Pastor Prayer & Coffee Event

Pastors are invited to join the Office of Church Relations and Bethel Seminary for a morning of prayer, coffee, Bethel updates and a message from Dr. Denise Kjesbo! Dr. Kjesbo will share findings from her recent book, Partnering Church and Home, and will focus on the topic of How the Church Is Investing in Children's Ministry and Discipleship.

About our Speaker: Dr. Denise Muir Kjesbo

Denise was raised in Southwest Minnesota, the third daughter in a family that told her she was loved no matter what and she could be anything God called her to be. Her call to ministry as a woman in ministry unfolded through several years until she could hear and answer God's call in her life to serve the church and equip leaders through seminary education. Denise is married to her best friend and ministry partner, Allen. Their family includes two adult children, Jordan and Emily, their spouses, Faith and Ryan, four grandchildren, Keke, Keivon, Hazel, and Henry, Keke's husband, Tanner, and two great grandsons, Kayden and Karter (Keke and Tanner's children). Their family is the greatest joy in her life!

Dr. Kjesbo loves investing in the leadership development of the most important leaders in the local church and broader community: Children's, Youth, and Family Ministry leaders! She does this through teaching three courses in the MACYFM: Introduction to Children's, Youth, and Family Ministry, Family Ministry, and Global and Missional Children's and Family Ministry. Denise is the Program Director for the MACYFM/Certificate in CYFM. She serves as the Faculty Mentor for all MACYFM students and finds great joy investing in the lives of students.

She serves as the Director of The Cory Center for Children's Ministry. This endowment seeks to equip and empower children's and family ministry leaders who have not yet (or never will!) attend Bethel Seminary's MACYFM or Certificate in CYFM. They have a variety of initiatives including the Engage Certificate in Children's Ministry, the Engage Certificate in Family Ministry, and the Engage Certificate in Pastoral Ministry in partnership with the International Network of Children's Ministries. They also offer the Entre' Ninos Children's Ministry Certificate for Spanish speaking children's and family leaders. They partner with the Global Children's Forum and provide endorsement of the Global Leadership Experience for leaders in children's and family ministry around the world.

Denise has served globally through presenting at and attending conferences and teaching theological institutions in 16 countries: Thailand, Malaysia, India, Lebanon, Ecuador, Brazil, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Belize, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and South Africa. Her global travels have informed and strengthened her teaching at Bethel Seminary and given her a bigger view of God's work in the Kingdom. She has learned much from her global sisters and brothers.