“As someone who has been in church his whole life, I felt underprepared and overwhelmed by the pressures, expectations, and responsibilities thrust upon me when I started in full-time ministry. Having the Thriving in Ministry cohort was a lifeline to me as I learned that I wasn’t alone in this. The coaching and encouragement by the group’s two leaders lifted my spirits and has genuinely helped me flourish in my role. I’m thankful for our group, which has been meeting for 16 months now, and for how we continue to hear each other’s stories, invest in each other, and spend time in prayer. I’m in meetings all the time (probably too many of them) but this is the best meeting I have every month.” (Akash Ahuja, Director of High School Ministries)
Making the move from seminary to ministry can be harder than expected. It takes time to acclimate to the complex world of pastoral ministry, moving from the academic setting to the church setting. Questions very quickly arise: How do I lead well? Am I reading my congregation correctly? How do I encourage much-needed change in my new congregation? How do I lead my congregation in a complex and divided cultural environment? How do I handle conflict in the church? How to I practically manage all the competing demands? How do I hold onto my ministry calling amid the realities of church life?
Thriving in Ministry cohorts for new pastors in the first five years of ministry address these and other questions you might have as you begin your ministry career. Key issues for resilience in ministry to be discussed include growth in spiritual formation, self-care, emotional intelligence, cultural intelligence, marriage & family, and leadership & management.
In-person and online cohorts meet monthly. In-person cohorts meet in an informal setting and include lunch, and all cohorts include the option for an annual retreat.