An Invitation to Connect, Learn, and Grow Together
During a 20-year journey with a small group of discipleship leaders serving churches across the southeastern United States, I experienced the deep encouragement and ministry enrichment that can come through peer collaboration.
Each year, 15–20 of us met in different cities, brought our most pressing questions to the table, and engaged in transparent, substantive dialogue about our work. Without exception, I left each gathering with more insights than I could implement, deeper friendships in ministry, and a sharpened awareness of best practices and resources in our field.
The Father used those annual meetings to do more than inform my work. He blessed it greatly.
The collective wisdom in the room addressed both theological complexities and practical leadership challenges. The relationships formed there became a network of trusted colleagues I could call on throughout the year. The format was simple but powerful: we gathered, identified our most pressing topics, and worked through them together with focused discussion.
I am now extending this same opportunity to you.
Introducing MINISTRY COLLABORATIVES.
Beginning this year, I will facilitate several MINISTRY COLLABORATIVES designed to build meaningful connections among ministry leaders across our network. These gatherings will provide a structured environment for you to engage with your peers, address real ministry challenges, and develop relationships that extend beyond our meetings.
Meeting Structure.
Each MINISTRY COLLABORATIVE will follow a simple format:
- Initial connection time to build rapport among participants;
- Collaborative agenda-setting where you identify topics for discussion;
- Facilitated dialogue covering your agenda for discussion (e.g., biblical, theological, administrative, and leadership concerns); and
- Open exchange of insights, experiences, and resources.
As moderator, I will guide our conversations to ensure we address your priorities while maintaining a productive pace through each topic.
Topics and Scope.
Your questions and concerns will shape our discussions. Expect conversations ranging from scriptural interpretation and theological inquiry to church administration and staffing, financial stewardship, discipleship strategies, and ministry innovation. The diversity of topics will be limited only by your ministry interests and concerns.
Location and Accessibility.
Recognizing that our network spans a large geographical area, we will rotate meeting locations. This rotation ensures that each participant can attend multiple gatherings without facing prohibitive travel distances. Every location will serve as a host site, bringing the MINISTRY COLLABORATIVE to your region.
The Broader Vision.
While each MINISTRY COLLABORATIVE should yield a wealth of valuable insights for each participant, my hope is that these gatherings will serve as a catalyst for ongoing local fellowships of ministers that might gather more frequently. As you build relationships with colleagues in your region and across our network, I want to encourage you to form your own fellowship groups. The connections initiated here can grow into sustained peer support systems that meet weekly or monthly, providing continuous rich encouragement and mutual support.
Why This Matters.
Ministry leadership can be isolating. The unique pressures pastors face require wisdom that often exceeds what any single leader possesses. Peer collaboration provides access to collective insight, diverse perspectives, and proven solutions.
Moving Forward.
I invite you to commit to participating in one of the upcoming MINISTRY COLLABORATIVES. Your presence, questions, and insights will enrich our collective learning. The investment of time will return dividends in your ministry effectiveness, your professional development, and your personal encouragement.
Here are the first three dates and locations I am working on. I’ll send the host addresses and times soon, so watch your email for further details.
• February 24 – Hammond/Ponchatoula area
• March 26 – Slidell area
• April 28 – Covington/Mandeville area
I look forward to gathering with you and facilitating conversations that strengthen your ministry and deepen your connections with fellow pastors across our network.
~ DP