{"id":4747,"date":"2020-10-06T14:28:11","date_gmt":"2020-10-06T19:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/?p=4747"},"modified":"2020-10-06T14:28:11","modified_gmt":"2020-10-06T19:28:11","slug":"how-the-iphc-helps-pastors-thrive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/2020\/10\/06\/how-the-iphc-helps-pastors-thrive\/","title":{"rendered":"How the IPHC Helps Pastors Thrive"},"content":{"rendered":"
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This is the first in a series of articles about pastoral development in the IPHC. Several IPHC programs seek to encourage and help pastors grow, including the Healthy, Growing, Multiplying churches<\/a> initiative; the Thriving throughout the Seasons of Pastoral Ministry<\/a> program (profiled below); the M Initiative, aimed at pastors of churches growing toward 1,000 in membership; as well as our Clergy Care Team.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

On September 2, 2020, the third and final cohort of the IPHC\u2019s Thriving in the Seasons of Pastoral Ministry (TTSPM) program met for its first retreat at WinShape Retreat in Rome, Georgia. Nearly 30 participants, live and online, heard Dr. Gary and Regina Moon lay a foundation for fruitful, lifelong pastoral ministry. The Thriving program is one that director Dr. Lou Shirey says is crucial for planting and growing healthy churches in the IPHC.<\/p>\n

The Thriving program began in 2017 with a grand but crucial vision: to see pastors grow into greater spiritual and emotional health, so that their churches would benefit and grow under their leadership.<\/p>\n

As a result, the retreats focus first on the pastors themselves and their relationship with God. The first retreat, in particular, is designed to help the pastor encounter God in a fresh way, and to move toward greater union with Him.<\/p>\n

But these encounters with don\u2019t happen for each pastor alone. The Thriving program benefits from a crucial relationship dynamic, placing pastoral leaders in a \u201cpeer learning community and mentorship program\u201d\u2014some of them for the first time.<\/p>\n

\u201cPastors tell me over and over,\u201d Dr. Shirey says, \u201c\u2018I\u2019m alone and I\u2019m not connected.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Pastors need connections, and they struggle to make them in the context of local ministry, so the Thriving community of pastors becomes a place for them to share their journey. The focus on spiritual growth and relationship also leads to clarifying the call, to developing personal holiness or sanctification, and to greater excellence and joy in leading their ministries. In short, the Thriving program strengthens the local church by helping pastoral leaders cultivate a flourishing spiritual life and vocation.<\/p>\n

Early evidence from Group 1 participants (see the video, below), suggests the program is already affecting pastors on a personal level. Kevin Robinson, a North Carolina minister, said of the first retreat, \u201cThis program is going to add value and significance to the ministry God has given me.\u201d<\/p>\n

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