Many small and middle-sized churches were already stagnant. Then, COVID-19 hit in 2020-2021. Some members stopped coming to "live" church, and some have never returned.
That's why a Mobile church plans to hold a three-day seminar called "Shepherd’s Summit" to rekindle the body of Christ.
It only takes a spark to get a fire going.
The program is at Northside Bible Church in Mobile. It is sponsored by "6:14 Ministries," which ministers to churches and their leaders.
The website for the seminar posted:
Small church pastors! Do you feel the overwhelming weight, burden, and intense pressure of ministry life like never before? Have you recently isolated yourself just to maintain sanity? Ever feel like you're trying to pull a train uphill while all the passengers onboard are busy shifting it into reverse?
You are not alone! Shepherding and leading a small to midsize church in America is one of the most difficult endeavors in today's culture. And for pastors, it is physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually draining. How can you find time to care for yourself when your calling is to spend your life pouring into others?
At 6:14 Ministries, we are dedicated to providing small and mid-size church pastors with the tools and resources they need in order to lead more effectively. Part of leading effectively is knowing when and how to rest and when and care for yourself, neither of which come easy for the majority of small church pastors in America today.FEBRUARY 8-10
NORTHSIDE BIBLE CHURCH
2700 UNIVERSITY BLVD. N MOBILE, AL 36618
Details, registration and program schedule for Shepherd’s Summit are: 614 Ministries | Shepherds Summit 2024
The program starts at 1:45 p.m. on Thursday and ends with lunch on Saturday.
6:14 ministries cited research data on concerning trends in today’s churches in America:
80% OF CHURCHES ARE IN DECLINE.
BARNA/MARKET RESEARCH 2022
42% of pastors under age 45 are ready to quit right now.
56% of pastors cite "the immense stress of the job" as number one reason for considering quitting.
43% of pastors say they feel lonely and isolated.
38% say current political divisions have caused them to consider stepping away from ministry.
29% of pastors are unhappy with the effect that the pastoral role is having on their family.
29% of pastors say their vision for the church conflicts with the church's direction.
The story of 6:14 Ministries is told here.
The watchword of the ministry is RESCUE, an acronym for:
Renew
Encourage
Support
Communicate
Unite
Evaluate
The head of 6:14 Ministries is Stan Givens, pastor of Mobile’s Northside Bible Church.
“6:14 Ministries puts resources in your hands and coaches in your network. Stop pulling the train. Start pastoring your people.”
Jim Zeigler is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
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