Sent & Centered

Week 1 — “Reclaiming Mission: Why the Church Exists”

Biblical, theological, and Wesleyan foundations for understanding the Church as the people sent by God.

Week 2 — “Knowing Your Community: Reading Your Context with Missional Eyes”

Tools for community exegesis, demographic analysis, listening practices, and contextual discernment.

Week 3 — “Discerning Direction: Values, Priorities, and Strategic Focus”

Turning insight into direction—identifying core values, aligning ministries, and shaping a missional plan.

Week 4 — “Practices that Sustain Mission: Leadership, Metrics, and Rhythms”

Sustaining a healthy mission through leadership habits, faithful metrics, and adaptive practices that endure.

Webinar Leader:

David Sharpes serves as the Smith-Cooper Chair of Evangelism and Christian Witness and Associate Professor of Christian Ministry at Nazarene Theological Seminary. He holds a Doctor of Ministry in Evangelism and Church Health/Growth from Fuller Theological Seminary, an M.Div. from Nazarene Theological Seminary, and a B.A. in Practical Theology from MidAmerica Nazarene University. For more than two decades, he has also taught as adjunct faculty at MVNU, MNU, ONU, and NTS, investing deeply in the formation of emerging pastors and ministry leaders.

A seasoned church leader with more than 30 years of ministry experience, Dr. Sharpes has served in youth ministry, multiple senior pastorates, and denominational leadership, including his tenure as District Superintendent of the Upstate New York District. His pastoral service spans congregations in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Kansas, most recently at College Church of the Nazarene in Olathe. He brings to his teaching and leadership a blend of pastoral wisdom, theological depth, and practical insight into congregational mission and evangelism.