Updates, Events, and Publications
TWO ATS D.MIN. ALUMNI PUBLISH READY TO LEAD
Brian Taylor (’12 and ’19) and Chris Johnson (’20) recently published Ready to Lead: Essential Questions for Empowering Black Leadership in the Multiethnic Church. The purpose of this book is described as follows:
There is an ongoing narrative that has often been taken as truth in the Body of Christ: “Black people will follow a White pastor but White people will never follow a Black pastor.” This book acknowledges the history from which this narrative came while looking to push a new narrative where the whole Body of Christ can benefit from the gift of Black leadership. Many books have asked, “How do we see diversity in the pews?” But this book looks to see diversity in the pulpits and leadership rooms of these churches.
To purchase the book, or for more information, see HERE.
ATS ALUMNI PARTICIPATE IN THE RIVERS OF LIFE CLERGY BAND
Two members of the Rivers of Life Clergy Band are alumni of Asbury Theological Seminary: Rev. Dr. Joe Scheets and Rev. Dan Perry (’97). The Rivers of Life Clergy Band is composed of five United Methodist pastors. The group began when founding member, Rev. Dan Perry, was asked to put together a contemporary Christian band for their Annual Conference several years ago. Band members include Rev. Tim Pate (drums), Keysport UMC; Rev. Dr. Joe Scheets (bass), Union UMC and Wanda UMC; Rev. Annelle Ruemmler (keyboard), Payson UMC; Rev. Mark Doane (lead guitar and vocals), Virden UMC and Girard UMC; and Rev. Dan Perry (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Care Pastor at Troy UMC. Each band member brings their unique talents to the group, but all five agree they thoroughly enjoy making music and praising the Lord. They continue to be busy sharing God’s Word through music and continue to raise money to give away to various missions and charitable causes.
During COVID, although they were unable to play, the band went into the recording studio to begin their second
double album project titled “Forgiven.” Once churches began to open to in-person and outdoor worship, the band got extremely busy. At each of their concerts, they sell their first CD “Zealous Love” and their newest CD “Forgiven.” The band has donated the proceeds from their CDs and love-offerings to support three Illinois Great River Conference initiatives: Imagine No Malaria, Africa University, and Our Conference, Our Kids. To date, the band has donated over $17,000 to conference initiatives, UMCOR, and other mission and charitable causes.
If you would like to purchase a CD/thumb drive or if you’d like more information, please check out their Facebook page www.facebook.com/riversoflifeclergyband or contact Rev. Dan Perry at riversoflife77@gmail.com.
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