May 2025
This note is to everyone who has invited me to participate in their Bible college, discipleship school, or seminary remotely. I don’t expect any of this to change, but if it does, the page will be updated.
When I put my hand to the plow of God’s work many years ago, I intentionally chose not to receive any formal academic theological training. This was a deliberate choice that I’m convinced was led by the Lord. Consequently, I stand in the lineage of luminaries like A.W. Tozer, Charles Spurgeon, G. Campbell Morgan, Watchman Nee, D.L. Moody, and countless other servants of God who were autodidacts, without any formal theological training.
Despite this and despite the fact that I hold no ministry or theological degrees, I occasionally receive requests from higher education schools to teach courses over Zoom, hold Q&As remotely, and even appear on boards, staffs, or have my name listed on their endorsement or sponsor pages.
Speaking or teaching remotely is not something I do. If you are looking for someone to teach remotely at your school, there are thousands of professors and scholars to invite. I’m simply not the right fit for this kind of work.
I also do not permit my name to be used on any school in the capacity of endorsement, sponsor, or anything related. This standard also applies to schools that use my books and/or audios in their classes. Unless I myself enrolled in a particular school, took all its classes, and felt aligned with everything taught there as well as all the teachers, for me, having my name on it in any capacity is a breach of personal conscience.
Keep in mind that whenever I’ve raised a standard in my life, I don’t make any exceptions. The reason is to stay true to my conscience and how I believe God is leading me. But also, it’s deeply unfair to say yes to one person when I have said no to so many others.
But don’t stop reading. There are ways that I can be involved. But first …
What’s on My Plate Every Week
To give you context, my margin is extremely limited. Friends have described me as “the busiest person in ministry” they’ve ever encountered. My weekly schedule is as follows:
*Every Monday, I drop new content on The Deeper Christian Life Network and I interact with the Network on a regular basis.
*Every Tuesday, I drop a fresh episode on either the CHRIST IS ALL podcast or THE INSURGENCE PODCAST, alternatively.
*Every Wednesday, I drop new trainings for my high-level Mastermind for people in ministry.
*Every Thursday, I write a fresh article on my blog and repost it on my Substack account.
*Every Friday, I post an article on my Patheos blog.
*Every Saturday, I post an article on my Patheos blog.
*Every Sunday, I publish another article on my Substack account.
*I’m often interviewed on other people’s podcasts to discuss topics that my current books address.
*I travel frequently to speak in live events, including churches, conferences, and Bible/ministry/theological schools.
*Since 2008, I’ve written one to two books per year. Some of them have been heavy lifts, over 300 pages.
*I’m consistently answering questions from readers and those who listen to my podcasts on my FAQ page, which is regularly updated.
*I also maintain the many websites I run which is a constant endeavor.
All of the above is not counting my time for spiritual preparation, my time with family and long-time friends, domestic duties, visiting relatives, vacations, daily exercise, as well as appointments with doctors, dentists, etc.
Therefore, when people ask me to add something else to my demanding schedule, I simply don’t have the margin to take on new endeavors that are outside my specific mission.
The Specific Capacities in Which I Can Serve Your School
All told, for educational institutions that wish for me to be involved, here are your options where I’m concerned:
*Issue a formal invitation for me to speak at your school. The speaking page has endorsements from those who have hosted me as well as samples of my spoken ministry. While I cannot guarantee I’ll accept, if the audience is the right fit and my schedule permits, I am inclined to accept.
Note that I’ve spoken in Bible colleges, universities, discipleship schools, and seminaries that have invited me in to do live seminars and speak in live conferences, all in-person (since I don’t teach or preach on Zoom or remotely). I recorded the messages and the students were given access to them.
This is my official speaking page to issue formal invitations to minister in person.
*Use any of my books since 2010 as texts for your classes. The titles since 2010 are by far my best works, and they are well-suited best for people who are studying for the ministry. (My books from way back in 2008 and 2009 on radical ecclesiology are NOT suited for people studying for the ministry in any educational institution. They were written exclusively for Christians who left the institutional church and want to meet completely outside the religious system. So those books are the WRONG FIT for audiences who are studying for formal ministry positions. It’s sort of like demanding that a group of meat eaters study a vegan recipe book. Wrong audience. The 11+ volumes since 2010 are for ALL Christians in ALL church forms, including pastors and leaders.)
The three most important books I’ve written for anyone studying the Bible or theology or preparing for ministry are:
Book 1) The Untold Story of the New Testament Church: Revised and Expanded. Endorsed by 20 high-voltage scholars and Foreworded by the world’s leading New Testament scholar, Craig Keener. Very few Christian leaders and pastors know “The Story,” and as a result, they routinely misunderstand and misapply the New Testament. This book solves that problem.
To my mind, every Bible college, university, and seminary should be using this book.
Thankfully many are.
We just released a new visual podcast that goes along with the book that’s specifically designed for EVERY person – male or female – who feels called by God to His work.
The podcast can be freely accessed here. All students should watch all 10 episodes.
Book 2) Insurgence: Reclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom – my signature work. We’ve lost the incredible gospel of the kingdom. This book explains what it is and isn’t.
Book 3) 48 Laws of Spiritual Power – a book that’s being used by pastors, leaders, and ministers across denominations and theological viewpoints. It’s a practical guide to ministry.
*Refer your students to my FAQ page. If the students in your school have questions about my work, I’ve created a FAQ page that has over 600 questions and answers on it. Any question not addressed on that page can be sent to the email address displayed on the page. I will answer it and post it on the FAQ page.
*Expose your students to my spoken messages. 60+ of the best are on this one page for easy access. These messages have turned both students and professors of God’s word upside down. They aren’t typical for what’s commonly taught in Bible schools and seminaries. This is consistently reported by seminary graduates of all types.
*Expose your students to the IXP Mastermind and receive a large commission. If you refer one of your gifted male leaders to participate in the next Insurgence Experience Mastermind, you will receive a 50% commission if they register. Just tell me who they are. The first step is to have them apply here to the high-level Mastermind for men in ministry. The fee for the Mastermind is between $897 and $997, so you would receive half that as a commission.
*Referral for a live podcast interview. If any of your students have a podcast and they want to interview me on it, they can send a formal invitation using this page. If the audience is the right fit and I’m able to fit it into my schedule, I’ll accept. The interview will be recorded and you can use the episode for your student body. There are scores of such interviews on the Christ is All podcast. You are free to use any of them in your school.
People Pleasing and Time
One of the chapters in 48 Laws of Spiritual Power addresses the plague of people pleasing. While I hate declining requests, especially from friends, my commitment to please God and to be faithful to the specific things He has called me to trumps my desire to please humans.
Time is a limited resource, and when we say “yes” to one request, we are saying “no” to other commitments. So I strive to be a good steward of the limited time God has given me each week, and for that reason, I have created important boundaries that are designed to keep me in the sweet spot of His will.
This page explains those boundaries when it comes to Bible schools, seminaries, and Christian colleges.
The above should cover all questions related to this topic.
Thank you for respecting my convictions and honoring my boundaries in this respect.
Yours in the costly but glorious quest,
fv
Psalm 115:1