Debut Of Practical Ministry Journal Set For Mid-October
WACO, Texas — More than 1,000 Texas Baptist ministers will soon receive the inaugural issue of Theophilus, a journal of practical ministry to be published twice a year by Baylor University’s Office of Church Relations.
The journal, which will make its debut Oct. 13, focuses each issue on a specific theme, in addition to offering practical advice on other topics of interest to ministers.
“The journal is intended to provide resources to Texas Baptist ministers as they do the work of ministry, and it is provided to them at no cost,” said Howard Williams, editor of Theophilus and Baylor church relations director. “Baylor’s commitment to Texas Baptists and the local church remains an integral part of its mission.”
Baylor faculty, staff and alumni are key contributors to the debut issue of Theophilus, which concentrates on various areas of pastoral care.
Among the journal’s first authors are Dr. Raymond Bailey, pastor of Seventh and James Baptist Church in Waco, a Baylor alumnus and adjunct professor in the department of religion, who addresses “Preaching as Pastoral Care”; Dr. Howard Batson, pastor of First Baptist Church of Amarillo, a Baylor alumnus and member of the Baylor board of regents, who writes about pastoral care for ministerial staff members in “Both Supervisor and Saint”; Hal Ritter, a Baylor alumnus and counselor at Good Samaritan Counseling Center in Waco, whose article focuses on “Training Laity for Hospital Visitation”; and Bill Treadwell, an expert in conflict management and associate professor of Christian education and leadership/administration at Baylor’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary, who writes on “Pastoral Care and Conflict.”
A variety of other articles focus on care of a minister’s preaching voice, helping parents become involved in ministry, providing space for children’s ministries by adapting facilities for multiple use and a church’s role in providing care for homeless. In addition, Dr. Charles Wade, executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, will preview a study on the Book of James.
An advisory committee of Baylor faculty and alumni are among those working to produce Theophilus. Members include David Shuttlesworth, a Waco pastor and Baylor alumnus; Dr. Jeter Basden, department of religion; Dr. Amanda Sturgill, department of journalism; Bob Darden, department of English; Dr. Ruth Ann Foster, Truett Seminary; and Dr. Hulitt Gloer, Truett Seminary.
The Office of Church Relations accepts material for Theophilus. Most articles offer guidance in a particular area of the writer’s expertise, including pastoral care, preaching, administration, youth ministry, worship, music ministry, children’s ministry, religious education, discipleship, single’s ministry, senior adult ministry and church social ministry.
Articles for publication can be submitted to Williams at church_relations@baylor.edu or Office of Church Relations, Baylor University, P.O. Box 97134, Waco, Texas, 76798-7134.
To guarantee receiving Theophilus on a regular basis, subscriptions are available at $18 per year. For more information, call the Office of Church Relations at (254) 710-3522.
Baylor’s Office of Church Relations helps connect churches with the university’s many services that can be useful in ministry, such as university centers, departments, institutes, faculty and staff. Guidance and assistance is offered in various areas, including Bible training, Christian education, church legal issues, church management, church recreation, church-state issues, community ministry, counseling, English as a Second Language (ESL), family ministry, literacy missions, musical, drama and puppet programs, supply preaching, vocational services, youth camp and youth ministry teams. More information is available at www.baylor.edu/~Church_Relations/ .