Every pastor needs a partner, an encourager, a mentor or a friend. Pastoring can often be a lonely existence. Many pastors may find themselves on an island. Called to lead, working long hours, often discouraged by the struggles of their congregations, not to mention the constant spiritual warfare within. Now, take a moment to imagine yourself in this situation:
Called to preach the Gospel, you and your wife are the only believers in your village. On rare occasions, a missionary comes to the area and you have the opportunity to gather with a few other pastors. Ongoing theological training is spotty, if available at all. Books to help you study are hard to come by. Each day is a joy to take up your cross, but that cross is often heavy when you carry it alone. Sometimes, just talking to another pastor, encouraging one another and praying together goes a long way toward restoring your soul.
This is the situation thousands of pastors find themselves in around the globe. And SBC of Virginia pastors can be an encouragement and support to them. The SBC of Virginia Mobilization team is working with the International Mission Board and North American Mission Board leaders around the world to build relationships between pastors to curb the theological and spiritual famine that many are experiencing. The SBCV wants to provide two avenues to help you build a pastor-to-pastor relationship.
Training trips
Join us on training trips to seminaries and training events around the globe. SBC of Virginia pastors can help train current and future pastors/ planters and build a one-on-one relationship that can continue into a full-fledged mission partnership.
Vision Trip
Join SBC of Virginia on a Vision Trip and explore future partnerships while building relationships with pastors/planters. Make a weekly phone/Skype/Facetime call to a partner pastor/planter with whom your church is prayerfully considering partnering. Be an encouragement and seek to learn as well.
Pastor, you can make a difference in the life and ministry of a pastor or church planter in places like Sub-Saharan Africa, Puerto Rico, South Asia, Lithuania, and Spain.
This fall, the SBC of Virginia Mobilization team will be taking several Vision Trips and will be holding pastor-to-pastor cohort training events. The investment of your time and a trip may just make an eternal difference in the life of a pastor/planter and in the people he has been called to reach with the Gospel, and you are guaranteed to find yourself encouraged and growing as well.
Resource:
Interested in encouraging and supporting other pastors or possibly taking a Vision Trip this fall? Find out more by visiting: sbcv.org/pastorcohort