Up, In, and Out: Trained for Ministry, Launched for Mission
Union is excited to announce the appointment of Justin Schell to the role Director of Union US. Here, he shares the heart and vision for our work in North America.
I am thrilled to link arms with Union towards the reformation of Christ’s church worldwide. As someone who has spent the last 20 years in mission service and leadership, I believe Union will provide a unique service to the church in the years ahead. Let me explain.
Upward
There’s nothing sadder in the world than a joyless minister. I don’t mean a missionary who is facing deep and devastating loss, challenge, or persecution. I mean the missionary or pastor who simply finds themselves going through the motions, who have grown cold toward God. Those meant to be heralds of the greatest news on the planet have become bored with the gospel.
There’s nothing sadder in the world than a joyless minister.
The more I teach in the area of mission, the more I am realizing that this coldness doesn’t typically start when the minister gets to their place of ministry, but long before. Somewhere along the line, delighting in the sheer goodness and beauty of God was replaced with something else. Perhaps it’s been replaced with knowledge – disconnected theological factoids – or perhaps with skills and technique. Maybe it’s just a plain love for the things of this world. When our ministry is cold, when we have little desire to seek and save the lost, it says more about our thoughts and feelings about God than anything else. We need a fresh encounter with the Lord. We need to look upward.
Inward
The reason for that is simple. Ministers of the gospel, whether in Tulsa or Timbuktu, have nothing else to give away other than a warm, real relationship with the Triune God (John 17:3). That is our calling. We don’t simply peddle the Word of God. We are not “professionals.” So, most vital to the life and ministry of a pastor, church planter, or missionary is a lively, warm relationship with the living God. We look upward, we look to Him, and Scripture tells us that, as we do that, we are changed from one degree of glory to the next. Simply by beholding Christ, enjoying Christ (2 Cor. 3:18)! So upward worship and enjoyment leads to inward transformation.
Ministry training must, before anything else, lead to upward delight and inward renewal. This is not a watered down, theological-lite training. Not at all. It must be rich and rigorous because we are people of the truth who guard the good deposit. But that deep theology must be shot through with what previous generations called “piety.” The information receptacle we call the brain must be hardwired into the heart, the affections.
Ministry training must, before anything else, lead to upward delight and inward renewal.
I’ve been hearing stories from the Union family recently that just bring a smile to my face. One pastor shared how one of his staff has been studying about the life and theology of the great church father Athanasius. It’s not simply their head that is being filled. The pastor has noticed a growing, devotional warmth towards God in his staffer which they link directly to what they are learning from early church history. Similarly, a recent graduate took to social media to share, “Reflecting on my years of study… Never was the academia divorced from prayer or the benefit of my local church. My lecturers have always been keen to see the church thrive.” Yes and amen!
Outward
Now, let me ask you, what happens when theological and pastoral training is rightly centered around looking upward in delight and experiencing inward transformation?
That’s right, mission!
In fact, Union is so committed to this relationship that a few years back we launched Union Mission. Since 2017, through Union Mission, nearly 1.4 million dollars have been directed to church plants and revitalizations. As warm-hearted, transformed gospel ministers are trained up, we’ve had the privilege to help support their efforts in under-gospeled neighborhoods and cities. Because they are inwardly renewed, they have a lot to offer a spiritually dark world, as they serve out of the overflow of their joy in Christ.
As warm-hearted, transformed gospel ministers are trained up, we’ve had the privilege to help support their efforts in under-gospeled neighborhoods and cities.
Coming to North America
This is just a snapshot of the overall ministry of Union. Yes, we train pastors, theologians, church planters, and historians. We have a world-class faculty of warm-hearted, church-loving gospel ministers with whom one could study. But our desire is to do much more than simply train. We are always asking how we can do even more to help graduates thrive and bear fruit as they finish their training and launch (back) into ministry to Christ’s church. And we are excited for the opportunity to bring this same support to North American churches and ministers.
Are you looking to train for ministry? Union’s School of Theology provides training from the bachelor’s through to PhD. We are beginning to multiply learning communities around North America that will bring our Graduate Diploma in Theology and Masters of Theology to a city near you.
Is your church passionate about training up the next generation of pastors, planters, and revitalizers? Perhaps you should consider hosting a Union Learning Community. This hub model is a unique partnership where Union’s faculty provide robust and accredited, affordable and accessible, teaching in the context of the local church where mentoring and community learning can happen.
Do you desire to see new churches planted and dying churches revitalized? Union Mission, through generous supporters, wants to partner with like-minded churches and networks to see more and more healthy churches started and renewed.
Do you believe the Lord is leading you to a ministry of teaching and training? Newton House is the heart of Union’s research programs. We want to raise up the next generation of theologians, scholars, and historians who seek to serve the church. This is done in a unique community of senior and junior fellows who study, interact, write, and grow as scholars for the church.
If any of these things resonate with you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Justin directly at justin@theolo.gy.
