Category Archives: Clergy

Moving Beyond Values: Cultivating the Virtue of Compassion

Posted on January 8, 2026 by Dean G. Blevins

In a recent webinar session of the West Coast initiative on virtue formation, Dr. Ross A. Oakes Mueller provided a profound exploration of compassion. Dr. Oakes Mueller serves as psychology professor at Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) and as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Clergy, Discipleship, NTS Praxis, Nurturing Care, West Coast | Tagged #NurturingCare, Children, ministry, Moral Integration, NTS, Nurturing Care | Leave a comment

Nurturing Care 2025 Retrospective

Posted on January 1, 2026 by Dean G. Blevins

Each year Nurturing Care submits a report to the Lilly Endowment, Inc. documenting the initiative’s efforts, impact, and most importantly, what our leadership learns through the many prototypes and ministry efforts by our partners. As the initiative gained momentum this … Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, Children, Clergy, disability, Intergenerational, KC Nurturing Care, Nurturing Care, West Coast | Tagged #NurturingCare, Autism, Children, disability, ministry, Moral Integration, NTS, Nurturing Care | Leave a comment

Go Tell it on the Mountain: Trust and Compassion on Display

Posted on December 16, 2025 by Dean G. Blevins

As Nurturing Care churches approach Christmas, the staff received an early Christmas present courtesy Palmer Family Church of the Nazarene. Palmer grant director Monica Gaige sent a video where children lead worship on Sunday morning inviting congregants to “Go Tell … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Clergy, Continuing Education, Discipleship, Moral Integration, Nurturing Care, PLNU, Practical Theology, Virtue, West Coast | Tagged #NurturingCare, Children, ministry, Moral Integration, NTS, Nurturing Care | Leave a comment

All God’s Children: Workshops at the 2025 Preachers Conference

Posted on October 7, 2025 by Dean G. Blevins

Nurturing Care participated in the 2025 Hugh C. Benner Preachers Conference at Nazarene Theological Seminary hosted by NTS Praxis. The event gathered pastors, educators, and advocates around the theme “All God’s Children”—a focus on engaging and supporting neurodiverse and disabled … Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, Children, Clergy, disability, Intergenerational, KC Nurturing Care, Leadership, NTS Praxis, Nurturing Care, Practical Theology, Preaching Conference | Tagged #NurturingCare, Autism, Children, disability, ministry, NTS, Nurturing Care | 1 Comment

Preaching on the Spectrum

Posted on October 3, 2025 by Dean G. Blevins

In designing the ministry, part of the Nurturing Care initiative included a commitment by Nazarene Theological Seminary and its professional development team, NTS Praxis, to commit the seminary’s Preacher’s Conference to highlight the need for churches, and particularly lead pastors, … Continue reading →