Nov 15, 2018
For many years, “education” meant sitting at a desk in a classroom, listening to a teacher give a lecture. Today that is no longer the case. The world of education, especially for adults, is changing at a rapid pace. I’m thrilled to bring you a conversation with a great educator who helps us think about the future of education and what it means for us, both as learners and teachers.
Today I’m thrilled to be talking with Don Sanders, who is the Staff Development Pastor and Director of the Merold Institute for Ministry at Harvester Christian Church in St. Charles, Missouri. He also just happens to be my older brother!
Don is not only one of the best educators I know—he’s also a master learner who is currently working on a Doctor of Education degree at The Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. In our conversation, you’re going to learn about creativity from an educator’s perspective, and how Don has infused a creative learning approach to The Merold Institute for Ministry, which he directs.
You’ll learn what the future holds for education, as well as some very practical strategies for being a lifelong learner. Don also shares some interesting thoughts about his doctoral program and how it has changed him as an educator.
Episode Highlights
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- Why creativity should flow through every aspect of education.
- How Don defines “creativity” from an educator’s point of view.
- What has changed in ministry training in recent years.
- Why church-based institutes are not in direct competition to traditional Christian colleges.
- What it takes for a church to establish an institute.
- What Don sees as the future of ministry education.
- Don’s experience in pursuing a doctoral degree, and how it has changed him as an educator.
- The value of reading and discussion groups in your personal development.
- How Don keeps creatively sharp, and the role physical exercise plays in it.
Key Takeaways
1. See yourself as an educator. It doesn’t matter whether you have a title that is associated with education—Professor, Teacher, Educator, etc. You always need to be teaching. You have skills and talents that others need to learn. You have knowledge that can benefit others. What are some of the ways you can teach others? Here are a few: conversations, blog, podcast, speaking, classes, live events, mastermind or small groups, books, articles, mentoring, social media posts, consulting just to name a few.
2. Be a constant learner. My brother and I are both constant readers. You will rarely see either one of us without a book. But reading is only one of many ways to learn. He is working on a doctorate degree. I am constantly participating in webinars, meetups, masterminds, and other learning opportunities. The only way to stay fresh and relevant is to be a constant learner.
Don’t forget about face-to-face interaction. Almost every college offers online education today. (I’m the Director of Online Learning at my workplace, St. Louis Christian College.) But there is still great value in face-to-face learning opportunities. As much as I love the internet and all the opportunities it gives us for influence and learning, there is still something irreplaceable about in-person interaction. I hope you’ll make it a priority to build relationships offline, attend meetups and local events, and schedule lunches with people.
Resources
Podcast Partners:
Looking for Christmas gift ideas? My book The Artist’s Suitcase: 26 Essentials for the Creative Journey is the perfect gift for the artist or creative person in your life (or even yourself!)
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