Pastor/Leadership Development

About Us

The Pastor/Leadership Development Department has the assignment of skill and leadership development for pastors, church staff, deacons, church officers, ministry assistants, church leadership teams, church committeess, youth/adults in vocational guidance, and college students committed to church-related vocations. The department also has church facilities and furnishings consultant responsibilities and is coordinator of the Southern Baptist Convention Seminary Extension work for the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board. We have sought to equip and resource this target audience that church leaders can be fulfilling the Great Commission. Our department’s goal is “to encourage pastors and other leaders in Mississippi churches to be faithful and capable as they serve the Lord Jesus Christ.”

We seek to assist our audience in both local church and associational work to improve themselves and provide servant leadership so that New Testament church health and growth will occur. A major part of our work has been the equipping of church and associational leaders through conferences, retreats, workshops, and counsel with individual leaders. These events can be statewide and/or regional meetings initiated by our department as well as requests from local church and associational leaders.

Department staff includes Alan Woodward who began serving as director on December 1, 2005, and Keith Gordon who began as consultant on May 1, 1999. Kay McDonnell, ministry assistant since July 1, 1998, coordinates the department’s ministry assistant (secretary) events and resources. Dale Holloway, who serves as a bivocational specialist, began serving in January 2005.

ASSOCIATIONAL PASTORAL MINISTRY WORK

Our goal is to equip and provide resources for the Pastoral Ministries directors. These key leaders discover the priority needs, and we help them provide the training and resources to meet these needs in local churches. On May 8, 2007, we participated in the ALT (Associational Leadership Training) meeting at Camp Garaywa and equipped 14 APMDs.

DEACON MINISTRY

This work continues to be a highlight of our department. Most requests for deacon training come in the areas of spiritual growth, caring skills, church growth, and partnership in ministry with the pastor and staff. Throughout the year we coordinate training opportunities and requests for resources to hundreds of local churches. Approximately 1,500 persons are involved in deacon ministry training each year.

LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND TRAINING

Every church expects its pastor and staff to be effective leaders. Ministers need training, counsel, and resources in developing their leadership style and skills. This major aspect of pastoral ministry greatly influences a church’s growth, ministry effectiveness, and community witness. Our desire is to enable ministers to be more skilled in the leadership arena. Annual and strategic planning were constant areas of concern as training opportunities for us during this past year. Resources from Next Level leadership are offered as valuable tools to strengthen the leadership skills of all size church staffs.

MINISTERS, CHURCH STAFF AND SPOUSES

During the past year we have worked with more than 2,000 ministers, staff personnel, and spouses in training, planning, and growing church leaders. The minister’s family life is also a critical area in which we offer training and support. At the 2006 State Convention, about 90 ministers’ wives attended our Ministers’ Wives’ Conference.

Our department conducted the annual Pastor & Wife Retreat in July 2007 at Camp Garaywa with Lowry and Kandi Anderson as our featured speakers. This successful event provides great support and fellowship for pastors and wives.

RESOURCES FOR CHURCH LEADERS

Throughout the year we have handled hundreds of requests for resources from church leaders. These requests ranged from legal issues, staff relationships, worship, ministry position descriptions, policies and procedures, committee materials, and many other items that provide help to church leaders as they accomplish their Great Commission work.

BIVOCATIONAL MINISTRY

An area of pastoral ministry that the department has strongly supported has been bivocational ministry. Our department works with the Mississippi Council on Bivocational Ministries to inform, assist, and encourage bivo ministers and associational leaders. The Council has been very active this past year to provide needed support for these ministers.

SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATED BY PASTOR/LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Preaching Conference, Pastor & Wife Retreat, State Ministry Assistants Conference, Professional Certification and Ministry Office SkillShops for Ministry Assistants, Ministers’ Wives’ Conference, Bivocational Ministers Fellowships, Church-Related Vocations Programs, Church Facilities and Furnishings Workshop, Student Day at the Baptist Building, and Young Ministers Retreat.

Preach - Teach - Care - Equip - Lead - Guide - Support - Grow

Faithful Ministers:

Call, Character, Competency, Commitment

Healthy Churches:

One Great Commission, NT Ministries, Balanced Growth, Boldness for Jesus Christ

View our 2008 events brochure (printable) Link to PDF file pdf