What a great weekend at TCBC! In addition to our normal rhythms of grace that help us follow Jesus together, we were joined by a special guest, Dr. Paul Akin, who served us well in so many capacities. Dr. Akin challenged us in our worship gatherings from Matthew 10:34-39. He reminded us that following Jesus requires our absolute allegiance and for us to die to ourselves. He also spent time Sunday morning investing in our staff, deacons, and many GO Group and Family Ministry leaders.
Dr. Akin serves as a professor and as the Provost of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Our partnership with Southern Seminary brought Dr. Akin here to teach a missions course on Friday and Saturday to the students in the Tri-Cities Leadership Training Program. Whether you know it or not, you have been greatly impacted by this program and the leaders it has produced. I would argue that this program and the fruit of it has impacted our church as much or more than any other ministry in the last decade.
Since the inception of the program in August 2013, 7 cohorts of students have been trained. Those 7 cohorts have been comprised of 63 students from 9 churches throughout the Tri-Cities. Graduates have served or are serving local churches in the Tri-Cities, Oregon, Colorado, Kentucky, California, Indonesia, and Japan. Lead Pastors, Elders, Associate Pastors, Worship Pastors, Kids Ministry Directors, Student Ministry Directors, College Ministry Directors, Missions Directors, Church Planters, Women’s Ministry Directors, Parachurch Ministry Directors, teachers, deacons, small group leaders, and faithful moms and dads have been trained by this program. On May 7, we will celebrate 7 more students graduating from this program!
Thank you church for providing a real-life laboratory where students can apply what they’re learning. Thank you for generously supporting these students through the Charles Chandler Scholarship Fund. Thank you for praying for and encouraging the students you know that are part of this program!
Our next cohort launches this August. You can learn about the program and its fit for you at an interest meeting this Sunday, March 12 at 12:30 in Room L downstairs in our adult hall. Visit tcbchurch.org/seminary for more details about the program or reach out to me at wes@tcbchurch.org.
Wes Tucker
Elder / Connections Pastor
Wes Tucker serves on staff as our Connections Pastor. He served in various leadership roles for six years at TCBC before coming on staff in the fall of 2013. He earned a Master of Arts in Church Ministries degree through The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary while participating in Cohort 1 of the Tri-Cities Leadership Training Program. Wes and his wife Jennifer have four children: Cameron, Grayson, Hayden, and Caroline.