"I appreciate the consultant training more than I can tell you. I begin work July 2 as a congregational strategist for [a] Baptist General Convention.... I will use the tools you've provided me every day in my work with pastors and churches."
- David
"I have regular classroom contact with most of our students who are training to be pastors and missionaries. It seems that the Church Consultant Training you offer would provide an added dimension to my classroom content as I work with these young men. And, of course, it would enhance my ability to minister to the churches where our graduates are presently serving."
- University professor and former pastor
Comments from students after a recent training conference:
"Our churches are dying. Now I have new tools and ideas to help them grow again. I have six Directors of Missions I’d like to send to the training."
"I’m preparing to retire. The training is giving me a new way to apply what I’ve learned in years of ministry. I hope to spare other church pastors some of the mistakes and pains that I’ve lived through in ministry."
"I already have a church lined up for a consultation. And I’m going to ‘team consult’ for this church with another consultant I met at the training."
"The church I serve recently went through a church consultation process. Based on what I’ve learned here (at the training) the consultant didn’t address some major issues in the church."
"This training will help me train overseas leaders to lead their own churches. It also provided teaching material for church training/leadership, pastoral encouragement and church consultation."
"I am now better equipped to counsel other ministers and provide leadership in my own ministry."
"The training helped me better understand my own church. Consulting with other churches is a side interest."
"The training provided principles and ideas I'm implementing in our local church. I learned to look for opportunities to partner with struggling, small churches."
"The concepts and ideas I learned are helping me in both church and business consultation."
"The training has given me what I need to start consulting on a part-time basis assisting churches in becoming more missional, and work with them in pastoral transition."
How Some of our Students will Apply their Training
The following comments will help you understand how other consultants plan to use their skills - and hopefully give you ideas for your own ministry.
"I plan to involve denominational leaders in bringing this training to churches that are struggling with growth and/or problems."
"I am already doing some church consulting and hope to do more in the future. I am hoping to create/adapt/have a comprehensive view of consulting to guide my process."
"In my local church and also in conjunction with revivals/church renewal weekends in other churches."
"I can use the overall skill training when I work with churches in my present ministry."
"First, I think the material and training you have put together is very good.. I look forward to this helping me carry out my ministry as a Director of Missions effectively."
"I plan to offer church consultation as part of my work at the (state) Baptist Convention."
"I plan to develop this as a part time/full time career. I feel I have had unique experiences that will enhance the opportunity to work alongside churches in whatever capacity, to help them move forward."
"[I'll use the training] in the process of my job as Church Growth Director of the Baptist Convention of New York. This will assist us in getting to the core of the needs of the churches."
"Helping a few other congregations, but mostly for use in my current position as Education Minister."
"Ongoing assessment within my own church; working with the elders to continue to plan and execute that plan for greater health; offering my services in consulting to our region."
"My goal is to offer consulting services to churches across denominational lines. This has always been my desire and the training has given me the tools to accomplish this."
