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IN THIS ISSUE: Serving with Joy and Intentionality | Planting Churches, Growing Leaders in Germany | VBS and more!COMMUNICATIONS STAFF: COME SERVE WITH US! Interested in joining one of our Communications Volunteer teams? Visit shepherds.org/ministry-teams for details. COMMUNICATIONS VOLUNTEERS: Thanks to the many talented people who volunteer throughout the year. These include photographers, writers, chalk artists, graphic designers, and those that help with Bumper Crop. Kent Perigo Communications Director Susan Benner Communications Coordinator Editor/Staff Writer Zac Coleman Graphic Designer/Photographer Kirsten Roberson Graphic Designer Katie Horton Lead Videographer Cheryl Coleman Strategic and External Communications 1 Letter from Pastor Davey 2-4 Behind the Baton: Jon Milton’s Calling to Music Ministry 5-7 2025 Summer Series: Encouragement in Faith and Perseverance 8-9 Friendship, Faith & Fabric: Shepherd’s Quilting Queen Bees 10-11 Marcus Corder’s Path to Ministry: From a Degree in Fiction to a Degree in the Truth 12 2025 STS Graduation 13 The Greater Work 14 Summertime in Student Ministry 15 Prepare for a Summer of Wonder & Our Biggest Week of the Year 16-17 Neil Harris: Lazarus of the LifeSpring Class 18-21 Keith and Vanessa Bence: Serving with Joy and Intentionality 22-23 Planting Churches, Growing Leaders in Germany 24-25 Upcoming Events TABLE OF CONTENTS WORSHIP CONNECT GROW SERVE SHARE CALENDAR NEXT GENLearn More About Our Summer Series on Pages 5-7. Beloved, When you think about the people who have greatly influenced you, what made them so significant? Was it the wise counsel they offered or perhaps some friendly words of encouragement? I remember being greatly influenced by a renowned theologian who told me that he prayed for our church daily. I also felt deeply encouraged by a well-known president of a global mission organization who kindly asked me about my wife and children—and he even remembered their names! In his first letter to the Thessalonian church, the apostle Paul begins by reflecting on his memories of how they had deeply influenced and encouraged him. In fact, his inspired letter serves as a model for us, both as individuals and as a church family. As the letter opens, Paul identifies why they had such a profound impact on him. He recalls their “work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” Faith, hope, and love—no wonder the Thessalonians impacted Paul’s heart. He writes here that their faith was not some intellectual commitment; it was active—it was the “work of faith.” Their faith produced godly works. The same thing is true of their love. Paul calls it their “labor of love.” Love wasn’t just a warm feeling on a sunny day; it involved taking action through thick and thin. Finally, their hope produced steadfastness. Their hope—like yours and mine—was not some playful wish upon a star, which produces a nice concept for a Disney song. Instead, biblical hope is based on the rock-solid promises of God. Biblical hope is the assurance of God’s promises, which produces steadfastness in life. As a church, we want to adopt the same testimony of the Thessalonican church—believers who are redeemed and ready to live out the gospel. Frankly, I think this first-century church would have blushed to receive such praise from Paul. They likely had no idea that he had been watching—and had been influenced—by their testimony for Christ. The truth is, we are often unaware who is watching our lives today. You might be surprised to learn that you are being watched more than you think. Today, some younger believers might be putting into practice what they observed you doing. A couple in our church shared a story about their 3-year- old daughter. They had been teaching her how to pray in Jesus’ name and why it was so important. They were teaching her that everything we do should be something to which Jesus would affix His signature. Well, their 3-year-old didn’t quite grasp the concept. That evening, as her mother told her to pick up her toys, she refused. Her mother responded sternly, “Did you hear what I said? Pick up your toys!” With that, the little girl looked up at her mother and said, “In Jesus’ name, no!” I am sure they had a little refresher course on true prayer right then and there. When we do everything in Jesus’ name, we are going to do the right thing. People are indeed watching what we’re doing, and perhaps even the next church leader, or a church in a neighboring city, is observing our influence today. I invite all of us to dig a little deeper into this inspired letter to the Thessalonians this summer. We’ve invited several professors from Shepherds Seminary to take us through the New Testament book of First Thessalonians. My prayer is that our exposition through most of this letter will encourage us to model their example and continue moving forward in our work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope, in the Lord Jesus Christ. Pressing on with joy, 1WORSHIPM any people recognize Jon Milton as the orchestra conductor, often seen with his back to the congregation, waving his baton. But his role in Shepherd’s Music Ministry extends far beyond that. During the weekdays, Jon is often found in his office in front of multiple computer screens and speakers as he arranges music for worship. Yet, arranging and composing music represent only a fraction of the work he performs for the church, which uses his vast education and musical experience. Jon’s musical journey began in his youth when the music director at a small church in Eldersburg, Md., encouraged him to start an orchestra. His passion for music eventually led him to study at Alderson-Broaddus College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music performance. He continued his education by obtaining a Master of Arts degree, also in music performance, from Kent State University, earning several awards for his musicianship during his studies. Following that, Jon entered Ball State University to pursue his doctorate, with the plan of becoming a trumpet professor. But God had other plans. While taking a summer break from his doctoral studies and working at a small church in Colesville, Md., Jon began sensing that God was calling him to ministry in music rather than music performance. He left the doctoral program and applied to various seminaries, eventually enrolling at By Beth McKay, Contributing Writer 2WORSHIPSoutheastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest. There, he earned a second master’s degree in Church Music, focusing on Church Music Composition. Two Important Influencers Southeastern also brought two important people into Jon’s life. The first is his wife, Jessica. While rehearsing with the Southeastern orchestra, Jon met Jessica, who was also a student and musician at the seminary. For their wedding in 2014, Jon wrote an orchestra processional titled “For Jessica,” which the Shepherd’s orchestra performed. Jon and Jessica now live in Clayton with their 4-year-old daughter Hannah. Jessica teaches seventh-grade English at Wake Christian Academy and is a percussionist with the Shepherd’s orchestra. The second important person Jon met at Southeastern was Gary Hallquist, Shepherd’s former Music Ministry pastor. In 2011, Gary invited Jon to become the orchestra’s instrumental assistant. Jon considers Gary to be an excellent mentor. “Gary is a skilled composer with an impressive career and educational background. Despite his achievements, he led with humility and was always approachable. He gave me the creative freedom to develop as a composer, and let me take risks as a young writer. A few months ago, Jon revisited the first orchestration he created at Shepherd’s, which made him think of Gary. “Gary had given me a piano outline of All I Have Is Christ to expand into a full orchestration. This piece has served the church well over the years, but I wanted to make it more dynamic by adding variety to each verse and chorus. As I revisited this arrangement, I was reminded of the numerous projects that have helped me develop into the writer I am today. Gary’s guidance helped me mature as an orchestrator.” Over the 14 years Jon has been at Shepherd’s, he has assumed more responsibilities, including arranging and orchestrating music, rehearsing the orchestra and sometimes the choir, and handling audio production for several recording projects. During Sunday morning services, he conducts both the orchestra and choir. Additionally, Jon has led a talented ensemble called Resound and arranges all the congregational music for the handbell choir. Jon says that he is more of an orchestral conductor than a band conductor. His conducting is not only to “keep time” but also to shape how our musicians express the music in a way that supports the text as it is presented in worship. The musicians often praise Jon’s conducting; however, his true love these days is in arranging—and sometimes composing—music for our services. With the myriads of instruments available in an orchestra, worshiping with the choir and orchestra at Shepherd’s is a highlight of many attendees. Jon is a firm believer that the music should support the text. If a lyric speaks of sin and despair, dark brass and tense low strings can add a musical weight while a majestic final verse of the hymn “Grace Greater Than Our Sin,” with the lyrics “marvelous, infinite, matchless grace” could have a flurry of activity across the entire orchestra, from horn calls to woodwind flourishes showing the breadth of God’s grace. The lyrics determine the colors of the instrumentation. Bringing Music to Life One of the pieces that reflects Jon’s ability to bring music to life was a composition he created for the 2024 Christmas Sweet that was based on a folk tune he discovered online. With new lyrics, additional verses, and arrangements for choir and orchestra, “I Wonder as I Wander” became a performance centerpiece. If you would like to see an orchestra score in action and “He gave me the creative freedom to develop as a composer, and let me take risks as a young writer.” 3If you are gifted in music and are interested in serving in Music Ministry, we are always looking for faithful orchestra and choir members. We currently need more strings—violins, violas, cellos, double bass—but also need a skilled acoustic and/or electric guitarist. Our Handbell Choir is also looking for a few new ringers, so we can use all 5 octaves again. If you are gifted musically, we want you using and developing those gifts in service to the Lord. Come join us! Email music@shepherds.org for more info. see the notes come to life, visit shepherds.org/jon. Along with everything else, writing music has evolved with advancements in technology. Much of the composition today is done on computers with software programs such as Cubase and Dorico using advanced vocal and instrumental libraries to create demo tracks for our musicians. Fortunately, Jon is a self-described “gadget person” and has enthusiastically learned new programs and methods. He creates “mock-ups” of the music for the musicians to practice. He also works closely with the AVL Team to ensure the best possible sound for our worship services. He enjoys working behind the scenes to support the music ministry in its mission to bless the church and honor God through song. Jon’s modest demeanor belies the talent and energy he brings to his work. He sees a ministry need and takes the initiative to address it. Although he wouldn’t describe himself as a visual person, he has curated the art displays for Service of Shadows with assistance. He even drives the U-Haul truck when the music ministry travels off campus for rehearsals or retreats. Despite his many years of study and experience in trumpet performance, Jon doesn’t play often during this season of his life; he is more interested in enjoying the successes of others in the ministry. For now, he is focusing on spending time with his family, including his parents who just relocated to the area, and dedicating his work to writing and arranging music. Worship Pastor Aaron Kilian is thankful for Jon and his ministry at The Shepherd’s Church: “Jon Milton’s exceptional gifts in music theory, composition, and arranging have been a tremendous blessing to our music ministry. His creativity enriches our worship, fostering an environment where we can more fully live out our mission to ‘make His praise glorious’ (Psalm 66:2b). Beyond his musical talents, Jon serves with faithfulness and humility, often working behind the scenes to support and strengthen our ministry. We are grateful for the way God has led him to serve among us, using his gifts for His glory.” 4July 6— 1 Thess. 1:1-4 Tim Miller Executive VP of Academics, Dean of the Faculty Thank God: Offering Sacrifices of Praise Tim Miller holds a PhD in Historical Theology and a PhD in New Testament Studies. He takes great pride in being the husband of Hannah and the father of Grace, Annie, and Danielle. When does summer officially begin for you? In Michigan, I knew summer began when the snow finally melted. In North Carolina, I know summer has begun when the heat prevents me from going outside! Do you have any summer plans? This summer, my family is taking a road trip to Yellowstone National Park, with multiple stops along the way. My wife, Hannah, fondly remembers a similar trip her family took when she was young, and we are both excited to create the same lasting memories for our children. July 13— 1 Thess. 1:5-10 Les Lofquist Executive Pastor at Shepherd’s, Professor of Practical Theology Before moving to North Carolina, Les served for 20 years as the Executive Director of IFCA International and as Editor of VOICE magazine. While at IFCA International, he oversaw the association of 1,500 churches, pastors, professors, and chaplains in 27 countries. He has been married for 49 years to Miriam. They have five adult children and seven grandsons. What is your most memorable summer vacation or road trip? Miriam and I loved taking our 5 kids on family road trips in our van. With family in Utah and Minnesota, these journeys were long but always filled with fun. I loved listening to music with the kids, enjoying “Adventures in Odyssey” episodes, and engaging in lots of happy conversations along the way. On our most memorable trips, we somehow ended up in either Los Angeles or Orlando, making wonderful memories at Disney. T his summer, join us for a season of inspiration, renewal and encouragement as we welcome faithful men from our church to share God’s Word during our Sunday morning Summer Series. Together, we’ll explore the rich truths of 1 Thessalonians through their thoughtful study and insights. Below, you’ll find a glimpse into who these men are—along with some lighthearted responses to our summer-themed prompts. We look forward to hearing from each of them as they grace the pulpit in July and August. 5WORSHIPJuly 20— I Thess. 2:1-12 Dave Burggraff Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology Dave and his wife Lucy joined our church and the seminary staff in 2009. After pastoring for 10 years in Pennsylvania and Minnesota, Dave was invited to join a seminary staff in Pennsylvania where he served for 16 years as dean and professor of theology, then president. When Dave and Lucy came in 2009, Dave was privileged to serve under Stephen as executive pastor and seminary professor. Lucy served at STS in administration and as Registrar. They have three sons, each in full-time ministry, and 12 grandchildren. When does summer officially begin for you? “Summertime” begins each year when the weather turns nice for golfing. Did your family have a favorite place to vacation in the summer? Lucy and I cherish the memories of our annual family vacations. Each summer, we spent two weeks at the Jersey shore near Cape May with our boys. Our days were filled with golfing in the mornings, beach time in the afternoons, and great food in the evenings. We still uphold some of these traditions today. Summertime just doesn’t get much better than this! July 27— 1 Thess 2:13-20 Andy Burggraff Vice President of Spiritual Formation and Strategic Initiatives Andy, who has pastored churches in Spring Hill, Florida, and in Owatonna, Minnesota, came to Shepherd’s in 2011 to work and teach at the seminary. In addition, Andy is involved with Communities of Grace International, formerly known as Build the Village, and has traveled to Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi training pastors, teaching in churches, and preaching in prisons. He has also been a hospital chaplain at UNC. What’s a family summer tradition you do now? One tradition my family and I maintain each summer is to take a vacation around the 4th of July. The vacation typically includes plenty of golfing with my children, a great time of relaxation with my wife, Delecia, and we also celebrate my birthday, which falls on July 7. What is something that you hope to accomplish this summer? I’ve been teaching the Growing in Grace discipleship class at Shepherd’s. My goal for this summer is to completely edit the class and produce a video series to accompany it. This will serve as a helpful tool for churches to use. August 3— I Thess. 4:9-12 Doug Bookman Professor of Bible Exposition Dr. Bookman, who is number three of five kids (his twin sister beat him by 15 minutes), was reared in Rockford, Illinois, by wonderful Christian parents. Before coming to Shepherds Seminary, he taught and ministered in Minnesota, Texas, California, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. He and his wife have three children and 12 grandchildren—all of which, he says, certainly should have graced the label of a Gerber’s baby-food jar. Do you have a favorite summer song? “Blue Bayou” by Linda Ronstadt. It is also a favorite song in fall, winter, and spring. Do you have a favorite summer activity? Baseball. As a kid, I loved to play neighborhood baseball in the cemetery. Later, when I had my own kids, I tried to visit as many big-league baseball parks as I could with my son. We made it to 13. Even my favorite family vacations included trips to stadiums. My entire family has visited Olympic Stadium in Montreal (ugh!), Yankee Stadium in the Bronx (amazing), Shea Stadium in Queens (ugh), and Fenway Park in Boston (wow!). 6WORSHIPDo you have a favorite summer-camp memory? Five nights in a bunkhouse with a kid from Freeport who had memorized several joke books. They were all pretty bad jokes, but he could go all night long! If you could write a book about one summer, which year would it be and why? The summer of 1982. I began my first PhD classes at Dallas Theological Seminary while my kids were in grade school. That summer, my family encountered a series of wildly improbable yet clearly providential interventions, one right after the other. I had anticipated a tough and discouraging struggle, but instead, the time in Texas turned out to be delightful and beneficial for all of us. August 10— 1 Thess. 4:13-18 Michael Vlach Professor of Theology at STS Dr. Vlach holds a PhD in Systematic Theology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Vlach was awarded the 2008 Franz Delitzsch Prize for his dissertation, “The Church as a Replacement of Israel: An Analysis of Supersessionism.” He and his wife Holly have four adult children and one grandson. What is something that you hope to accomplish this summer? I am working on a book and workbook that summarizes the themes of Creation, Fall, Messianic Hope, Covenants, Israel, Jesus, Church, and End Times. I hope to finish it this summer. Do you have a favorite summer song? “Beach Baby” by First Class Most memorable summer road trip or vacation? A trip to Worlds of Fun theme park in Kansas City If you could write a book about one summer, which year would it be and why? I would choose 1978. I was 12 years old, and that summer was filled with great fun playing Grover Little League baseball in Nebraska, along with plenty of camping and fishing. August 17— 1 Thess 5:12-28 Peter Goeman Associate Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Languages Paul’s Final Exhortations to the Thessalonians Peter has attended Shepherd’s Church and served at Shepherds Seminary since July 2017. One of his favorite aspects of the job is getting to walk students through learning about God’s Word and how it applies to everyday challenges that Christians face. He is married with four kids. Do you have a favorite summer memory/ pastime? Baseball is my favorite summer activity and childhood memory! I used to play baseball all day in my neighborhood and then participate in our city league games at night. Any life lessons learned during a summer that you remember? Reflecting on my experience mentioned above, God taught me a lot of valuable lessons through summers playing baseball. One lesson that has always stuck with me is that just because someone is a rebel against God’s will, it doesn’t mean they won’t achieve earthly success. In God’s providence, He allows the rain to fall on the just and the unjust. 7Next >