Author: Todd Engstrom

  • Between Two Worlds: Calvin’s Death-Bed Charge to Older and Younger Men

    The following quote is from Between Two Worlds: Calvin’s Death-Bed Charge to Older and Younger Men on Douglas Bond’s The Betrayal: A Novel on John Calvin (P&R, 2009). Here’s how John Calvin wisely charged older and younger men just one month prior to his death (p. 369): April 27, 1564, Calvin called members of the…

  • Vacation Reading | Overview

    One of the things I look forward to on vacation is some good time for reading.  Over the past two weeks I went through: Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches by Russell Moore Total Church:A Radical Reshaping Around Gospel and Community by Steve Timmis and Tim Chester Vintage Church:Timeless…

  • The Need is the Call | North Africa

    Some of our students from The Austin Stone have been instrumental in making the video below…maybe you are the person they’re looking for?

  • Together for Adoption Conference

    Both my wife and I are planning on attending the Together for Adoption Conference 2009 in October. If we have a group of four or more from The Austin Stone attend, then we are eligible to receive a group discount.  Anyone from The Stone interested?  Drop me a comment and I’ll connect with you. Also…

  • Back in Action!

    Since I know so many of you couldn’t wait for my blogging return, I’m happy to report that I’m back in action and well rested from vacation.  I’ll resume regular posting shortly…

  • Cool College Students | Repost Set 4

    This set is some highlights of what Austin Stone students have done in the last year: Students reaching out to children in tough neighborhoods – St. John’s Day Camp Making disciples on campus – Unconventional Baptism One of my students gets published at Relevant.com – Relevant Another student is recognized for her work in Sudan…

  • Tough Words | Repost Set 3

    Below are some posts that were challenges me and people around me: Our messed up idea of calling – The Confusing Language of Calling Get up and do something – Passivity in the Church Pastoring in biblical conviction through tough questions – Tough Questions A challenge to adopt – Total Church, Gospel Ministry and Adoption

  • Discipleship | Repost Set 2

    As I’m on vacation, I’m reposting some links to things I have written in the past on this blog.  Below are links to the series I wrote on Discipleship: Part 1 – Foundations of Discipleship Part 2 – Practice of Discipleship Part 3 – Process of Discipleship 1 Part 4 – Process of Discipleship 2…

  • Assimilation and Mission | Repost Set 1

    Vacation Repost Set 1: Assimilation and Mission I’ve written several posts that refer to assimilation and mission, and the complexity of doing both well.  Take a look at them below: Alan Hirsch meets Seth Godin – Spontaneous Emergence Thoughts from Tribes by Seth Godin – Assimilation is Connectivity Effective Connection into Mission – Mission First,…

  • Rubik’s Cube and Vacation

    Last summer I learned to solve the Rubik’s Cube.  This summer, I am aiming to learn how to solve it in under a minute and a half, as well as solving it in as few moves as possible. Should be a fun vacation. I’ll be reposting some material over the next two weeks, so I…

  • The 5 Big Issues in Campus Ministry | Innovation

    This series of blog posts is in response to Steve Lutz’s series on “The 5 Big Issues in Campus Ministry Today”. and his specific thoughts on Missiology, Theological Foundations, Ecclesiology, Innovation, and Sustainability. My thoughts are here: Missiology 1, Missiology 2, Missiology 3, and Theological Foundations. — Two Examples of Innovation In my experience, student driven…

  • The 5 Big Issues in Campus Ministry | Theological Foundations

    Steve’s take is here, and below is his thesis for this issue in campus ministry: Theological foundations are needed for the faithfulness and long-term fruitfulness of our ministries. We are running semester-long sprints when we need to be training students to run the marathon of the Christian life. He then breaks the theological foundations important…