The Foolish, Isolated Pastor

By Richard Bargas on

“And you say, ‘How I have hated discipline! And my heart spurned reproof! I have not listened to the voice of my instructors, And I have not inclined my ear to my teachers!’” (Proverbs 5:12–13, LSB)

Recently, I began recording a series in our IFCA podcast Advancing the Cause asking the question: Who Shepherds the Pastor? In this series, I am hoping to draw attention to the fact that all followers of Christ, pastors and elders included, need to have someone (preferably a few people) who watches over their soul.

Decide the Right Path: How to Choose Between Counseling or Coaching

By Filings on

“If your path calls for self-reflection, spiritual development, and harmony with God’s plan, a counselor could be the better option. On the other hand, if your emphasis is on decision-making, process improvement, and goal achievement, a coach might be of great help.” - GARBC

The Power of Coaches In Ministry

By Filings on

“Whether formally or informally, coaches are game changers. And their input parallels an interaction between Jethro (a priest) and his son-in-law Moses. ‘Listen now to my voice…I will give you counsel, and God will be with you.’” - RBM

Internships: More than Cheap Labor

By Filings on

Pastor Ross Shannon…. “started a formal internship program, one that runs every year. Ross hopes the model will catch on, so he invited me to a discussion with him, Associate Pastor Kevin Moses, and one of the church’s interns, Caleb TeBeest.” - GARBC

Are Christians Too Busy for Discipleship?

By Filings on

“39 percent of all Christians are not engaged in discipleship at all. And just one-third of Christians (33%) is categorized by Barna as a disciplemaker, actively helping someone grow in faith and move closer to Christ.” - Barna

Six Reasons Senior Pastors Should Lead a Mentoring Group

By Filings on

“Ronnie was instrumental in launching Radical Mentoring at Southeast Christian, and he’s co-mentored two groups with their Senior Pastor…. I asked Ronnie why he thinks it’s essential for Senior Pastors to mentor, and he shared the following six reasons” - Kevin Harris

Undercover Mentor: Redeeming the Everyday

By M.R. Conrad on

Nelson Knode was supposed to be teaching me trumpet. He did that, and he did it well. But Nelson did so much more than teach me trumpet. He was my undercover mentor.

My Undercover Mentor

“I want to walk with Jesus,” Nelson told the ten-year-old me, his blue eyes a bit overly intense. I never knew the professional trumpeter without snow-white hair. In my mind, wrinkles had always creased his face. And his mantra never changed, “I want to walk with Jesus.”