An Engine Room of Ministry Thought
Investigating the strategy of in-house ministry training
This is part two of three on the theology, strategy and practice of Berea, the local church training programming at Soul Revival Church.
View Part One on the Theology of Berea Training here.
View Part Three on the Practice of Berea Training here.
Did I mention that I wrote a book? Stuart Crawshaw, Joel McMaster and I start this episode of The Shock Absorber Podcast by chatting about the book launch event that Soul Revival Church and Youthworks College co-hosted last week.
But now back to the podcast, where we are in the middle of our mini-series on the theology, strategy and practice of Soul Revival Church’s internal training, called Berea. (If you missed last week’s episode, you can find it here.)
We discuss several key aspects of Berea, including its design as an affordable and flexible model to supplement further theological study, the role of discipling people publicly, and the importance of fostering a collaborative approach to ministry.
Berea was where the idea of the Shock Absorber originated. The format of Berea embraces a teaching model that de-emphasises the expert and allows both top-down and bottom-up contributions. It creates a space where younger people can actively shape ministry while also learning alongside their leaders. By prioritising relationships over rigid institutional structures, Berea ensures that Soul Revival’s culture is passed through generations while remaining firmly rooted in biblical truths and traditional church expressions.
Our discussion explores the importance of the third place strategy and engaging in training content within the context of community. Ministry is not only about imparting knowledge but also about creating spaces where people can wrestle with and apply theological ideas together.
This approach has shaped Soul Revival from its early days, where the permission to explore new ideas became foundational. Berea now functions as the Shock Absorber of the church, balancing tradition with innovation. Drawing inspiration from movements like L'Abri, the 1960s social revolutions at Berkeley, and the Jesus Movement, it fosters an environment where young people's desire and ability to enact change can be harnessed within a biblical framework.
Through an emphasis on Christian conviction, character, and competency, Berea unites generations in an ongoing conversation about what it means to be faithful Christians in today’s world and acts as a safeguard for the church’s teaching. Rather than simply replacing thought leadership over time, this model sustains it—preserving the gospel while allowing each generation to engage with it in meaningful ways.
Listen along on your favourite podcast platform, or watch the conversation on the YouTube link below.