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Krista Mournet

Krista Mournet

Today, we bring you a message by Krista Mournet. The message was recorded on Wednesday February 11, 2015 during our Seminary Chapel.

Krista, her husband Terence and their son Lucas have been a part of the Ashland Seminary community since 2010. Krista’s interest in music and worship extends back most of her life, beginning when she would sing with her mother in church as a child, to singing in various church choirs and worship teams over the course of her life and up to the present day. In addition, she and Terence have ministered together in various worship groups since before they were married. In recent years, her university training in theological research has served to deepen and mature her desire to help people worship God through music. Krista derives a great deal of joy from bringing people together to use their gifts in God’s service, in this case in Ashland Seminary’s chapel services. She enjoys cooking, spending time with her family, reading and sharing laughter and fellowship with friends, usually including music, coffee or food.

Text: Psalm 44

Krista Mournet serves as Chapel Coordinator at Ashland Theological Seminary. In addition, she also serves as Worship Director at Faith United Methodist Church in Ashland, Ohio. 

 

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DJuana Drew

By DJuana Drew

Some would say yes, but I say no.  Let me explain.

To change can mean to make the form or nature of something different than it was previously.  I can change my mind, change clothes, change direction and change my behavior.  An animal called a chameleon can change its color to match its background, making itself invisible to predators.  People change jobs, partners, cars, their minds, cell phone carriers and a myriad of other things in their lives.  Interestingly enough, the word transformation is used to define the word change (when the word “into” is added).  I believe the word transformation suggests a deeper meaning.

If one simply looks at the dictionary definition, the words change and transform are almost interchangeable.  The word change is used to define the word transform.  In either definition, a difference occurs because something that was one way has become something else.  So what, you ask?  Thank you for asking that question!

Paul says in Romans 12:1-2 that a transformation can occur if we choose to renew our minds.

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Wanda Coleman

Today, we bring you a sermon preached by our own Wanda Coleman. The message was recorded on Wednesday February 4, 2015 during our Seminary Chapel.

Prior to becoming the D.Min. Director of Recruitment, Wanda was a recruiter in corporate America, pursuing a seminary degree despite her full schedule. When this position opened at Ashland Theological Seminary, Wanda prayerfully submitted her resume and eventually came on staff.  Wanda is also an Associate Minister at Imani Church and enjoys preaching, teaching, and the opportunity to explore and exercise other gifts, such as healing and song. Recently, she was able to attend one of ATS’ Formational Prayer Seminars and experienced a healing encounter with the Lord. He ministered to her brokenness, healed old wounds, and gave Wanda her laughter back!

Above all, Wanda views her family as her greatest achievement, knowing that they are growing and learning about Christ. She is married to Robert and they have two beautiful teenage children, Ambrielle and Emmanuel.

A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. Mark 15:21 NIV

Ms. Wanda Coleman is Director of Recruitment for the Doctor of Ministry Program at Ashland Theological Seminary. She is also serves as an Ordained Minister at Imani Church in Euclid, Ohio.  

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Dr. Bill Myers

By Dr. Bill Myers

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road… that goes down to Gaza from Jerusalem to Gaza,”… and on his way he met an Ethiopian…an important person  (Acts 8:26-27)

We Ethiopians celebrate February as Black History month.  History, what an important discipline, such a lofty part of life itself.  Prominent among what we do during this month is to remember and celebrate  people, most often very important people who helped change the world in which we live.  The likes of Martin and Mandela.  They tend to be names recorded in the annals of history.  Other names are but a footnote or a fleeting memory, unknown but to a lesser few.  Who knows the name Fred Shuttlesworth in Civil Rights history, but a select few.

Sometimes, however, God is standing on the sideline watching, perhaps even helping history along.  Go south on this well traveled road between these two designated cities, says the divine, and the rest is history.  Though interpreted in different ways, it remains history nonetheless.  An Ethiopian and a Greek meet and history is made on a well traveled corridor.

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Nathan Bebout

Today, we bring you a message by Nathan Bebout. The message was recorded on Wednesday January 28, 2015 during our Seminary Chapel.

 “My Religion Major at Ashland University taught me to think deeply about God and how He redeems and restores creation to Himself. There have been countless times in my ministry experience that I have been able to rely on training that I received through my Religion courses in order to serve God and His people more effectively. Paul claims in 1 Corinthians that those who know Jesus as Lord, “have the mind of Christ.” Without a doubt the classes offered through the Religion Department challenged and pushed me to consider things not through my own experiences and perspective, but through the very eyes and thoughts of Christ,” said Bebout.
Scripture:
As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 Corinthians 6:1 NIV
 Nate Bebout is Director of the Center of Religious Life Network at Ashland University. Nate is also an alumnus from the Master of Arts in Practical Theology program at Ashland Theological Seminary. 

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By Dr. Dawn Morton

I just celebrated a milestone in my life. I have been teaching for more than 40 years in the church. I have taught children, youth, and adults (all of various ages and groups). I am called to teach. Teaching is in the depth of my soul. Many ask me, “How can I develop good skills for teaching?” or “How can I be a teacher like you?” While I am humbled that others might want to emulate my teaching skills or life, it did not happen overnight. In fact, it was a lifetime of learning that shaped me into who I am today, even as a teacher.

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Rev. Ken Hunn

This week we bring you a message by Ken Hunn. He serves as Executive Director of the Brethren Church. The message was recorded on Wednesday January 21, 2015 during our Seminary Chapel.

Rev. Hunn provides visionary leadership, guiding and coordinating staff in fulfilling the priorities and ministries of the Brethren Church. In his role, Rev. Hunn draws upon twenty-three years as a lead pastor in two congregations, as well as his experiences in working with the Church’s Global Partners. He is a graduate of Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana and Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland Ohio. Ken and Nancy are the proud parents of Son Andrew and wife Ashley, daughter Carol and son Jonathan and wife Stefanie. The Hunn’s enjoy antiquing, traveling, fishing and spending time at the lake.

 Scripture Matthew 9:35-38

35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Rev. Ken Hunn has served as Executive Director of the Brethren Church since July 2003. 

 

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William Payne Portrait

Dr. William Payne

By Dr. William Payne

Recently, much of the world was shocked and dismayed by the brutal murder of a young couple in rural Pakistan when their garbage man falsely accused the pair of desecrating the Koran after he found pages of the sacred book in their trash. Following the accusation, a local religious leader inflamed violent passions by telling the people to uphold the honor of their Prophet. Like most of the Christians in the region, the couple worked as indentured servants. Before the killings, the couple’s “employer” broke their legs so they could not flee. Afterward, a hostile crowd of over 1,200 villagers took the man and wife to a brick kiln, severely beat them, burned their clothing while holding them over a fire, and then threw them alive into the fiery kiln. The entire time the pair begged for mercy, apologized, and said they were innocent of the blasphemy charge. The wife was five months pregnant. They left behind four children.

The graphic story is the tip of a mushrooming iceberg. In fact, religious minorities are persecuted all over the world. According to a 2012 Pew Report, 74 percent of the world’s population lives in places where there are high levels of social hostility toward religious minorities.

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overland-heroWelcome to The Table Podcast!

Today, we bring you a sermon preached by our own Dr. Paul Overland. The message was recorded on Wednesday January 14, 2015 during our Seminary Chapel.

Dr. Overland’s gentle spirit and incredible kindness are the first thing one notices upon meeting him, and a certain depth marks his interactions with others. He has a love for the Hebrew Scriptures, and his desire as a professor is to awaken that same appreciation in his students. Through his classes, students deepen their ability to hear God’s voice in His Word.

Both Dr. Overland and his wife, Lorie, spent a portion of their childhood years in Japan. Upon completion of a doctoral program, they returned for two wonderful years to join the Tokyo Biblical Seminary faculty. Due to their time overseas, the Overlands have a deep appreciation for the richness of Asian culture.

Outside of his position at ATS, Dr. Overland is drawn to adventure, filling his free time with cycling, backpacking and woodworking.

Paul Overland PhD is Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages at Ashland Theological Seminary. 

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coleman.jpgBy Wanda Coleman.

As I reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I remember a time when I was in fourth grade watching a documentary on his life.  As the projector reel spun, I took notice of two of my classmates – Edward & Timothy – who sat on the floor next to each other watching the documentary together.  Edward was black; Timothy was white. In the safety of the classroom setting, we all watched this film at the ages of 9 & 10, and saw how cruel the world could be, and how the courage of one man could make a great difference in the world.  After the documentary, with tears in her eyes, my fourth grade teacher made it a point to talk of Edward and Timothy.  She believed it was a beautiful thing to see that what Dr. King fought so hard to accomplish regarding equal rights and social justice was playing out right before our eyes.

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