"Come let us reason together" Isaiah 1:18
Engaging the mind
There is a tremendous difference between telling people what to think or in equipping people to do their own thinking. APR (Ask Pastor Rick) is committed to the process of equipping people for the kind of thinking that helps us grow. We may challenge your thinking, but not your right to think for yourself.
How the idea started
Ask the Pastor Site
In the mid 1990's, I got involved in an online ministry that was rooted in a Christian chat room. As interest grew, a group of us ended up forming our own network that built on to the interest that began in our chat room. We added a daily online prayer time, a real time online weekly Bible study session, and a themed chat room called the Pastor's Study. The site had its own webpage, and as interest continued to grow we added a page called "Ask the Pastor."
That page offered people the opportunity to ask any question, and to then receive pastoral responses from more than one minister. Our goal was to offer something of the diversity of perspective that can come from within the Christian community.
The response was phenomenal. That ministry grew for a couple of years. Then, as so often happens, changes in the personal lives of that ministry team, as well as changes in the way people interact on the internet led to the dissolution of that particular ministry. But the idea always stayed with me.
Now, more than 20 years later, with the powerful outreach offered through social media, the time is opportune for a rebooted "Ask the Pastor" feature.
Rick Sewell currently serves as pastor at the Union Hill Baptist Church in Brookneal, Virginia. The Ask Pastor Rick site is offered as an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversation with people of any background on the topic of your choosing.
Diversity of Professional Viewpoints
Added Resources
Here at Ask Pastor Rick, there is a fundamental belief that "all truth belongs to God." As such, there will be certain topics where the best person to respond might be trained in a different discipline. We are collaborating with professionals in other disciplines who will offer insights from their fields, including Mental Health Professionals, Medical Professionals, or professionals from other specialized fields.
