Nazarene Theological Seminary

What motivates a busy missionary and father of four to board an airplane twice a year for an eighteen-hour journey to another hemisphere?  Those who know Jay might quip Dr. Pepper or Taco Bell – two items he misses in Bulgaria.  The truth though:  This graduate of MidAmerica Nazarene University earned his M.Div. from NTS in 1994.  By the fall of the same year, he exchanged seminary classes for Russian language classes and spent the next twelve years as missionary and pastor, worked to get a Nazarene Theological Extension Education program off the ground in Bulgaria, and served the district as superintendent.  It is a district which, over the past 4 years, has grown from 2 congregations to 20, and from 27 Nazarene members to 340.  Seemingly, he would have enough to do—so why add a Doctor of Ministry program to the mixture?

Sunberg’s passion is evident when he talks about his current role as student.  With a smile, he states, “It is good to be back at NTS where there are a lot of good memories.”  He goes on to explain that the M.Div. Degree was the natural and right step for him after college.  It was a means to becoming equipped for ministry. A decade later, now enrolled in the Doctor of Ministry Program, his perspective on ongoing education is different.  He sees that the practical application gained in this program has a direct connection to his ministry in Bulgaria.   His brow furrows as he says, “The work of the church of the Nazarene in Bulgaria is tremendous and exciting.  I do not want my ignorance or lack of preparation to be a deterrent to what God wants to do in Bulgaria.  On the contrary, I hope that I can contribute—and to do this, I have to prepare myself to be a life-long learner.” 

Sunberg goes on to point out that, of the leaders he works with in Bulgaria, one is working on her third master’s degree and several other leaders have two master’s degrees.  “Missions in Bulgaria, not unlike pastoring in the U.S., requires a commitment to life-long learning—education is mandatory.”  According to Sunberg, the beauty of the NTS DMin. Program is in its solid construction and adaptability.  There is a strong theological emphasis as well as an element of leadership development, which combines with the practical development of ministry skills and a needed spiritual emphasis that encourages growth in the student.  The six hours of electives then allow for a tailored program that fits the individuals student’s ministerial interests and focus.

In practical terms, the DMin. Program is equipping Sunberg to be more effective in his ministry in an Eastern European and Orthodox setting.  He has a list in his head, which he flicks through with a tap on his finger:  One of the strengths of the program is its grounding in a local ministry setting.  There is an immediate benefit because the projects push the student to apply newly found knowledge back into the local setting.   The program is adaptable to local ministry with a good balance of projects and electives.  The fact that the diploma can be accomplished without interruption to current ministry responsibilities underlines that ‘adaptability aspect’ which Sunberg appreciates.  He goes on to say that, the NTS faculty is excellent and concludes with an unexpected highlight:  the camaraderie he has discovered among the students.  “For an intensive two weeks we eat together, watch basketball together, pray together, and work through the courses together.  An experience like this brings immediate bonding.”

This missionary student wraps up the interview by sharing two statements made during his class, which significantly resonated with him.  One statement came from Dr. Jesse Middendorf, General Superintendent, who in addressing the class reflected upon his own journey at NTS.  Middendorf stated that years into his ministry, he looked at himself and realized that he needed a re-tooling for ministry.  The second statement came from a student colleague who said that the books and materials required for the class were excellent.  He said that, “In the busyness of ministry, I would not have read them—but I need to read them.”  With a sheepish grin, Sunberg adds, “I agree completely with both of those statements, especially the latter.  The NTS DMin. Program puts the student in touch with the latest materials and books by well-respected authors, while allowing that student to stay in his or her ministry.  “It is a great program,” concludes Sunberg.

When the house quiets in the evening, Sunberg is at the kitchen table surrounded by books and a computer.  An airplane headed west looms in his future. Taco Bell is on his list of places to visit, and it is a guarantee that a few cans of Dr. Pepper will be stowed in his suitcase; but it is the hunger to re-tool and learn that motivate his journey.  For Sunberg, the Doctor of Ministry program at NTS is a means towards more effective ministry in the kingdom.