“From the sessions to the structured discussions, everything was prepared by practitioners who serve as both pastors and professors; they really knew what would be the most helpful to us as fellow pastors,” said recent Pastor’s Workshop participant Ben Cowell.
Pastors from across the country came to the campus of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for the first ever Pastor’s Workshop. This new offering from Southern Seminary is designed for seasoned pastors to deliver a space for learning, networking, and retreat. The workshop spanned Tuesday to Thursday and coincided with the 2024 E.Y. Mullins Lectures by Dr. Kevin DeYoung.
“A primary component of our mission is to serve the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention. The Pastor’s Workshop allows us to create a unique environment of relational learning, rest, and refreshment on our campus,” said Provost Paul Akin. He continued, “Our goal is to serve pastors by providing a designated time and space for them to connect with other pastors, engage with our faculty, and to enjoy a break from their everyday duties and responsibilities. There is a mutual encouragement when we gather together, and we look forward to hosting more Pastor Workshops in the future.”
The workshop began Tuesday with a session by Dr. Matthew Haste on a biblical examination of the pastor’s disposition. The group then attended Southern Seminary’s chapel where they heard Kevin DeYoung preach from Genesis 39 after which they had lunch together and with members of Sothern’s faculty. The afternoon featured another session with Dr. Haste and the first of three Mullins lectures from Dr. DeYoung before the group then concluded the day with a dinner and Q&A with Dr. Haste, Dr. Paul Akin, and Dr. Tom Schreiner to discuss life and ministry. Wednesday and Thursday followed similar patterns as pastors spent time together in lectures, shared meals with faculty, and had additional Q&A sessions with Dr. Hershael York and Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr.
Reflecting on his time in the Pastor’s Workshop, Cheston Pickard said, “Every participant – from coast to coast – seemed to have similar questions and struggles in ministry, needing the same encouragement and wisdom from God’s Word. The Pastor’s Workshop was unlike any class I have ever taken at Southern and was an edifying time for pastors to come together to glean from trusted professors and leaders.” Pickard went on to say, “Because of the relational nature of the seminar, I believe many friendships were formed that will last a lifetime into eternity.”
The Pastor’s Workshop cultivate a unique blend of education and relationship building at a retreat pace, so pastors leave strengthened, encouraged, and refreshed to faithfully continue in all that the Lord is calling them to. These workshops are scheduled to be offered regularly as Southern Seminary continues to encourage and equip pastors for more faithful service. If you are interested in learning more information about the next Pastor’s Workshop email communications@sbts.edu and we will alert you when the next workshop becomes available.