MTP 70: Kara Powell, Part 1, Christian Professors Are in Full-Time Ministry, Building Community & Leading With Humility

In part 1 of this inspiring interview, Dr. Kara Powell, Chief of Leadership Formation at Fuller Theological Seminary and Executive Director of the Fuller Youth Institute, shares stories from her own faith journey, her passion for reaching young people, and practical advice for professors navigating doubt, boldness, humility, and transformation in academia and in the Church. 

Main Takeaways:

• Christian professors are in full-time ministry, even on non-faith-based campuses.
• Building community is essential for courage and clarity, especially in a culture of fear around faith.
• Doubt is not toxic—silence is. Making room for students' tough questions can strengthen faith.
• Professors can prioritize young people in their churches by asking, “How does this decision affect the next generation?”
• Leading with humility includes being quick to apologize—even for the 10%.
• You don’t have to have all the answers. Ask questions instead of making statements.

Read: Future-Focused Church:  Leading through Change, Engaging the Next Generation, and Building a More Diverse Tomorrow

By: Kara Powell, Jake Mulder, and Raymond Chang

Kara Powell, PhD, is the chief of leadership formation at Fuller
 Theological Seminary, the executive director of the Fuller Youth
 Institute, and the founder of the TENx10 Collaboration. Named by
 Christianity Today as one of "50 Women to Watch," Kara speaks
 regularly at national parenting and leadership conferences. Kara has
 authored or coauthored numerous books, including Faith Beyond Youth
 Group, 3 Big Questions That Shape Your Future, 3 Big Questions That
 Change Every Teenager, Growing With, Growing Young, The Sticky Faith
 Guide for Your Family, and the entire Sticky Faith series. Kara and her
 husband, Dave, are regularly inspired by the learning and laughter that
 come from their three young adult children.
 

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Resources:

• Faculty Commons – https://www.facultycommons.org/
• A Grander Story – https://a.co/d/8VoYXSV
• EveryStudent.com – https://www.everystudent.com/

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