We are navigating the most challenging season for the Church and pastors in most of our lifetimes. With pandemic related illness and death in the churches as well as attendance shutdowns and limitations, economic challenges, civil and racial unrest, and a difficult and divisive political climate, it has been a perfect storm requiring pastors to navigate a seemingly constant stream of important and often polarizing decisions and positions. We have spoken with dozens of pastors over the past 21 months and have found them to be almost universally discouraged and exhausted. Many have voiced thoughts of retiring while others have been scanning the job sites. This is not just in our own Vineyard tribe, but one that is impacting most of the church worldwide.
We were church planters three different times and pastored churches smaller than 120 people for 15 of the 27 years in ministry. One of the things we noticed immediately when we moved into a larger church was the ease and regularity of having outside speakers. Everyone wanted to come, and we received a lot of attention. As a small church, it was very uncommon for someone to come to speak. In this season we feel a strong pull to go encourage pastors, leaders, and their churches, no matter their size and ability to pay. We will bring ministry training, leadership and team training, consulting but most of all just encouragement and relationship. We will go to any church of any affiliation of any size to bring and release the peace and power of God.
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