Spiritual Vitality Fall 1988

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In sports, the winning team is usually one that's been together a few years. The rookie or two who crack the starting lineup are more than balanced by the solid core of veterans. Those players have a developed as a unit. They work together; they share common goals; they can depend on one another. In a word, the team has maturity.

For those of us leading churches, how do we attain such maturity for our congregations and ourselves? Sports teams develop through hours of practice and game experience. But isn't growth in godliness something God produces, the fruit of the Spirit? Can we, as church leaders, help create maturity? If so, how?

To address these issues, LEADERSHIP editors Marshall Shelley and Larry Weeden went to St. Davids, Pennsylvania, to interview Roberta Hestenes, president of Eastern College and before that the founder of the Christian Formation and Discipleship program at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. She has been interested in spiritual growth ever since she became a Christian while a college student. Shortly after her conversion, she attended a conference on leading a dormitory Bible study, and within two weeks, she was guiding a study in her own dorm.

From her experience as a pastor, professor, and spiritual director, Roberta describes what can be done to stimulate spiritual maturity and vitality.

What sparked your interest in spiritual formation?

I first recognized the challenge when I joined the staff of University Presbyterian Church in Seattle. We had 3,800 members, and about 200 were involved in adult education. Under Pastor Bob Munger, I had the opportunity to develop something churchwide to stimulate spiritual growth.

While in Seattle, I also began a Bible study with some faculty members ...

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