New Creation Conversations Episode 044 - Dr. David Sharpes on Pastoral Ministry, Evangelism, Christian Witness, and Preparing the Next Generation for Ministry

Welcome to episode forty-four of New Creation Conversations. In today’s conversation I am joined by a friend and valued colleague in ministry, Dr. David Sharpes. David has been in ministry for over 40 years, serving as youth pastor, lead pastor, and district superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene. He has served in Philadelphia and Phoenix and several places in between. David is an alum of MidAmerica Nazarene University, has an MDiv from Nazarene Theological Seminary, and a DMin from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Along the way in ministry, David has taught as an adjunct at several colleges and seminaries. Just recently, he moved into the academic world fulltime, now serving as Associate Professor of Christian Ministry, the Smith/Cooper Chair in Evangelism and Christian Witness, and the Director of the Center for Pastoral Leadership at Nazarene Theological Seminary. I’ve been anxious to have a conversation with David because I have deep respect for his pastoral ministry, and I know that we are kindred spirits in many ways. But I also am excited to get to talk with him about his new role as one forming the next generation of ministers, and his passion and perspective on evangelism and witness in the twenty-first century. 

These are unique days of transition for the church as we learn to extend the love of Jesus to a postmodern, post-industrial, post-Christian, post-Enlightenment… well as one scholar puts it, “a post-everything culture.” I’m really thankful for David’s heart, mind, and commitment to helping the church fulfill the Great Commission. And I’m thankful that you’re sitting in with us on this conversation.