I have been telling myself for the past 28 years. Doing the difficult inner work of seeing if they are congruent with God’s is some of the most important and healing work I can do during this season of life.
Tell us about a mentor who has influenced your call to ministry.
Daniel: As a pastor’s kid, seeing the way Christ called my father to serve deeply influenced me. Receiving his guidance and correction has been significantly formative.
Noah: Dr. Vidu, a systematic theologian at Gordon-Conwell, has provided concepts and language to elucidate the many questions I have regarding our faith. He does so in a way that does not eliminate the mystery of God but increases reverence toward His mystery.
What are you doing to help others discover their identity in Christ?
Noah: I aim to be an agent of clarity. I hope to provide space for others to listen and process and, when appropriate, supply the theoretical frameworks for working through complex problems. Clarity, I believe, is an avenue for grace. It is a rare and precious gift in this chaotic world.
TJ: To discover our identity in Christ, we must first uncover who we think we are. We must acknowledge our wounded, broken, and distorted understandings of ourselves… and offer them to the Lord. Much of this work is done by question-asking and empathetic listening. This is the work I can offer those around me. Once this work is complete, we can shift our eyes to Jesus—this will change the way we see everything else… including ourselves.
What was the most surprising thing you discovered during your time at First Church?
Christian: I was surprised that the Great Banquet weekend, and the community that comes out of it, could have such an incredible effect in introducing people to their identity in Christ. I hope to implement similar programs throughout my ministry, and I hope that they prove as fruitful as the Great Banquet has been at First Church.
Daniel: I was surprised to find such hospitality and such a welcoming atmosphere. It is easy to feel uneasy visiting a church for the first time, but I felt immediately welcomed when I arrived at First Church.
If you could share one thing with the next group of interns, what would that be?
Christian: I would encourage them to intentionally develop relationships with the other interns. Having a group to process everything with is critical to getting the most out of the experience.
Daniel: It would be to talk with as many members and staff of First Church as possible. I learned a lot and profited from every conversation.
Noah: I would describe our time at First Church as a cross-cultural experience. It is by nature of the geography, demographic, and overall approach to ministry very different, thus it is a tremendous opportunity to discover more fully what it means to be the Church.
TJ: Explore Florida. It’s beautiful.
