Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close this search box.
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close this search box.
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

‘Back to the foundation’: Pastors conclude year of growing together in weekly Zoom meetings

  • December 3, 2022
  • Arizona's Portraits
  • Arizona, Church Life, Latest News
After a year of meeting via Zoom, eight of the nine pastors who particpated in the Practical Shepherding cohort, which was facilitated by Keith Durham, met in person for their final session.
(Photo courtesy of Arizona’s Portraits)

‘Back to the foundation’: Pastors conclude year of growing together in weekly Zoom meetings

Over the course of a year, a group of nine pastors met weekly via Zoom, exploring exactly what it means to lead a church well.

In September, they finished their walk through Brian Croft’s Practical Shepherding materials, celebrating with lunch in-person after more than a year online.

Pastors from around the state participated in the cohort, with representation from six associations, said Keith Durham, church health facilitator with the Arizona Mission Network of Southern Baptists and facilitator of the group’s discussions.

“Some of these guys already knew each other, but some didn’t,” Durham said. “The fact that they gained relationships with the guys in the cohort, that was probably the biggest takeaway.”

Providing a resource

Durham launched the year-long cohort in August 2021 to provide a resource and encouragement for pastors leading in church revitalization or replant contexts or for those seeking to train elders or pastors within a church. Together, the cohort watched videos and read and discussed 10 books about pastoral ministry, with topics covering everything from managing church finances to officiating weddings and funerals.

“I think everyone on the call was seminary-trained, but some of them were in their first pastorate, or some of the topics were topics they had never really thought of or discussed before,” Durham said.

Bryan Jerry, lead pastor at Light in the Desert Church in Mesa, was one of the leaders Durham recruited to help guide the cohort.

“I walked away with lots of encouragement,” Jerry said. “I think the biggest encouragement was to see so many other likeminded pastors trying to be faithful to God’s word, first and foremost.”

Durham says the Pastoral Shepherding materials are “designed for someone who feels called to the pastorate or is already in the role of a pastor.”

He adds that the materials could be used to train lay elders or a first-time pastor.

Jerry said as his church looks to bring on additional leaders in the future, he intends to make use of the materials in the discipleship process.

“You’re reminded and brought back to the foundation of the call of pastoring, and that’s often going to clear up a lot of things you’re trying to do and accomplish,” he said. “You get back to the foundation of this role and what we’re called to do and function as in the church. And it gives you greater clarity on how to handle situations.”

To learn more about Brian Croft’s Practical Shepherding materials, visit practicalshepherding.com.


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Johanna Willett and originally published by Arizona’s Portraits.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • 33rd annual See You at the Pole draws ‘wholehearted’ students for prayer
    33rd annual See You at the Pole draws ‘wholehearted’ students for prayer
    September 27, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • College chapel service sees 150 students respond
    College chapel service sees 150 students respond
    September 27, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • ERLC: 5 key steps to prevent abuse in your church
    ERLC: 5 key steps to prevent abuse in your church
    September 26, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

33rd annual See You at the Pole draws ‘wholehearted’ students for prayer

This morning (Sept. 27), students across the country gathered a little earlier than usual at their schools for the 33rd annual See You at the Pole student-led prayer event.

College chapel service sees 150 students respond

An estimated 150 students made spiritual decisions during a chapel service at Brewton-Parker College on Tuesday in a scene that President Steve Echols described as amazing.

man standing in front of people sitting beside table with laptop computers

ERLC: 5 key steps to prevent abuse in your church

Here are five essential action steps you can implement to begin protecting your church from predators and caring well for survivors of abuse.

‘It’s something God is doing’: KY church enjoys 8-week run of baptisms

“We have a testimony with every baptism,” the pastor said. “Those have made a big difference and where it has made the biggest difference for us is with the adults.”

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Manage Online Access Account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Manage Online Access Account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel