Grace

Communication | Conflict | Deacons | Delegation | Elder-Preacher Relationships | Goals | Gossip | Grace | Gratitude | Leadership

Central, McMinnville, Tennessee — New Shepherds Orientation Workshop # 19
ByJerrie Barber November 2, 2020November 2, 2020

Left to right in the above picture: Doug and Becky Bost, Gail and Jerrie Barber, Toni and Dennis Ruch New Shepherds Orientation Workshop #19 was a job and a joy. It was a WORKshop. We met for twelve hours Friday and Saturday, October 16, 17.Since both our elders are retired, we met 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m….

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Communication | Elder-Preacher Relationships | Grace | Gratitude | Leadership

Shillington, Pennsylvania: New Shepherds Orientation Workshop # 18: generous and loving relationship in the leadership team
ByJerrie Barber November 4, 2019November 5, 2019

The good brethren in Shillington, Pennsylvania, invited me to lead my first New Shepherds Orientation Workshop in the northeast. Shillington is a town about seventy miles northwest of Philadelphia. To learn more about the brethren in Shillington: https://www.shillingtonchurch.org/index.php Their preacher, Rick Janelle’s blog: https://www.rickjanelle.com The brethren and their wives were well-prepared and participated in the…

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Communication | Elder-Preacher Relationships | Grace | Gratitude | Influence | Leadership | Shepherding

My First Raise and Why I Turned it Down…how wise and kind shepherds helped a scared young preacher
ByJerrie Barber July 1, 2019October 10, 2024

I’d been at this church about a year. It was my second full-time work. I was twenty-four years old. The elders told me I’d been doing a good job as their preacher and they were going to give me a raise. The only raise I’d received was when I was twelve years old. I was…

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Communication | Elder-Preacher Relationships | Grace | Gratitude | Individual Responsibility | Leadership

What’s Wrong with Everybody Except Me?
ByJerrie Barber December 31, 2018January 1, 2019

When I ask wrong questions, I will get unhelpful answers. Which would be the most productive question for elders to ask in the following sets? Please select one and consider a helpful response… What’s wrong with the church that they won’t talk to us? …or… How can we become so welcoming and approachable that people…

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Communication | Delegation | Elder-Preacher Relationships | Goals | Gossip | Grace | Gratitude | Individual Responsibility | Leadership | Leadership Selection | Listening | Overseeing | Sheep | Shepherd-Shepherd Relationships | Shepherding

Reunion With An Intern from Thirty-Three Years Ago
ByJerrie Barber May 14, 2018May 12, 2018

Brian Jarrett graduated from Freed-Hardeman College in the spring of 1985 and came to Dalton, Georgia, to serve as an intern during the summer. He did an excellent job and endeared himself to the Central church. Brian is now pulpit preacher for the Hartsville Pike church in Gallatin, Tennessee. From left to right: Bob Sidwell, Jamie…

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Anger | Communication | Conflict | Grace | Leadership

Why Would Anybody Do That?
ByJerrie Barber April 2, 2018March 28, 2023

Why in the world would anybody do that? Anybody in his right mind ought to know better than that. They aren’t honest.” How I answer the question in my mind determines how I approach someone to confront and correct them. If they aren’t in their right mind and aren’t honest, I may not be working…

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Anger | Communication | Conflict | Grace | Individual Responsibility | Influence | Leadership | Overseeing | Shepherd-Shepherd Relationships

Do You Have a Head Elder?
ByJerrie Barber February 19, 2018August 30, 2022

I’m not talking about the elder of the month—the one who leads opening prayer, sets the agenda, and goes around the table asking, “Do you have anything to bring up?”. I’m asking: are you aware of a leader of your leaders? Have you considered the effect he has on your group. Is it healthy or…

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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 | Elder-Preacher Relationships | Goals | Grace | Gratitude | Growth | Individual Responsibility | Leadership | Overseeing

Preacher Evaluation…Suggestions
ByJerrie Barber August 15, 2017November 4, 2024

I enjoyed having my elders evaluate me yearly. I want to know how my overseers see me. I won’t know unless they tell me. Unless they write it, I may forget. Unless we discuss what they wrote, I may not understand clearly. I recently received this email request from an elder friend: “It is time…

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