Weekly Email: March 31, 2025

Just a friendly reminder that our survey and book giveaway featuring books from Drs. Wellum, Schreiner, Hamilton, and more ends on tomorrow (April 1).

You can enter the giveaway here

Student Tip: Expecting the Unexpected

One term ends. Another begins. Now is the optimal time to pause and reflect on your previous term. If you’ve finished your Spring 1 course and you’re preparing for Spring 2 (starts April 7), take a moment to assess:

• What worked well? What didn’t?

• How did you manage your time?

We often believe busy semesters or unexpected events are outliers. We convince ourselves things will be smoother next time. But life rarely follows our neat and tidy plans. We should expect disruption, but we rarely do. Instead of hoping for fewer surprises, prepare for them.

Reflect honestly on the unexpected disruptions from this past term. Maybe it was a late-night call from a church member during your study hours, a sick child keeping you occupied for days, or even a sudden flat tire throwing off your schedule. While these exact scenarios might not recur, something unexpected likely will.

Ask yourself: How will I respond when disruptions happen again?

Planning for life’s unpredictability reduces stress and increases resilience.

Perform your semester audit now:

• Identify successes

• Pinpoint struggles

• Build strategies to handle future interruptions

If you’d like to discuss your reflections or have any questions, feel free to reach out. I always enjoy hearing from you.

Program News: NETS Center for Church Planting & Revitalization

We’re excited to share an incredible opportunity for those of you aspiring to full-time pastor ministry!

The NETS Center for Church Planting & Revitalization has announced The NETS ResDiv Program, designed for men who want to be equipped to apply their theological education to real-life ministry as church planters or revitalization pastors in the Northeast. The ResDiv fuses your online MDiv journey with NETS' proven onsite Residency Program.

As a ResDiv student, you and your family will live on the NETS campus in Vermont, a beautiful and family-friendly 85-acre property while pursuing your online degree. You’ll enjoy attractive apartment accommodations at a nominal cost: $300 for a two-bedroom apartment and $400 for a three-bedroom apartment. Rent includes utilities and Internet.

Join NETS President Wes Pastor on April 15th at 8:30pm EST for the ResDiv Live Q&A Zoom meeting to learn more and ask questions.

Explore the NETS ResDiv Program & Watch A Video : NETS ResDiv website

Register in advance for this meeting: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/YsDla2G0S1KbGC_XWRAYXQ

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Student to Student Advice

In this final section, I want to begin sharing insights from your fellow students to encourage you along your academic and ministry journey. At times, this may include student-to-student advice, while other times it might highlight how specific classes are positively impacting ministry in your local context. A while back, I conducted a survey asking students for one piece of advice they would offer future students. I’ll share some of those responses here and plan to continue this practice in future editions.

Here’s the advice from Evan H.:

“Start early. Plan catch-up days (including using PTO if you need to). Do something school-related only five or six days of the week, leave time to place stake in those nearest to you and to divest your identity away from “being in seminary.” Don’t be afraid to take longer to earn your degree if it is going to improve your relationships.”

Evan’s advice is especially practical and aligns well with our discussions. Life often brings unexpected challenges, and scheduling catch-up days throughout your term can significantly reduce stress during these moments. Additionally, I appreciate Evan’s focus on nurturing relationships. Even as a distance learner, your education is intended to enrich your ministry and relationships exactly where you are, whether that’s within your family, your church, or your broader community. Our hope is that the degree you’re pursuing equips you effectively to serve wherever God has placed you.

If these insights inspire you to share your own experiences, whether advice on specific classes, study strategies, or ways your coursework is benefiting your ministry, please reach out. I’d love to hear from you and potentially include your thoughts in upcoming newsletters. While I have gathered considerable feedback from past surveys, I’m always open to fresh contributions. My hope is that this section encourages you through the wisdom and experience from other students.

That’s all for this week! You can browse past emails in the archive or explore Course Snapshots to find textbooks, course descriptions, and details about what we offer online