Why are you trying to grow your ministry by yourself? From the early days in Jesus’ example to the early church, you’ll read ministry stories in collaboration and partnership. Ministers joined forces and faith to see great things accomplished. Where one lacked, the other contributed and so on. Jesus himself chose to do ministry in teams; these disciples would have had input into Jesus’ life and ministry.

Our Canadian churches have the greatest opportunity to reverse the trend of decreasing Christian influence in Canada. It works when we obey Christ and shed off everything else. We invite you to join us at the Church Vitalization Summit on August 29 and 30 for two 90-minute virtual sessions on reversing the trend in Canada.

On May 10, 2023, over 260 pastors and ministry leaders from across the Alberta and Northwest Territories gathered for a round table for a family forum-styled conference to discuss what it means to “Belong, Grow, and Serve” together in the PAOC family in our region. The day was buzzing as people made new connections, visited with old friends and dialled into the day's agenda. Here are seven things that we learned at this past District Conference.

How can we make the most of the summer schedule? The summer is often the time when you’ll get guests visiting. This is not a time to dial back. It’s a time to get the most out of your summer ministry season. You can hack your summer in the following ways.

What kind of support can a pastor expect in the ABNWT? Moving from the province of British Columbia as an ordained minister of the PAOC to Alberta & Northwest Territories District is one of the most important decisions Joachim has ever made, whose benefits have been enormous on many levels.

Where can small church pastors find mentoring and support in the ABNWT? Merril Radford, a pastor in our District says, “My ABNWT cohort was a key launching pad... This led to a Discovery process with mentoring by an effectiveness coach and other cohort opportunities where we encourage and inspire each other in ministry.”

What is one thing I can do to be a better leader? Churches that see healthy growth have people who are pursuing God and getting a fresh sense of God’s passion for the lost every week. There are many things a congregation can do to see healthy growth but two that only a pastor can do.

When we think of making disciples as in the Great Commission, we wonder, now what? That started me on a 3-year journey to understand how the local church and the average believer can play their part in the Great Commission, in the making of these disciples. Read more from Brad Murray, PAOC Mission Global Worker to Latin America.

What does it mean to belong, grow and serve together in a team? It's been said that "if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." If we intend to do all God has called us to, we cannot do it alone. We must work together.

How do I create a healthy, biblical church that is growing in discipleship and maturity? Searching for ways to lead in the power of the Spirit? Eager to pass on the faith to the next generations? Look more like your neighbourhood? Reach your full kingdom potential? The Acts 2 Journey is for you.

Is your church stuck? Do you find yourself in the tension of organizational structure and relational equity? Once you decide to focus on these seven things, you can begin to work and develop them as you go forward. The blend of organization and organism embedded in each of these areas will keep you growing in numbers while also growing in depth of relationship and commitment to Christ.

Do you manage your time well? Time management is a key component in effective leadership for pastors. Unfortunately, this is an area that many pastors struggle with. The nature of ministry is relational and entrepreneurial; these are often tensions that pull at one another. Is it possible to get things done and develop relationships with people? Here’s a look at how you can excel in managing your time.

How well can you lead changes in your church or ministry? Organizational change is inevitable. Unfortunately, it’s not easy. The true test of any leader is their ability to lead change in an organization. Pastors must lead change. They must lead it well. Here are five things you can do to lead change well.

How do we develop the people in our churches, the leaders on our teams, and the next generation? A tour of Alberta uncovered incredible insights on developing leaders in any context.

What support is offered for pastors in the ABNWT? Outbound leadership is hard work and done best together with similarly impassioned and equipped practitioners. Leaders will benefit from a cohort of hill climbers to help them face pitfalls and problems.

What do ABNWT cohorts offer me? Our passion in the ABNWT is to develop a legion of leaders whose sole focus is to obey the Great Commission, lead prevailing, relentlessly outbound ministries, and raise up the next generation of adaptive leaders. Being in a cohort is an opportunity for leaders to skill up and receive support and coaching on some of the biggest internal and external challenges.

What are cohorts, and is there a cohort in the ABNWT for me? Leaders want their ministry to prevail but are challenged to sustain progress against resistance. Here’s where the cohort model comes in: you aren’t alone. You’ll face these challenges with support, resources, encouragement, and peer coaching.

How are you training your board members? Don’t just leave your board members alone to try and figure it out themselves; start intentionally training them NOW. Remember, the success and effectiveness of this leadership team will benefit your church for years to come.