My ministry today is all about helping churches thrive. I love the Lord of the Church and I love His churches. You can find out why by visiting the Brian’s Story page. I believe that because of the powerful presence of Christ with His churches that every church can be a great church. I would be honored to be able to help your congregation so I have listed thirteen ways I can do that. With today’s technology, I’m available to help any English-speaking pastor and any congregation.
The word “consultant” is problematic in a world in which we tend to think of these people as over-paid, over-dressed, impersonal, professionals. At best, however, consultants help organizations to survive and thrive, adding great value to frontline workers wherever they go.
The following are some of my distinctives as a consultant and coach:
- I believe in an inspired, inerrant, infallible, authoritative Bible. Many church decisions are “settled” by the Word of God.
- I believe that the ultimate, transcendent purpose of the Church is the glory of God and that not even those who have served their churches faithfully for decades are offered “stock options” by God. The church is all His, always.
- I believe that every genuinely evangelical church is capable of becoming a really great church, a congregation that Christians love to attend and God loves to bless.
- I see the exciting potential of having “Jesus Christ, obviously present and actively in charge” (Oliver Price) of every congregation.
- I believe there is unlimited potential for our churches if we will give them to Christ and humble ourselves in serious, heartfelt prayer.
- I see church health as being closely related to pastoral health and leadership unity.
- I see disciple-making as the primary mission of every congregation and an essential aspect of Christian discipleship. The church that is not making disciples out of the raw material of non-Christian adult people and does not see disciple-making as an essential aspect of following Jesus is living in ignorance or disobedience.
- I see structural or marketing solutions as secondary in importance to genuinely spiritual, “abiding in Christ” solutions.
- I believe that congregations are only as healthy as the spiritual health of their “average” members.
- I am doing consulting on a missionary basis. This means that I ask the churches I serve to pay my expenses and then give me a gift of their choosing or, better yet, add me to their missionary team.
The following are fifteen ways (besides preaching and teach) that I can help your church:
(1) “Listening ear,” one-time phone or Zoom calls with pastors and other church leaders. I have been richly blessed by older pastors who have listened to, counseled and prayed with me; I want to pass this blessing on to others. Contact me at churchwhisperer@gmail.com or 651-319-1953.
(2) Monthly coaching sessions for pastors via live appointments, phone or Zoom. Our conversations can be focused on your special needs or your church’s need for revitalization. God has used me to help pastors to lead their churches back to disciple-making effectiveness.
(3) Church assessments – An assessment gives you a fresh, outsider’s look at your ministry. Comprehensive assessments involve inventories, listening sessions, a journey wall (history of the congregation) exercise, focus groups, a prayerfully written report and help with ongoing implementation. Targeted assessments, focusing on a particular problem or decision, account for about half of the assessments I perform. Less extensive assessment help is available also.
(4) Revitalization leadership training by way of Becoming Effective Leaders (BEL) Groups of three to eight Pastors. BEL group participants meet monthly for nine months and gain leadership and revitalization skills in the context of personal coaching and relationships with their fellow group participants. Zoom versions of these groups are now a possibility!
(5) I am now helping pastors with the revitalization of their churches by way of Revitalization Cohorts. Groups of three or four pastors meet for two hours each month via zoom. Homework is minimal. The coaching is “peer group” coaching in which each pastor is helped by and helps his brothers. Our Revitalization Cohorts utilize our new resource, The Revitalization Playbook.
(6) Transition counseling – Pastors in transition need extra help as do churches with pastors who are in transition and churches which are in transition between pastors.
(7) Resources – I have materials “on file” on a broad range of subjects, issues and challenges.
(8) Discipleship ministries – I can help your church set up a simple plan for discipling your church family and its new members.
(9) Strategic planning help – Is your church crystal clear on its purpose, mission, vision, values and strategy? I can help you and your leadership team to pray and work your way towards a laser-like focus. I can help pastors facilitate the process themselves or provide the needed facilitation at Saturday or weekend retreats.
(10) Coaching for interim pastors – As a veteran of seven interim pastorates, I have been blessed by the coaching of others and have also provided coaching to others. If you need someone to help you “stick with the program” and sort through issues, I may be your guy.
(11) Board member training – By way of one-time board meeting visits, Saturday seminars or weekend retreats. I love training church “lay” leaders!
(12) Pastor search committee orientation, training or coaching – I have a great deal of experience at coaching solo and senior pastor search committees.
(13) Conflict mediation – I have helped individuals, small groups and entire congregations return to their unity in Christ.
(14) Assimilation plans – I have helped churches of varying sizes develop effective welcoming/assimilation ministries.
(15) Leadership training seminars. Most are done on Saturdays (in person). Brian has a wealth of experience of training church workers.
