TRAINING & CONSULTING
Bob
Humphrey, founder of Fresh Start, has interviewed hundreds of pastors,
pastoral staff, office personnel, missionaries’ managers and leaders
during the past 40 years. Effective interviewing is based upon good
tools, good technique and knowing precisely what you are looking for.
Bob has consulted with churches, schools, businesses and Christian
organizations in designing their own interview tools and procedures.
Bob has been mentoring Gordon Penfold in Fresh Start since 2003. Gordon
has been involed in pastoral ministry since 1980. Since the
late 1980's Gordon has also worked with pastors and Christian leaders
on a number of fronts including Conflict Resolution, Building Programs
(Gordon has a M.S. in Structural Engineering and worked as a structural
engineer for 6 1/2 years), and in developing purpose and vision
statements for various ministries.
One
thing is certain; there is nothing more uncomfortable than being the
right person in the wrong setting. Knowing that people will not
consistently act inconsistent with who they really are becomes one key
to effective placement. And since people do things for their reasons,
not ours, it is equally important to discover their personal values,
passions, motivations and skills. Fresh Start has assisted many
churches, schools and Christian organizations to successfully develop
their application and screening approaches for selecting and placing
people within their structures.
Training & Consulting on selecting and placing personnel
Fresh Start works off from
the premise that the higher the degree of fit between a person and a
responsibility, the higher the degree of effectiveness.
Training & Consulting on long range planning
Gordon's
desire to assist church in becoming healthy, fruitful and reproductive
has been has passion since he began ministry in 1980. Gordon is adding
to his background and understanding of churches as he works on his
Doctor of ministry degree at Talbot Seminary. The subject of his study is
"Growing and Multiplying Churches in the USA." This training plus his
years of experience in church ministry have given him a keen insight
into churches and helping churches make moves in the right direction.
Training & Consulting on leadership style effectiveness
Gordon
has been training and equipping pastors since 1994. He classes have
included Ecclesiology (the doctrine of the church), Pastoral Ministry
and Christian Leadership. He has also been through the School of Hard
Knocks as he began as a solo pastor in 1980. He has experienced both
failure and success in ministry. Gordon has helped pastors in the
depths of despair rediscover their purpose and joy in ministry.
Training & Consulting on teamwork & team building
Gordon is developing tools that help church leadership become more
effective as a team. Though he is in the early stages of developing
these tools you may find them helpful in turning your church around.
Training & Consulting on fresh start
In
1964 Bob Humphrey was called to a small struggling church in a
deteriorating small community. The ten remaining members of the church
cast their vote and he received a 9 to 1 affirming call to come as
pastor. After three years of ministry the church was averaging 80 in
attendance and had maxed out their meeting space. Unable to persuade
the group to seek a larger facility and having done all he knew to do
to bring about additional change, Bob left the congregation in 1967.
This
was Bob’s first experience with a church in serious decline and from
that youthful adventure he has developed, over the last 36 years,
effective means for assessing the causes of decline and has helped
scores of churches discover strategies for turnaround.
Gordon's
first church had 19 in attendance the first Sunday. In three and
one-half years the church grew with a number of new young families
being added to the fellowship. The average age of Gordon's second
ministry was near 70. Fourteen years later the church had grown to over
100 in attendance and the average age was about 35. Gordon had funerals
for 64 of the original 86 attenders. All of this took place in a town
that was small and shrinking rapidly. His third pastorate grew from 150
in attendance to figures that were nearing 300. Gordon left this
pastorate to take on the ministry of Fresh Start. Gordon is currently a
Fresh Start pastor helping a church that has been in a 40 skid turn the
corner to freshness and vitality in ministry.
In 2007 Gordon
conducted his first large Pastors' Conference on the principles of
Conflict Resolution and Biblical Peace Making in conjunction with
training pastors in the principles and practices of Fresh Start.
Helping declining churches get a new lease on life is the objective of
this training.
Training & Consulting on church health & growth
Gordon
has taken training in church health and church growth over the course
of his ministry. God has infected him with a deep desire to be an
instrument in helping churches to be transformed from plateaued and
declining to being vibrant and healthy. His Doctor of Ministry studies
are in this very area. Fresh Start is designed to help churches develop
significant turnaround. Fresh Start also helps churches develop plans
for relocation when that move is needed.
Training & Consulting on church conflict resolution
Church conflict is inevitable but it does not have to be destructive.
Gordon's first Fresh Start assignment was to help a deeply conflicted
congregation. Bob Humphrey mentored him through the process. Gordon's
passion and compassion help churches find hope and healing through
biblical peacemaking. Since that time Gordon has dealt with many
churches in deep conflict. God has been able to bring a measure of
healing to these congregations. Some are experiencing significant
turnaround in ministry. Gordon brings with him a biblical framework for
resolution and effective methodologies and strategies that will help
restore a sense of family and unity in your church.
Training & Consulting on being a change agent leader
The
21st Century will be a time of continued cultural, technological and
social change. With the world around us changing so quickly, is it
possible for the church to stay the same and still be relevant?
The
pace of change has increased exponentially. Technological change has
radically influenced the way we travel, communicate and learn. New
communities are being built in days, when it used to take years! What
kind of pastoral leadership is needed to help churches find their way
through the time- gates of change?
As a pastor, denominational
staff member and Christian leader, Gordon has not only been the
initiator of change, he has also been the recipient of change. Change
is uncomfortable. Gordon tries to see the big
picture when it comes to change in ministry. Change will occur. The
question is, "How will we respond to change?" Churches that refuse to
recognize the changes occurring around us will soon be in the bone yard
of churches past. Our theology does not change, the Word of God does
not change, but the way we relate to our culture changes constantly. We
need to be on the cutting edge so that we may effectively communicate
to our culture.
Helping people cope or accept change is
becoming an increasing need in our churches The focus of this portion
of the ministry is to train pastors and church leaders to identify
trends, select priorities and implement change without destroying the
church in the process.
Training & Consulting for pastoral search teams (committees)
The
steps toward finding a new pastor can be puzzling in a world of
theological pluralism and inter-denominationalism. Added to this
climate, is the challenge of believers’ being asked to assume a role
that seldom occurs in their life-time and for which they may not
have been trained.
Help is available for your church. Gordon
works with denominational leaders to help churches
find a good fit for their ministry. Many churches have struggled
needlessly because they did not "choose wisely" in the pastoral
selection process. It is a tragic thing to have to go to a church that
has experienced significant conflict because of a "bad fit."
Evaluation of your Association or Judicatory
How are we doing? That is a question that is ignored all too often. Fresh Start is willing and able to help you evaluation your overall ministry as to its effectiveness and impact. The process is necessary if we hope to make a continued impact for Jesus Christ in our generation. Gordon has just completed an evaluation of the Rocky Mountain Conservative Baptist Association.
A ministry of mentoring and coaching
Gordon
has been training pastors since 1994. He has been mentoring pastors
almost since the beginning of his life as a pastor. He continues to
coach pastors and church leadership teams in churches where he has
ministered as a Fresh Start consultant.
A tailored approach
This
sampling of topics is provided to you for the purpose of helping you
get a better understanding of the areas of resources Fresh Start can
bring to bear upon the needs of your ministry.
Should you
desire a consultation or training event for your church in one or more
of these areas, Gordon will work with you to identify your specific
needs and then tailor an approach that best fits your congregational
culture, structure and desires.
Give Gordon a call at 970.454.5550 or email him at gbpenfold@msn.com for additional information regarding training or consulting with you or you and your church leaders.
Copyright © 2003 Fresh Start Ministries
Revised: 08/03/07