Seedbed: Sowing a Wesleyan Awakening

by Heidi Heater, Editorial Assistant, Beeson Center

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11 NIV)

Just as roustabouts drill deeply into the oil fields of Texas, so Asbury Theological Seminary delves deeply into their Wesleyan treasure trove with the launch of Seedbed Jan. 6, 2012. Seedbed is a publishing platform and network designed to resource the Church with the rich brand of Wesleyan theology Asbury is known for.

“We send out graduates to serve, but we constantly hear back of their need for resources and materials that can help them make disciples,” JD Walt, Senior Creative Officer and Editor in Chief of Seedbed, said. “They seek resources that resonate with the voices who taught them in seminary, and they can’t find them. While there is no shortage of resources across the Christian marketplace, there is a dearth of resources that resonate with the people we are sending out. At least that’s our assessment based on long observation and the feedback we receive from our alumni and friends.”

Walt, playfully mixing metaphors, likened Seedbed to an oil field operation in the state of his prior residence, Texas. To Walt, the Seminary houses a tremendous  supply of rich crude oil, consisting of the long, faithful work done by Asbury’s faculty over the past 90 years.

“We have a downstream constituency in the Church and a ready pipeline via our alumni. However, we don’t have a refinery to take the oil and turn it into gasoline,” Walt said. “Seedbed aims to build that refinery. ”

Seedbed provides Wesleyan resources and serves as a pipeline for these resources to be accessed by all. Immediate Seedbed offerings include This We Believe by President Timothy C. Tennent, Called: Following a Future Filled with the Possible by JD Walt and The Preaching Works of J. Ellsworth Kalas, volume 1.

Since its launch in January, Seedbed has continued to curate these Wesleyan voices. The purpose of Seedbed is to provide an underlying network that connects ministry leaders with Wesleyan resources, opportunities and experiences. Future resources include Bible studies with Rev. Carolyn Moore and Dr. Joe Dongell, and daily articles from skilled practitioners and creative scholars.

“Seeds symbolize small beginnings, but they also signify extraordinary possibilities,” Walt said.

Visit asburyseedbed.com to access new articles daily and new resources monthly.