Nazarene hosted three sessions during Global Entrepreneurship Week in Kansas City, bringing experts in entrepreneurship, community development, and social ministry together to explore innovation for the church. Hosted by faculty and leadership from the seminary, each workshop addressed a key theme that supports ministry both within and outside of local congregations.
Dr. Dean Blevins contributed a workshop on “Ministerial Entrepreneurship by Design” demonstrating how design thinking helps ministry practice. Dean for Administration George Townsend hosted a panel discussion around “Faith Communities and Entrepreneurs: Exploring Possibilities and Overcoming Problems” which included exceptional panelists like business Chris Goode, founder of Ruby Jean's Kitchen and Juicery; Nazarene layman Mark Brinkley, retired director of grants for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation; Marna Terblanche, Director of Matthew’s Ministry and participant in the NTS Nurturing Care initiative an educational leader in entrepreneurship. The seminary’s final session explored the “Social Venturing and the Future of Community Development” hosted by Heather Bryant, Dean of Marketing and Enrollment at NTS, but also previously Chief Development Officer at Mental Health Association of Oklahoma. Panelists included Father Justin Matthews, Reconciliation Services Kansas City and cofounder of LaunchKC a social ventures Incubator; Kurt Rietema, Senior Director of Youthfront Neighborhood, Argentine; and Darryl Answer, assets-based community development consultant and founder of Verge Solutions LLC, Kansas City. The session generated key insights into the strengths of social venturing in partnership with community development practices.