Stan Wiedeman | Resume

Stan Wiedeman

CONVERSION I came to know Jesus while in college. I heard the gospel at a meeting and

trusted Christ privately, but did not become involved in a church or any

Christian group for a several years. Nearly three years after I trusted Christ, I

became involved in a Bible study, which God used to upend my world and set

me on the path of spiritual growth.

CALLING I always explain that I was clearly called to seminary, and my calling to

ministry grew out of that calling. I was in my final semester of college when I

was fully convinced that God wanted me to apply to Dallas Seminary. I was

accepted (surprisingly) and entered in the fall of 1974. Although I have

served in church ministries for nearly 35 years, I believe that every believer is

called to the mission of God to advance his kingdom on earth in every place

and in every vocation of life. God’s call to his mission drives me in all my

pursuits and I want to advance his kingdom on earth in whatever way he calls

me, inside or outside of church ministry.

MISSIONAL OBJECTIVE I am seeking a place where I can invest myself in the lives of Christ-

followers who recognize the need to develop critical and biblical thinking

skills in order to incarnate the gospel in a post-Christian culture. Significant

cultural shifts demand careful attention if the Church wants to remain

relevant and contemporary in reaching each new generation of seekers and

train them for the kingdom mission. But I am also devoted to being a

culturally-alert presence of light among those in the darkness. I have always

had a capacity to relate well to the younger generation and I am especially

interested in investing in the future of Jesus’ Church.

PERSONAL BACKGROUND

I was born 8/19/50 in St. Joseph, Missouri, but

was raised most of my life in Joplin, Missouri.

While in seminary, I married Debbie Giffen as

she was completing her Elementary Education

degree at Texas Women’s University. We have

seven children, five girls and two boys, ages 35

to 19. My oldest daughter has five children and

lives in Houston. My third-born is married with

one child and is moving with her husband to St.

Louis. Another daughter is getting married this

summer and she and her husband will move to

Chicago. One son lives in Bloomington, IL,

completing his degree in education. My other

three children live in the Chicago area. (My

oldest has initiated a conspiracy to get all of the

family to move to Texas.)

I have had a number of interests and hobbies:

Musical theater – My entire family has

enjoyed experiences with local theater.

Devoted to fitness and taught aerobic

classes for two years.

Officiated high school volleyball for 19

years (12 in Missouri and 7 in Illinois) and

line judged college volleyball for 3 years.

Avid reader.

8549 Ferris Ave. Morton Grove, IL 60053 847-337-9991 cell • 847-581-0754 home [email protected] www.tuthseekerblog.com

http://www.tuthseekerblog.com/

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STAN WIEDEMAN

MINISTRY EXPERIENCE

Lakeside Church of Chicago, 1/99 – 10/12 Skokie, IL

Senior Pastor. My primary responsibility was sound biblical

preaching and teaching. I also carried out usual pastoral duties such as

visitation, pre-marital counseling, development of leaders, weddings and

funerals. I also assisted the leadership team in moving the church towards a

multiethnic community from an Asian dominant culture (primarily Japanese).

I also wrote a weekly column in a newsletter giving a biblical perspective on

contemporary events and issues.

Grace Bible Church, 1/87 – 12/98 Joplin, MO

Church Planting Pastor. GBC was in its infancy stage as an EFCA

church when my family joined the three families who started the church. In

addition to preaching, I developed and led an elder team, discipled several

men, taught a number of Precept courses, and assisted my wife in creating and

running several children’s ministries. I was a bi-vocational pastor all 12 years.

Christ Community Church, 1/85 – 12/86 Tucson, AZ

Youth Pastor. In this church of 1,500 people, I was responsible to

oversee a ministry to over 100 high school students and 60 junior high

students. I had to recruit, train and lead a volunteer team of about 25 young

adults. Regular camps required my leadership. On several occasions, I filled

the pulpit in the absence of the senior pastor. The elders believed my gifts

were in preaching and encouraged me to find a pulpit ministry, leading to my

move to Joplin.

Pontiac Bible Church, 6/78 – 12/84 Pontiac, IL

Youth Pastor. In a congregation of less than 100 people, I built the youth ministry from a small cluster of teens to a sizeable group of students committed to Christ and to one another with a vision for reaching their friends with the gospel. I practiced an incarnational style of ministry investing many hours on the high school campus and becoming known as a friend to students. In addition to leading a weekly Bible study, I initiated an evangelistic program following the “big event” model. I also led the students on multiple camping trips and mission trips.

Young Life, 9/77 – 5/78 Lancaster, TX

Campus Leader. Helped a high school Bible study group transition

into a Young Life club. I presented weekly evangelistic messages, led our

leadership team and discipled several students.


PUBLICATIONS I have published a blog for three

years (truthseekerblog.com). I am

currently working on a book for a

friend who works in a ministry to

ex-offenders in an urban Chicago

neighborhood.

Graduate:

Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas

Texas

Th.M. in Greek and New Testament

Exegesis, 1978

Thesis: The Wrath of God in the New

Testament

Undergraduate:

University of Texas at Austin

B.S. in Engineering Sciences with

emphasis in computer programming,

1973

Future Goal:

I have long had a desire to work on a

doctoral degree (preferably a Ph.D.),

but my family needs have prohibited

that pursuit. If the right context

presented itself, I would still like to

return to school for doctoral work.

FORMAL EDUCATION


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STAN WIEDEMAN

WORK EXPERIENCE Breaking Ground, Current Chicago, IL

Funding Associate –Completing the documents to apply for federal

funding under the Workforce Investment Act. BG is a missional business

ministry for ex-offenders in the North Lawndale neighborhood.

Bridge to Freedom, Current Chicago, IL

Grant Writer – Writing a grant for this residential reentry ministry to

ex-offenders in the Austin neighborhood.

College Heights Christian School, 9/84 – 5/98 Joplin, MO

Bible Instructor – Taught the entire Bible in three sections

corresponding to sophomore, junior and senior years. I developed the entire

curriculum for those classes.

Woolever Construction, 5/89- 8/94 Joplin, MO

Home construction and remodeling – Carpenter on both remodeling and

new home construction jobs. We specialized in log homes.

Mike Wheeler and Associates, 2/87 – 4/89 Joplin, MO

Home remodeling – Mostly did house painting.

Southwestern Medical School, 9/74 – 8/77 Dallas, TX

Computer Programmer - Wrote systems for projects, both for the

school and Parkland hospital.

CONTINUING EDUCATION Leadership Summit – Willow Creek Church, Barrington, IL, Aug. 2012

EFCA Theology Conference on Gender Roles – Trinity International

University, Deerfield, IL, Jan. 2012

Reveal Conference – Willow Creek Church, Barrington, IL, Oct. 2008

Inerrancy, Hermeneutics and Eschatology, EFCA Theology Conference

– Indianapolis, IN, Jan. 2007

Serious Times Church and Culture Conference – Mecklenburg

Community Church, Charlotte, NC, March 2006

The Loss of Self in a Postmodern Therapeutic Culture – Calvin College,

Grand Rapids, MI, Summer 2001


SPIRITUAL GIFTEDNESS AND STRENGTHS

Spiritual Gift Teaching

Spiritual Gift Prophecy

Communication skills –

verbal and written

Research skills

Good relational skills

Strong in discipleship

LEADERSHIP STYLE

I am wired for team syncretism when it

comes to leading. I do not prefer to be a

lone leader whom everyone depends

upon for vision, although I am very good

at taking initiative for leading when I

know what is expected.


Stan Wiedeman

PAGE 4

John Armstrong Julius Wong Loi Sing Friend Friend Founder & President Professor of Bible and Pastoral Studies ACT 3 Network Moody Theological Seminary PO Box 88216 820 N. LaSalle Blvd. Carol Stream, IL 60188 Chicago, IL 60610 630.221.1817 815.545.7556 [email protected] [email protected] Jeff Dennis Wayne Hiyama Friend & co-worker Elder at Lakeside Church Executive Director 5028 W. Main Breaking Ground Skokie, IL 60077 3501 W. Fillmore 847.677.6548 Chicago, IL 60624 [email protected] 773.265.1370 [email protected]

Additional references available upon request

REFERENCES

Add another photo here.

The Wiedeman and Underwood (sister’s family)

families at my daughter’s wedding, June 2010

Documents

Stan Wiedeman | Resume