校友 Spotlight: 艾萨克庄
艾萨克庄, MDIV, began the Certificate in Church Administration program through the 商学院 and 非营利组织管理 after realizing that he was underprepared for the complexities of leading and administering to a church. He had entered into the field of church and organizational leadership with an MDIV from a local seminary, 然而,, 正如他所说, “I knew that if I was to be prepared for my role, I had to get more practical training on the legal, 金融, and operational complexities of the church in all of its unique characteristics.”
在节目中, he really enjoyed learning about 金融 management for nonprofit organizations—something he was not prepared for by his undergraduate degree in economics. 这门课, 特别是, gave him an understanding of how to gauge the 金融 health of the church. He stresses that he wishes more seminaries offered this course and training to pastors.
When asked how he planned to utilize the information and knowledge gained in this program, 他指出, “I’ve already been using it since I graduated. Right now, I am on track to be ordained as the church’s first executive pastor. Without the training I received with the church administration certificate, I would not know the role of 治理, how to read balance sheets and oversee the 金融 operations of the church, or how to supervise and inspire the staff. It would have taken a lot longer and been much more difficult for me to do what I do now without the benefit of the classes that the certificate entailed.”
As he continues to reflect on his overall experience in the Certificate in Church Administration program, 他指出, “I’m grateful for North Park for offering this program in the first place. 越来越多, I realize how important it is for pastors to receive training not only in the biblical and theological aspects of ministry but also the practical and legal aspects. Leading people in the church is not simply about what we know but also what we learn and practice. And the process of undergoing study and further training is necessary if we are to continue pursuing excellence in our life with God. I believe this program is particularly important for pastors who are running administrative, 治理, or 金融 aspects of their church who did not receive training through experience, and I wish more seminaries included some of these classes as part of their degree program.”
Chong currently works in Orange County, California, at EKKO Church as the operations director.