Addendum (How UTM Breaks the Fatherless Cycle through Training-Part 4)
In the last blog post, I explained how UTM breaks the Fatherless Cycle through Training by teaching churches to minister to the fatherless/poor through training workshops, seminars, college-level classes, articles, books, blog-posts, curriculum, internships, consulting, and urban immersion trips. I also shared a future vision for how the Urban Transformation Institute will eventually expand its teaching opportunities through increasing its social media presence, adding more urban immersion trips, creating a ministry symposium, writing curriculum and books, and developing more ManUP sites throughout the Midwest. As UTM utilizes Training more and more to Break the Fatherless Cycle, I will eventually look to sharpen my teaching, writing, administration, and research skills through pursuing a professional doctorate so that I can more effectively train and equip UTM’s staff, volunteers, emerging leaders that were
The M.A. that I earned in Intercultural Studies at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary coupled with almost 30 years of street-level urban ministry experience laid a foundation so that I could facilitate workshops, teach college-level classes, write articles, lead urban immersion trips, and oversee the discipleship process of the fatherless urban youth and young adults. However, the technological revolution through social media brings a new set of challenges, including interacting with post-modern sociological theories and tools which have made their way into the public eye. Therefore, I am looking to pursue a Doctor of Education in Intercultural Education (EdD). This degree will help me develop a better mastery of intercultural education disciplines and research methodologies so that I can become a more effective teacher, administrator, and researcher in order that UTM can better serve the community and partner churches within its diverse, urban context. The program that I am looking into is non-residential, where I can take back-to-back, week-long summer classes five different times over a span of several years. I can stay in Grand Rapids and continue serving with UTM without moving our family across the country as I obtain this post-graduate degree. I am certain that my dissertation will involve the expansion of the Urban Transformation Institute that we are slowly developing at UTM. However, I am waiting at least a year to pursue my EdD in Intercultural Education so that my wife Sherilyn can take the necessary time to establish her personal counseling practice (Sherilyn Shaffer Counseling LLC) along with the counseling she does with the Journey Christian Counseling LLC.
If you or your church are interested in receiving specialized training on how to break cycles of fatherlessness and poverty through more formal avenues such as workshops, seminars, consulting, or through practical field experiences such as internships and immersion trips, feel free to contact me at 616-206-8666 or email me at utmgr1@gmail.com or message me through Facebook. UTM will go the extra mile by walking alongside you to make sure you are well equipped to do ministry among the fatherless and poor in your specific context.