From the Vanderbloemen Leadership Podcast, we’re excited to bring you our one-on-one series with Christian leaders to share their insights on a variety of leadership topics, all through the lens of faith.
On today’s episode, Holly Tate talks with Dr. Virginia Ward and Kristen Ivy, co-authors of It’s Personal: Five Questions You Should Answer To Give Every Kid Hope.
Dr. Ward is the Associate Dean of the Boston Campus at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary as well as the Assistant Professor of Youth Ministry and Leadership. Kristen Ivy is the Executive Director of Messaging at Orange, a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to influence those who influence the next generation. We talk about better equipping staff and volunteers to authenticity engage the younger generation.
Tweet your takeaways from today’s show using the hashtag vandercast and check out today’s show notes to join our facebook group where we post behind the scenes content and giveaways. Here’s my conversation with Dr. Virginia Ward and Kristen Ivy.
Dr. Virginia Ward serves as the Director of Leadership and Mentored Ministry Initiatives. She is responsible for facilitating the development of leadership skills and managing urban collaborative field experiences for students. Virginia’s local and national involvement in the training and development of youth leaders spans three decades. She teaches youth ministry, leadership and ministry development courses, along with providing spiritual formation support on the Boston Campus.
Dr. Ward comes with extensive experience as an urban pastor, ministry organizer, and youth ministry expert. After an initial study in Management at Northeastern University and courses at Harvard Extension School, Dr. Ward pursued education in ministry, earning her Diploma in Urban Ministries, Master of Arts in Youth Ministry, and Doctor of Ministry in Emerging Generations, all at Gordon-Conwell. A third-generation minster, Rev. Ward is an Associate Pastor at Abundant Life Church where her husband Bishop Larry Ward is the Senior Pastor.
Among the many ministry organizations Dr. Ward has served are: DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative (Boston City Coordinator, Coach for Pittsburgh, San Diego, Detroit and New York; Trainer, 1997-present), Black Ministerial Alliance (Trainer and Consultant, 2005-2011), InterVarsity (New England’s Black Campus Ministries Director and Consultant, 2007-present), and Orange (Keynote Speaker and Workshop Leader, 2014-present).
Virginia resides in Boston with her husband and two adult sons.
Kristen Executive Director of Messaging at Orange (The reThink Group, Inc.) and the Co-Founder and Director of The Phase Project. She and her husband Matt are currently parenting their three amazing children through the phases.
Before beginning her career at Orange in 2006, Kristen earned her bachelors of education from Baylor University in 2004 and a Master of Divinity from Mercer University in 2009. She worked in the public school system as a high school Biology and English teacher where she learned firsthand the joy and importance of influencing the next generation.
At Orange, Kristen has played an integral role in the development of the elementary, middle school, and high school curriculums and has shared her experiences at speaking events across the country.