Laura Jane Kenny | staff writer
Mosaic’s Erwin McManus meets with students to answer questions about being a pastor
Erwin McManus, the cultural architect and lead pastor of Mosaic, lead a student/pastor forum in Trinity Lounge at 10:30 to noon on April 7. McManus answered student’s questions about becoming a pastor by sharing his own story.
The Kern center for vocational ministries hosted the event, trying to reach their goal to help students explore any callings in ministry. The Kern center plans their forum based on who speaks at chapel and they were excited that McManus was going to be able to have a forum with students.
“The idea is that the world is constantly changing around us and ministries continues to evolve, so we have to figure, what does ministry look like when it evolves,” staff member of the Kern center for vocational ministries Lisa Thompson said.
McManus sat in a circle of chairs and couches with students and staff. About forty students filled the room as McManus started out the forum by telling of how he came to be a pastor.
McManus became a Christian when he was twenty-years-old. One credit away from completing his major in philosophy, McManus changed to try to find something that would better fit his new lifestyle, even if he did not know what that fit was. He finished with a psychology degree and then decided to go to seminary at Southwestern Theological Seminary. He then shared his life journey and how he became the leader of Mosaic.
McManus talked about when he thought God wanted him to be a pastor. His wife and even his son told him that they did not think he should be a pastor. However, McManus felt a conviction.
“Do you ever have a moment when you think, ‘This isn’t really one of those conversations you are and God are having. This is one of those moments where God is just God and he is saying this is what I want you to do and we will work out the details later,’” McManus said
McManus talked about the importance of not focusing on yourself and keep the focus on others. He talked about a humility that the church needs to obtain. The church needs to change its focus and instead of looking at itself, to focus on other people.
“The Church has allowed this spiritual narcissism to absorbed them, we think the church is here for us, the pastor is paid to serve us, the church is here for our need…but we are the church and we are here to serve the world,” McManus said.
McManus also answered questions that students had about women in the church and their place in leadership. McManus also addressed diversity in the church. Mosaic has 55 nationalities in it. Their diversity is not limited to their attendance, but it is also evident in their leadership.
“Erwin is the type of person who no matter what they have to say, you want to be there for it. I was really excited because he started talking about different aspects of the church, like women’s involvement and other community aspect that I have been discussing with my friends,” freshman art major Jessica Lucia.
