Nearly 130 pastors and spouses attended the National Pastors’ Conference July 23-25, 2024, that featured four sessions with Gary Hoag, president and CEO of Global Trust Partners. The conference also included affinity groups and a question-and-answer time with district ministers.
Sponsored by MB Foundation, Hoag focused on four areas of faithfulness: stewardship, leadership, governance and accountability.
Faithful stewardship: In his first message, Hoag encouraged pastors to consider their identity and responsibility as stewards in four areas: gift, goods, ground and the gospel. Gifts are what each person in the body of Christ brings to the table. Goods are financial resources. Ground is creation. Gospel is the good news. Hoag gave growth tips for each, including using an inventory to discern one’s gift, being faithful with what one has, setting an example by reducing one’s footprint and practicing spiritual disciplines.
Faithful leadership: Hoag’s second session focusing on helping churches make disciples included time for table discussions. Hoag highlighted Jesus’ example found in Luke: I do, you watch; I do, you help; You do, I help; You do, I watch. Hoag shared that Jesus prayed and picked ordinary people, loved his enemies and developed and empowered learners to do the work.
Faithful governance: In his third message, Hoag examined four councils in Scripture to help the audience gain a biblical mindset for governance. Hoag shared two examples of wicked councils, including the Sanhedrin and the Council of Ephesus, who were comprised of people of status who took a ruling and controlling posture and displayed idolatry to money and pride.
Two exemplary councils to be emulated, Hoag said, are the Council of Moses written about in Numbers 11 and the apostles and elders in Acts 15. Each showed spiritual maturity and administrative gifting, took a standing and listening posture and displayed the presence and power of the Spirit and humble service.
Hoag asked churches to prioritize Christian maturity and administrative gifting when selecting overseers and encouraged responsible stewardship and peer accountability.
“When we set up a process that can’t be manipulated, we get a great product,” he said.
Faithful accountability: In his final session, which also included time for table discussions, Hoag used Paul’s example to share why he believes accountability is important for churches wanting to experience generosity. In 1 Corinthians 16, 2 Corinthians 8 and Romans 15, Paul gives consistent directions about giving, which is handled by credentialled people and whose administration follows consistent standards. Paul affixed a seal to build confidence in the collection. Hoag encouraged pastors to apply for accreditation through the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) to witness through integrity.
Affinity groups facilitate connections
To allow people to gather in smaller groups, Wednesday morning’s session offered affinity groups. Groups and leaders included: volunteer leaders in church (Sally Burkholder), empty nesters (Tim Sullivan), new to USMB (Joan Warkentin and Aaron Box), pastors’ spouses (Kelsey Ensz), leaders in agencies (Daniel Rodriguez), worship ministry (Kristin Pikop), youth ministry (Russ Claassen), lead pastors in churches less than 200 (Nathan Ensz), lead pastors in churches more than 200 (Brent Warkentin) and associate pastors (Andy Owen).
District ministers answer questions
A district ministers’ panel, a new feature of the Pastors’ Conference, was part of the closing session. Attendees submitted questions for four district ministers: James Moore, co-Eastern District Minister; Daniel Rodriguez, Central District; Jordan Ringhofer, Pacific District; and Brian Harris, Southern District. LAMB district minister Aaron Hernandez and co-Eastern District Minister Darrin Foddrell were absent. Matt Ehresman, Ridgepoint Church, Wichita, Kan., moderated the panel.
Questions ranged from silly to serious, including which pastor is most likely to compete in the Olympics to the significance of the many leadership changes. The changes, they said, provide a natural opportunity for the MB family to get to know each other.
The district ministers explained their work—they meet twice a year in person and are accountable to the churches in their district, the USMB leadership board and ultimately, God, they said—and answered questions about MB distinctives, agreeing that the Confession of Faith unifies U.S. Mennonite Brethren.
When asked to share strategies for leadership development, the district ministers recommended providing opportunities for young people to serve in the church and sharing people and resources between churches.
Each district minister also shared a struggle and win from their district.
In the Eastern District, Moore said it is hard to communicate over Zoom. He is learning how to pastor the pastors and meeting Congolese leaders.
In the Central District, Rodriguez described the challenge of doing ministry in a rural setting but that district unity is “incredible.” He highlighted the district’s new mentorship program.
In the Pacific District, Ringhofer said the biggest challenge is pastors experiencing fatigue but that deepening of relationships is happening. The district is working to help churches connect with others to strengthen the body.
In the Southern District, Harris said a concern is helping pastors not be casualties in ministry, though he is seeing more and healthier pastors.
The Pastors’ Conference concluded with a prayer time facilitated by the district ministers.
Musicians from Stony Brook Church and Iglesia Agua Viva led singing during the conference. Aaron and Maggie Halvorsen, Olathe, Kansas, Jules Mukaba, and Yanira Lopez, Omaha, shared their testimonies.
Volunteers from Stony Brook Church, a USMB congregation in Omaha, provided activities for children and youth during the Pastors’ Conference as well as the National Convention.
The Pastors’ Conference also included free time Wednesday and Thursday afternoon.
MB Foundation sponsors luncheon
Following the conclusion of the Pastors’ Conference Thursday, MB Foundation hosted an optional luncheon for pastors and spouses, and 104 individuals registered for the event.
Brian Kluth, the national spokesperson for Financial Health and Bless Your Pastor programs, shared differences between humans’ and God’s ways in handling money. Kluth compared four views on generosity: prosperity gospel, poverty theology, philanthropic giving and biblical generosity.
Kluth gave 10 ways God provides, ranging from income to reduced expenses and from storing up resources to miracle provisions. He challenged pastors to influence their congregation’s generosity by example as leaders.
Kluth also explained MB Foundation’s Financial Health program and various training courses and grants available through a partnership with the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE).
Each pastor and spouse in attendance received a $200 gift card given by NAE and a voucher for a “Weekend to Remember” marriage retreat.
Janae Rempel Shafer is the Christian Leader associate editor. She joined the CL staff in September 2017 with six years of experience as a professional journalist. Shafer is an award-winning writer, having received three 2016 Kansas Press Association Awards of Excellence and an Evangelical Press Association Higher Goals award in 2022. Shafer graduated from Tabor College in 2010 with a bachelor of arts in Communications/Journalism and Biblical/Religious Studies. She and her husband, Austin, attend Ridgepoint Church in Wichita, Kansas.
