What is Happening with Cultivating the Gift of Preaching?
- Matt Aragon Bruce
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
We have been very busy this new year!
As of mid-January, all of our first cycle cohorts (the 2024-2025 class) have had their final retreat and have completed the program. I am delighted to report that we had a near 100% “graduation” rate, with all but one person from the first cycle completing the program. The one who did not complete it dropped out to attend seminary full time; we consider that a success! Many from the first cycle are already serving as pulpit supply preachers or as regular preachers in their home congregations.
Our second cycle cohorts (2025—2026) were to have had their first retreat this month. Two of them did and two others had to postpone due to winter weather. We are getting them rescheduled and are excited that many of them will be preaching their first sermons in the upcoming months.
And we are preparing to welcome our third cycle cohorts (2026-2027) into the CGPI family! The application for participants is live and we have already received several applications. Click HERE to apply!
But our big news is that we are very close to having all of our third cycle mentors in place – I want to introduce you to three of the five this month.
The Rev. Jeri Baker is from the Presbytery of Mackinac was until recently pastor of two churches in Mackinac presbytery,
Hessel and Rudyard, and has significant experience in both midsized and small congregations, having served churches in
Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan. She currently serves the presbytery on the Commission on Ministry and as a teacher in the Mighty
Mac CRE Academy. She earned her M.Div from Western Theological Seminary and is enthusiastic about sharing her love of scripture in a contagious way. She and her husband, Richard, have 3 children and 4 grandchildren. She loves to travel both
overseas and in the USA.
The Rev. Dr. Joseph Novak is from the Presbytery of Lake Huron is the Senior Pastor and Head of Staff at the First Presbyterian Church of Flint, Michigan (fpcf.org) where he has served since 2016. Joseph serves the Presbytery of Lake Huron as a Pastor to the Pastors, assisting and encouraging clergy and CRE leaders in his region. Joseph has experience in small church ministry, having previously pastored the First Presbyterian Church of Ithaca, Michigan. He is passionate about teaching and preaching having earned a Ph.D. in Liturgy and Homiletics from Fuller Theological Seminary, where he taught several courses in preaching and worship. He enjoys baking, reading, listening to music, and is a devoted fan of Arsenal Football Club. Joseph and his wife Katie live in Flint, Michigan where they are raising their five boys and two cats.
The Rev. Brenna Overland is also from the Presbytery of Lake Huron. She is the pastor of First Pres Bay City where she has served since 2021. Brenna serves the Presbytery of Lake Huron as a Pastor to the Pastors, supporting and encouraging clergy throughout the presbytery. She has experience serving in both large and small church ministry. She earned a M.Div from Fuller Theological Seminary where she also served as a Teaching Assistant in the Preaching Department. In addition, she was awarded the Parish Pulpit Preaching Fellowship from Fuller Seminary which led to an opportunity to spend 6 months in Europe studying preaching in post-religious contexts.
Please pray for us as we begin recruitment efforts for the new cycle of participants. And as always please send us names and contact information of any aspiring preachers that you may know!
Grace and peace,
Matt Aragon Bruce, Ph.D.
Director, Cultivating the Gift of Preaching Initiative
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