Tim Neufeld

Traditional Undergraduate Contemporary Christian Ministries Program Director

McDonald Hall, Room 217
Telephone: 559-453-2093
Fax: 559-453-5558
Email: tdn@fpu.edu

What programs do you teach in?

  • I teach in the contemporary Christian ministries program. This major prepares students to move into full-time ministry in the church and parachurch organizations through theological reflection, biblical studies, discernment, spiritual formation and ministry preparedness.

Education

  • B.A.,biblical and religious studies, Fresno Pacific College, Fresno, California
  • M.Div., church and family ministries, Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, Fresno, California
  • D. Min., missional leadership, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California (in progress)

Share why you teach at FPU

  • I love teaching at FPU because it is a community of learners. When I enter the classroom, I attempt to create a space for learning in which everyone is responsible for the learning process. I enjoy teaching about ministry, but I also want to be a student of my students. I realize that each student at each desk has something to contribute. My job isn’t just to give answers, but to pose questions and welcome insights.

Scholarly interests

  • My study and research focuses on how the church in North America can authentically address a twenty-first century culture of unprecedented change. The church has largely become irrelevant to a secular, post-Christian culture. But all is not lost. God is at work, and the church must understand in new ways how it can join in the work He is already doing. A missional understanding of church leadership and theology calls for an engagement with culture in ways that the kingdom of God will truly offer hope and salvation in a postmodern context.

Publications

  • “God’s Christmas Graffiti,” for FPU Scholars Speak, December 19, 2007
  • “The Dropout Cop-out: Community, businesses can help students succeed,” with Larry Wilder in The Fresno Bee, December 9, 2007
  • “Can Christians support Buddhist monks?” for FPU Scholars Speak, October 1, 2007
  • “Poverty deserves to be treated with serious dignity,” in The Fresno Bee, May 12, 2007
  • “The Ted Haggard scandal: implications for the church,” for FPU Scholars Speak, November 21, 2006; in Mennonite Weekly Review, December 4, 2006; and in Christian Leader, January 1, 2007
  • “Family Feud: How to Handle Conflict in the Family,” in Christian Leader, September 2003
  • “Postmodern Models of Youth Ministry,” in Direction, Fall 2002
  • Book review of Building Together: Developing Your Blueprint for Congregational Youth Ministry, by Carol Duerksen, published by Faith & Life Resources, 2001, in Direction, Spring 2002
  • “Change the Methods, Not the Message,” in Christian Leader, March 1999

Current professional and service experiences

  • Part-time worship pastor at North Fresno Church
  • Conference speaker
  • Chair of Central Valley Youth Ministries Network
  • Co-director of Mennonite Brethren National Youth Conference

Professional affiliations

  • The Alban Institute
  • Association of Youth Ministry Educators
  • Allelon
  • Central Valley Youth Ministries Network
  • Gospel and Our Culture Network
  • National Network of Youth Ministries
  • Youth Specialties Academic

Blogs and podcasts

Recommended resources

 
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