Conflict

Communication | Conflict | Delegation | Elder-Preacher Relationships | Goals | Growth | Leadership | Leadership Selection | Listening | Overseeing | Sheep | Shepherd-Shepherd Relationships | Shepherding

Fairlane — the Church that Started New Shepherds Orientation
ByJerrie Barber November 20, 2017November 27, 2017

In the fall of 2013, Henry Wilhoite, an elder at Fairlane Church of Christ in Shelbyville, Tennessee, called. He said, “We’ve recently appointed five elders. Four of them have never served before. Could you put something together to help us get started and be more effective?” We met in Henry’s cabin in Gatlinburg November 1,…

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Communication | Conflict | Gossip | Individual Responsibility | Leadership | Overseeing

Where Do Christians Learn to Gossip?
ByJerrie Barber November 6, 2017July 25, 2025

When you find conflict in a group (family, business, church, or softball team), somebody is spreading gossip. They think they’re doing the right thing (Proverbs 21:2). “Well, it’s the truth. Somebody needs to be speaking up. If I feel this way, I’m going to say it. At least I’m honest.” Where Do Christians Learn to…

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Communication | Conflict | Individual Responsibility

Jesus on Making Peace
ByJerrie Barber October 2, 2017May 21, 2026

It was something said, done, or wasn’t said or done. Now two people who were close friends, brothers and sisters in Christ are alienated, hurt, and apart. Is there any hope for repair? I want to share with you a tract that Jesus wrote, I printed, and some have told me was helpful. Jesus on…

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Anger | Communication | Conflict | Grace | Leadership | Sheep | Shepherding

Am I a Doctor’s Helper Who Is Allergic to Sick People?
ByJerrie Barber September 18, 2017March 23, 2021

A response and question from my blog post of August 1, 2017: “Brother I liked your article Do you know a sound congregation? I know why I would write an article like this, but I am curious why you did? Just curious…thank you and love you.” I don’t think I serve the cause of unity…

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Communication | Conflict | Deacons | Delegation | Elder-Preacher Relationships | Goals | Grace | Gratitude | Grief | Growth | Individual Responsibility | Influence | Leadership | Leadership Selection | Listening | Overseeing | Sheep | Shepherd-Shepherd Relationships | Shepherding

Culturally Diverse Church in Raleigh, North Carolina
ByJerrie Barber September 5, 2017September 5, 2017

We had a hard working group for the 7th New Shepherds Orientation Workshop. It was a beautiful drive around the Northern border of the Smokies the weekend of August 25-27. This is one of the most culturally diverse congregations I’ve visited. The Spanish and English worship together. Their website is in both English and Spanish….

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Communication | Conflict | Grace | Individual Responsibility | Leadership

Do You Know of a Sound Congregation…?
ByJerrie Barber August 1, 2017October 28, 2020

I see this notice on Facebook often. Someone is traveling. They ask, “Do you know of a sound congregation in ___________? We are going to be there this weekend.” Or from a fellow preacher, “I have been contacted by this congregation. Do you know if they have any problems? Would I want to move there?”…

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Communication | Conflict | Elder-Preacher Relationships | Grace | Individual Responsibility | Leadership | Listening | Shepherding

How Elders Have Shepherded Me
ByJerrie Barber July 18, 2017September 4, 2017

I’ve had a few elders less than the best. I’ve worked with many excellent elders. I’ve had some in-between. Preachers need shepherding as well as other dependent, dirty, and disoriented sheep. Here are actions and attitudes of helpful shepherds with a few contrasts to make the picture clearer. They’ve told me the truth. They’ve done…

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Conflict | Deacons | Delegation | Grief | Individual Responsibility | Influence | Leadership | Leadership Selection | Sheep | Shepherding

“Bless Our _______ as They Make Their Decisions”
ByJerrie Barber July 4, 2017July 31, 2025

One of the frequent petitions I hear about elders in public prayers is, “Lord, bless our elders as they make their decisions.” I often cringe when I hear that. What about, “Bless our elders as they shepherd the flock; bless our elders as they set examples of excellence, dedication, service, and holiness; bless our elders…

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Communication | Conflict | Deacons | Delegation | Elder-Preacher Relationships | Goals | Gossip | Individual Responsibility | Influence | Leadership | Leadership Selection | Overseeing | Sheep | Shepherd-Shepherd Relationships | Shepherding | Termination

Excited and Growing Church in Washington State
ByJerrie Barber May 16, 2017May 16, 2017

The sixth New Shepherds Orientation Workshop was with the Puyallup Church of Christ in Puyallup, Washington. We had the training sessions in the Holiday Inn Express in Seattle, Washington. I was touched and encouraged. Although two of the elders were involved in deaths close to them, they were present for most of the training. One…

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Communication | Conflict | Individual Responsibility

I Don’t Respond to Anonymous Letters…
ByJerrie Barber May 2, 2017October 7, 2020

When a new eldership was ordained at Berry’s Chapel November 19, 1995, none of them had ever served before. Every issue was new. They couldn’t ask, “How have you usually handled this?” to the older elders because there weren’t any. Read: Starting from Scratch On April 27 the following year, the elders, five members, and I received…

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