On Jan. 9, three people received their minister’s licenses from Heartland Christian Family Church’s Ministry Institute. Dennis and Diana Morgan, a couple from St. Louis, and a local woman, Sue Cooper, attended a year-long program of instruction at the church on 3025 South Westwood, Poplar Bluff. At a Sunday service they were prayed over and presented with their certificates. They are now licensed and ready to minister to the needs of future congregations.
“Knowledge without understanding doesn’t produce wisdom,” said Pastor Kevin McAnulty. He started the church’s ministry institute.
A Poplar Bluff resident since 2003, McAnulty moved his family from Homestead, Florida to become the senior pastor and president of Heartland Christian Family Church. He had been the pastor of The Christian Family Worship Center in Naranja, Florida for 13 years. During that time the attendance of that church went from 100 to just over 700.
McAnulty graduated from Evangel University in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in communication and education. He taught school in New Orleans and served as associate pastor in Nashville, Tennessee and in House Springs and Poplar Bluff, Missouri.
Students of the ministry institute take 16 classes that include courses such as Manners and Customs in the Bible, Pastoring Church and Communities, Government and Administration. Courses in Old and New Testament literature and the Epistles are also taught in the year-long study.
“We try to give our students a well-rounded Bible background,” McAnulty said.