We can change our great nation, one leader at a time

Leaders are important.  They help to direct people toward specific goals that will benefit them and everyone else.

Pastors are no different.  Their lives are given to “caring for the sheep.”  They may have 50, 500, 5000, or even 50,000 people under their care.

They can affect an entire community.  Some are affecting the whole state.

Many are pastoring in small rural communities, faithfully caring for those passing through valleys or changes in life.

I have a burden for them.  They need equipping, affirming, and understanding.

I call it “Pastors University.”

With a new cohort of 35-40 pastors beginning August 26th, I want to ensure that any pastor who deserves to go knows about it.

The website for information is pastorsuniversity.org. It contains 50 lessons from 50 years of ministry my wife and I have experienced.

Here are four fundamental things every pastor learns during the four months they attend Pastors University:

1.They learn to pray, prepare, and preach effectively.

Jesus spent time in prayer in the early morning hours. We devote several hours to teaching on how to pray, the importance of prayer, and listening to God's voice.

Then, we turn that devotional time into a simple, relevant word they can use to feed their congregation that Sunday.  

We teach them how to design their preaching calendar for an entire year, the four elements of a powerful sermon, and, most importantly, how to bring life change at the end of a message.

2. They learn how to navigate the stress points of ministry life.

A pastor's integrity is critical. One foolish mistake in morality, finances, or family can wipe out a lifetime of effective ministry.

We teach them how to stay happily married in ministry for life.

They learn about how to raise children who turn out to be leaders in the kingdom of God.

They learn personal management skills like time and financial management.

They develop their ten annual goals and a plan for a successful day.  They learn the secrets of and develop a plan of personal growth.

A pastor is an example more than any other thing.

3. They learn about the day-to-day work of a pastor.

Pastors wear many hats. One day, they are counseling; another, they are burying someone. The next, they are handling a church or community crisis, and the next, they are having a wedding. 

They need development in men’s and women’s ministry, small group ministry, youth and children ministry, and how to disciple new believers.  

The work of a pastor hardly ever ends, and most of that is never taught at a seminary or in an undergraduate degree in Greek studies (as crucial as that is).

4. They learn about how to grow a church.

The first three skills are the most critical.  Lastly, we teach them growth and expansion.

They need to know about casting vision and developing plans to buy property, build buildings, and provide facilities.

They need to build a loyal, excellent, and focused staff.

They learn to inform the community of their services without hype or competition with other churches.

They may want to pursue adding campuses or planting independent “daughter” churches in other small communities.

They must reach out to their community in local outreaches and do their part to fund and send workers to foreign fields where help is desperately needed.

 NOW YOU SEE HOW DESPERATELY A PASTOR NEEDS TRAINING!

Send us a pastor for this Fall if you have a burden for one.  Invest in your pastor.  We begin on August 26th, and there is still time for registration.

Let’s pray for this nation that is reeling from crisis and division right now.  And let’s train a new generation of wise, focused pastors who make a massive difference in the new generation.

Tap this link directly to “pastorsuniversity.org” for all the information.  

Take time to pray for your pastor and every pastor in your local community.  We can reclaim this great nation…one pastor at a time!