NW Welcomes Dr. Ed Stetzer!
By Bill MacLeod, Director
Many of our Churches and Institutions of higher education are feeling the impact of a culture war that is reverberating against those Truths and Beliefs we who follow Christ hold dear. Many have fallen by the wayside unable to stand against the onslaught of the war. What can these Churches, Institutions and Mission Organizations do to stand strong, and…unshaken?
Ed Stetzer, Ph.D., is the Dean and Professor of Leadership and Christian Ministry at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. He also serves as Distinguish Visiting Scholar at Wycliffe Hall at Oxford University, where he teaches twice a year. Stetzer has planted, revitalized, and pastored churches; trained pastors and church planters on six continents; earned two master’s degrees and two doctorates; and he has written hundreds of articles and a dozen books. He is Regional Director for Lausanne North America, is the Editor-in-Chief of Outreach Magazine, and regularly writes for news outlets such as USA Today and CNN. His national radio show, Ed Stetzer Live, airs Saturdays on Moody Radio and affiliates. Stetzer serves his local church, Mariners Church, as Scholar in Residence & Teaching Pastor.
With that backdrop and context in mind, we caught up with Dr. Ed Stetzer recently and asked him to respond to four simple questions to help you, our faithful, MissionConnexion audience, get to know him better as he comes to keynote at our January unshaken conference…
1. How did you come to follow Christ as your Savior?
I grew up in a nominally Catholic home in and then outside of NYC, so I had no real spiritual upbringing. When I was youth group age, my mother (who had recently become a believer) punished me by making me go to youth camp. I heard the gospel there and trusted and followed Christ.
2. Were there any barriers you had to overcome or surrender, to come to the point of serving the Lord in the capacity you do now?
My path is an odd one. I’m a church planter at heart, and Donna and I moved to the inner city of Buffalo, NY at the age of 21 to plant a church. At the time, it was the fastest shrinking city in America, so we were willing to go anywhere and do anything for the Lord. We put our yes on the table and then let God put it on the map.
Since then, the Lord has led us to strange places, and we just seek to remain obedient to his call. However, we do plan to go back into church planting one day. I just need the Lord to give me permission!
3. How do you see the Lord using you through your ministry to benefit and strengthen the local Church?
At the Talbot School of Theology, we are driven to serve the church in the development of her leaders. It’s what I think about every day. Paul tries that God has chosen the church to make known his manifold wisdom. So, yes, it is a church-centered mission, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to advance his kingdom.
4. What would be 1 or 2 things you would want to leave with those attending MCNW ’26?
My hope is that we will do what the writer of Hebrews said and we will “provoke one another to love and good deeds.” A lot of churches and Christians have been distracted from Jesus’ mission, and my hope is that we can make that focus our passion. The nations— and our neighbors— need a church on mission with the good news of the gospel.
Leadership Connexion
Additionally, Dr. Stetzer, and Dr. Pam Arlund will be addressing our Leadership Connexion pre-conference event on Friday, January 16, 9:00AM – 4:00PM with the topic: “The State of the Church, The Future of Missions, and A Gospel Path Forward”. If you are a pastor, missionary, mission leader or church/mission lay leader in your church, please register today for that special training which includes continental breakfast, and lunch here.
STAY TUNED: Dr. Stetzer has written a book on Portland you won’t want to miss! Information being revealed at MCNW!
