In Their Own Words

Feedback from a Recent APN Training Session

The Advanced Pastoral Network recently completed a transformative four-day training session in Granby, Colorado. Pastors from across the region gathered to sharpen their leadership skills and deepen their ministry effectiveness. Their feedback revealed both the profound impact of intensive pastoral development and valuable insights for future training sessions.

When you're serving a church that feels stuck on a plateau or navigating the complexities of pastoral leadership, hearing from peers who've walked similar paths becomes invaluable. The evaluations from this training offer a window into what truly moves the needle for pastoral effectiveness.

Key Wins That Resonated With Pastors

Leadership Clarity Breakthrough

Multiple pastors highlighted the session on pastoral leadership as transformational. A pastor from Kansas emphasized how the training reaffirmed "the importance of the Pastor as leader (and not just another voice)." This distinction matters deeply when you're trying to move your church from maintenance mode to mission mode.

The training challenged a common misconception that plagues many young pastors: believing they must personally handle every visitation, wellness call, and ministry detail. Instead, the focus shifted to what he called "one of the most important jobs for a leader"—making other leaders.

Mission and Vision Development

The envisioning process received consistent praise across evaluations. A pastor from Las Animas, Colorado, found particular value in understanding how "a clear mission, shared beliefs/values, and a concrete vision are so important for preserving unity and progress."

This resonates with research showing that churches with clearly articulated vision statements are 40% more likely to experience consistent growth over five-year periods.

Birkman Assessment Integration

Several pastors noted the transformative power of processing their Birkman assessments with peers. One trainee described the group discussion as "absolutely critical" for understanding ministry dynamics. The assessment helped pastors recognize their strengths, needs, and blind spots in ways that directly impact both their leadership effectiveness and personal relationships.

Another pastor discovered he wasn't "built as a high-touch shepherd," despite environmental pressures pushing him in that direction. This kind of self-awareness prevents burnout and helps pastors lead from their strengths rather than fighting against their natural wiring.

Practical Next Steps Pastors Are Taking

The evaluations reveal that pastors are translating training insights into concrete action plans:

Year One Focus Areas:

• Clarifying mission, vision, and values with leadership teams

• Implementing basic discipleship pathways

• Developing membership classes

• Addressing specific Birkman-revealed needs in marriage and task management

Two-Year Horizons:

• Launching lay-led outreach programs

• Building youth ministry leadership pipelines

• Creating advanced leadership development tracks

Three-Year Vision:

• Establishing associate pastor relationships

• Starting additional outreach ministries

• Developing multiplication-focused discipleship systems

Why This Feedback Matters for Your Ministry

These evaluations reveal a pattern that transcends individual personalities or church contexts. Pastors consistently hunger for three core elements: leadership clarity, practical tools, and peer connection.

The training's most impactful moments weren't necessarily the formal presentations but the organic conversations during meals and free time. As Jonathan noted, having trainers who "just lived with us" created invaluable shoulder-bumping opportunities that can't be replicated in shorter formats.

One pastor's comparison to his transformative youth ministry training experience captures something profound: "Pastoring a church is far more extensive and layered than pastoring a youth ministry." The complexity of pastoral leadership demands sophisticated development approaches that go beyond basic ministry skills.

You are invited to our next training camp

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we can offer these training camps for free. All you have to invest is your time and travel expenses.

But the investment pays dividends not just in skill development but in renewed clarity about pastoral identity and effectiveness. As one participant noted, the goal isn't just better techniques but a transformation that serves "the Kingdom impact that these four days will have."

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