I am grateful and honored to serve as President of Association of Ministry Guidance Professionals. I look forward to working with the board and our membership in the coming year.
Above all, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who continues to serve Christ in ministry guidance. The students with whom we work today represent the future of ministry of the church in the digital age. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to our organization and to the colleges, universities, and seminaries you represent.
What’s coming for AMGP? First, let me challenge all members of AMGP to engage (or re-engage) in our professional organization. Times are tough in higher education and funding is scarce. Joining AMGP remains an indispensable professional option. Second, I will be intentional about broadening the outreach of AMGP to include ministry guidance professionals who are not yet AMGP members and who, in keeping with informal discussion at the 2022 meeting, may work outside our historical Baptist heritage. After all, as Ed Stetzer and Andrew MacDonald remind us, “nondenominational evangelicalism is the new norm.” Why should we not be deliberate about working with other evangelicals?
Finally, as always, AMGP will offer the best quality conference we can while minimizing the cost of attendance. I’m excited about the 2023 annual meeting in San Antonio, with Wayland Baptist University’s San Antonio campus as your host. We will offer a variety of meaningful presentations designed just for us. I’m sure you will not be disappointed! You can see this year's program highlights here, look at the preliminary schedule here, and join AMGP here.
If I can help in any way, please feel free to contact me. I’m here for you!
Grateful to serve with you,
Ben D. Craver, PhD
AMGP President
Professor of Theological Studies
Wayland Baptist University, San Antonio