Linda R. Isham

Linda Isham's vast experience with Educational Ministries and American Baptist Churches USA took her in many directions throughout her career. From working with children's ministries to attending regional and national Christian education events, Isham planned, led and facilitated. Due to her hard work, she earned the honor of being recognized as an outstanding Christian educator.

A former Educational Ministries' employee and Judson Press author, Isham was recently included in a group of 180 people named Christian Educators of the 20th Century. Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox believers were recognized as part of an ecumenical project funded by the Lily Foundation and hosted by the Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, in La Mirada, Calif. (See www.talbot.edu/ce20/.)

"I'm honored to be recognized along with a number of people whom I consider mentors," Isham said. "I think the most important part of my ministry as a Christian educator was the difference made in the lives of people — of teachers and leaders in local churches. I believe I helped them find meaning and confidence for teaching. I was also able to help people think theologically about their teaching," she explained.

Isham worked with Educational Ministries for 35 years and is well-known throughout the American Baptist Churches USA. Her work on many different events allowed her to be an integral, public part of the American Baptist Churches USA staff on the national level and to be visible while she successfully worked in Christian education.

Isham positively reached many people who work with children. Another significant accomplishment she noted was working with regions and churches in New England while staffing the New England Education Ministries Project (NEEMP). She said, "We were able to develop a group of volunteers who could assist churches and leaders. Two books came about in part because of the work we did in NEEMP: Charting Our Course and Embracing the Future."

"I think she worked in an area where she was unique ... that is, there weren't many women doing this type of thing. Everything she did, she just saw how God was using her and her gifts and skills," said National Ministries' associate executive director of regional relations, the Rev. Chuck Armstrong. He particularly noted Isham's interest in and work with children, and her ability to share her passions with others, as well as simply to be a friend.

The key criterion for the recognition Isham received is an influence on Christian education and its development, in North America specifically. The means can vary: writing, teaching, organizational leadership, for example. Another determining factor is that other Christian education professionals see them as people who have had some great impact on the field of Christian education, whether denominationally, ethnically or at a bigger, national level. "These are the people who we would bring up in telling the story of Christian education in the 20th century," according to the Web site for the Talbot School of Theology.

Today, Isham finds time to teach adult Sunday School in her local church in Suffield, Conn. She also convenes an adult education task force.

Friend and former colleague Marcia Jessen knows Isham well and said she is one of the most caring people Jessen knows. "When I worked with Linda in Educational Ministries, I witnessed firsthand her passion for Christian education. I can't think of anyone else more deserving of this honor," Jessen said.

To read more about the recognition Isham received and her accomplishments, visit: www.talbot.edu/ce20/educators/view.cfm?n=linda_isham.

Books written or edited by Isham and published by Judson Press include:
Embracing the Future: A Guide for Reshaping Your Church's Teaching Ministry (Ed.) (1999) adds a spiritual dimension to planning for Christian education. It recognizes that Christian education does not exist in a vacuum in a church but is part of a larger organism. Used entirely or in parts, Embracing the Future challenges and encourages educators to think about, plan for and act on teaching ministry in new ways for the future.
 
Charting Our Course: Renewing the Church's Teaching Ministry (1997). Here Isham provides a combination of theory and practice as she suggests action that can be taken during this time of reevaluation and preparation for a new century of Christian education. Appendices include steps in developing a mission statement and a vision for the teaching ministry of a congregation.

On Behalf of Children (1975) shares Isham's earlier ideas and suggestions for studying the needs of children, as it applies to children and those who work with children. The Teaching Church At Work: A Manual For The Board Of Christian Education, Revised. Edited by Kenneth D. Blazier and Linda R. Isham. This manual is designed to help the Board of Christian Education become more effective in planning and implementing in the local church a total teaching program modeled after the ministry of Jesus.

To order or obtain a complete catalog of Judson resources, call 800-458-3766 or visit Judson's newly redesigned Web site at www.judsonpress.com.

Founded in 1824, Judson Press is the publishing ministry of National Ministries, American Baptist Churches USA. With about 12 new titles released each year, Judson Press seeks to provide high quality resources designed to encourage, educate and equip disciples of Jesus Christ.

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