Helping Pastors Return From Their National Gatherings
Across the country, denominations have been meeting. For most, it’s been a joyous time to return to worship with denominational brothers and sisters.
The Church Training Partners team just returned from the Presbyterian Church in America’s General Assembly. It was my 15th. We reconnected with old friends, met new ones, and wrestled with weighty issues.
But like most groups, we are home now. Assemblies, conventions, and synods are over. Now what? Well, this is what I’ve learned after years of managing my emotions. Sometimes, I’ve come home so hyped up that I’ve overrun my people. Others, I’ve returned so despondent that I’ve retreated. So, here are a few things I’ve done.
Pursue Personal Worship – I don’t initially come home and study the issues of the Assembly. I do eventually, but what my soul needs (and my people need) is for me to be intimate with Jesus. My advice? Spend extra time in your devotions.
Don’t Launch Anything Large-Scale – The takeaways from your gatherings take time for vision casting. If you want to change something, slowly build a grassroots awareness for it, gather your team, and then implement it.
Invest in Discipleship – No matter the discussions, no matter the issues at the Assembly, nothing will surpass the first importance of the Great Commission’s call to make disciples. Come back, train your leaders, meet with someone new, train them to train someone else, repeat.
I hope the second part of the year is encouraging, edifying, and full of growth. If Church Training Partners can help you in any way, please let us know. We offer discipleship trainings in-person and virtually as well as a host of other programs. We would love to help.
Gordon Duncan
919-412-8161
www.churchtrainingpartners.com