CHURCH SERVICE

Serving churches by supplying student preachers to stand in when needed, MidAmerica’s NEW Pulpit Supply Program is a win for churches, students, and the Gospel.

Mid-America’s new Pulpit Supply Program (PSP) is truly an all-around “win-win-win.”

Supplying churches with a preacher to stand in during the absence of a regular pastor, the PSP is a win for the church who is guaranteed solid, biblical preaching. It’s a win for the student preacher who gains invaluable experience, and it’s a win for the Gospel which is proclaimed with clarity and without compromise. One of Mid-America’s seven Core Values is Service, and the PSP is a good example of how the school really puts the “service” in church service.

Mid-America MDIV student Klayton Carson (left) is the student director of the PSP. In the Q&A below, he explains the many benefits of this vital ministry.

WHAT IS THE PULPIT SUPPLY PROGRAM?

The program is an opportunity for Mid-America men, from associates to PhD, to serve local churches in the greater Memphis area through preaching. It serves churches whose pastor is unable to preach as well as churches that are in between pastorates. The PSP facilitates connecting a preacher to a preaching mentor. The program also offers a monthly preaching class called the School of the Prophets, which all men at Mid-America are invited to attend, both inperson or virtually. The name of the class, “School of the Prophets,” pays tribute not only to the group mentioned in 2 Kings 2 but also to the original name that Mid-America operated under for one year in 1972.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE PSP TO CHURCHES?

The benefits of the program to churches come in different ways. For the church that has a pastor, it benefits them in that their pastor can have a day of rest. Furthermore, many churches that have only one pastor often are stuck whenever he goes on vacation or even on a mission trip. The Pulpit Supply Program is able to come alongside that under-shepherd and give them the opportunity to rest. The program also benefits churches that are without a pastor. These churches are searching for a pastor, but it can be hard to stay together in the meantime. The program serves as a bridge. We provide the church with someone to preach so they can continue gathering as the body of Christ.

One other benefit is that these churches get to see young men who are dedicated to the Lordship of Christ. In a culture where it seems like every younger generation is slipping further and further away from Christ, these churches get to see the Lord working through young men who are not slipping away.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE PSP TO PREACHERS IN TRAINING?

The program provides a place to practice what these young men have been called to do. It’s difficult for local churches to provide preaching opportunities for young men trained for ministry, so this program creates opportunities for these young preachers to preach while still being able to remain active in their local church, go to school, and prepare for their future ministry.

The School of the Prophets monthly preaching class benefits students by allowing them to engage with experienced preachers and getting to ask that preacher specific questions. This was best seen with Dr. Steven Smith at the January 2023 School of the Prophets event. Dr. Smith spoke briefly on 2 Corinthians 4:5 and then spent over 40 minutes answering questions from students. The questions ranged from illustrations to delivery and everything in between.

WHAT SETS MID-AMERICA-TRAINED PREACHERS APART?

What sets Mid-America preachers apart is their desire. The men who have joined the Pulpit Supply Program desire to preach, to make much of Jesus, to study, and to learn. All of the preachers in the program have the itch to preach, and they are always ready to preach when called upon.

ALREADY MORE THAN 100 PREACHING ENGAGEMENTS FOR THE NEW MINISTRY 16

DIFFERENT CHURCHES SERVED SO FAR 3 DIFFERENT STATES TENNESSEE ARKANSAS MISSISSIPPI