Updates, Events, and Publications
Author Larry Piatt’s Newly Released “Simple Bible Stories” Retells the Stories of Jesus and the Church for Children
“Simple Bible Stories” is the creation of published author, Larry Piatt. Larry was born and raised in Ohio. He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Asbury College of Wilmore, Kentucky in 1974 and a master of divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary of Wilmore, Kentucky in 1993. He was ordained an elder in the Evangelical Methodist Church in 1977. He has served pastorates in Illinois, Indiana, Virginia, and West Virginia. For ten years, he served as the Evangelical Methodist Church’s representative to the board of trustees for World Gospel Mission. He and Lynn, his wife of forty-seven years, currently reside in Nicholasville, Kentucky where they are near their three daughters and seven grandchildren. Reverend Piatt is the author of “1001 Questions on the Bible” and ”1001 More Questions on the Bible.” Both books were published by Baker Book House in the 1980s.
“One night, while Joseph was asleep, an angel appeared to him and told Joseph that he and Mary should go ahead and live together as husband and wife. The angel reassured Joseph that Mary’s baby had been conceived by the Holy Spirit, making the baby the son of God.” –Larry Piatt
Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Larry Piatt’s new book tells the stories of the Bible in a way that children of all ages can understand.
“Simple Bible Stories” begins with the story of Mary and Joseph then follows the birth and life of Jesus before concluding with Paul arriving in Rome to complete the Book of Acts. The life of Jesus is depicted in chronological order until His death and resurrection. The stories then continue to the very beginning of the Church on the day of Pentecost.
Readers will learn of Peter, James, Stephen, Paul, and many more of the key Biblical figures as they witness the phenomenal growth of the Church in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and throughout the known world. “Simple Bible Stories” is the ideal tool for the busy Sunday school or children’s church teacher. Parents can also use this book as a Bible study aid or source of bedtime stories for their children.
View a synopsis of “Simple Bible Stories” on YouTube.
Consumers can purchase“Simple Bible Stories” at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.
4th Annual Wesley Waddle 10K/5K
Are You Ready to Race for the END of Modern Slavery? The 4th Annual Wesley Waddle 10K/5K will take place on April 21, 2018, with a shotgun start at 8am. Online and paper registration will open on January 1, 2018. Asbury students, staff, faculty, and alumni receive a discounted entry fee of $15 for the 5K and $20 for the 10K; entry free includes a race shirt, bagel breakfast, and entry into all door prizes.
This year, we are excited to partner with the globally renowned END IT movement, a coalition of the leading organizations in the world, to shine a light on slavery and fight for freedom. Our charitable donations will be given to Refuge for Women, a nationally recognized organization that provides long-term care for women who have escaped human trafficking. Refuge for Women offers safe houses locally and nationally and equips each woman to complete their program with a vision for the future.
To register, donate, or check out more information, visit us at RunSignUp.Com. Don’t forget to hashtag your pictures (#wesleywaddle10K5k), and check out the END IT movement (enditmovement.com).
Counseling and Pastoral Care Clinic Opened on Campus
The Department of Counseling and Pastoral Care (CPC) is piloting a new counseling clinic on the Asbury Theological Seminary Wilmore campus starting Feb. 13. Services are provided free of charge to Seminary students and families. The clinic is located in room 408 of Stanger Hall and is open Tuesday thru Thursday from 5-8 p.m.
Counseling students at Asbury Seminary are trained to integrate psychology and theology in a thoughtful and practical approach to personal concerns. The clinic allows counseling students to learn to balance that integration in a professional environment, and provide the community the opportunity to see a counselor who is theologically mindful, while addressing mental health needs.
“It is our department’s opportunity to provide a ministry to the school,” Dr. Russell Hall, Director of Training for the Department of Counseling and Pastoral Care, said. “We’re not only about sending students into the world to help others. We want to practically and immediately impact the campus community, both in the students we are training and students’ mental health and career/calling needs in the larger community.”
Student counselors, ready for field placement, will provide direct services to the Seminary community. These student-counselors work under the supervision of a licensed mental health professional, as they would at any location, to complete professional training.
To protect confidentiality, students will not be assigned a counselor they know. Counselors and clients will discuss ways to keep the sessions safe, and any interactions outside the clinic will be as anonymous as the client chooses.
“This is a good opportunity for these students to practice the counseling ethics they have learned in class,” Hall said. “The clients define what safety looks like for them, and then it is up to the counselor to maintain those boundaries in accordance with professional standards, something that all professional counselors provide for their clients.”
Counseling students are trained in a variety of therapeutic interventions to meet these mental health needs:
- Depression and anxiety
- Grief
- Stress management
- Marriage and family relationships
- Career and Calling
- Spiritual issues in the context of mental health
The CPC Clinic will continue to work with the Office of Community Formation to address the needs of students who are currently enrolled at the Seminary. Students coming to Community Formation in need of counseling services will be referred to the CPC Clinic first. Students in need of formal prayer ministry or spiritual direction will be referred to the Office of Community Formation. Students also have the choice to be referred to off-campus counselors.
For more information, or to schedule an appointment, visit asbury.to/cpcclinic.
Asbury’s Community Garden Featured in Christianity Today
Three years after its opening, the Asbury Seminary Community Garden has bridged racial divides, taught children about nutrition, provided inexpensive organic food for students and created a safe and restful place for the whole community.
Read more about it in the latest issue of Christianity Today!
Tennent Tours
Dr. Tennent is coming to a town near you! Here are the anticipated Tours!
Tennent Tour: Niceville, FL
April 20-22, 2018 at Cross Point UMC
Tennent Tour: Kingsport, TN
June 9-10, 2018 at First Broadstreet UMC
For more information about these events, please contact Asbury Seminary’s Major Events office at 877-PRAY-ATS (772-9287) or email major.events@asburyseminary.edu.
will there be an Asbury dinner at Kentucky Annual Conference this year?
How will I learn about it?
When, Where, how to confirm reservations?
Thanks for your inquiry, Tom! We are currently still working out some details on that one, but we plan on publishing those details in the May edition of the Link. May will be a very special edition with lots of big news, so keep your eyes out for that one! It should arrive in your inbox a little later than normal due to the timing of some of the special content. Check your inbox the second week of May!