Peer to Peer Relationships 

Disciple-maker Waylon Moore was known for saying every Christian needs three people in his or her life: pacesetters, pupils and partners. A pacesetter is someone you are learning from who is living the Christian life in an exemplary manner, a pupil is someone you are helping to grow and a partner is someone running a similar race at a similar pace as you and is an encourager to you.

Twice a year I gather with a group of men with whom I share a ministry experience. We all serve as executive directors for Baptist state conventions. I consider these men as partners in ministry and I love being with them. I leave every meeting and conversation with these men encouraged in the good work God has given us to do.

In our gatherings I have the opportunity to interact with faithful brothers who have been in the role much longer than me. These men have wisdom that is both hard-earned by them and helpful to me. I am also around brothers who are new to the role. They have a fresh perspective energy that encourages me. In both cases I am better off after spending time with these brothers.

There is something encouraging about being around people who do what you do for a vocation. I am sure high school principals, morticians and musicians have this same experience. But where can a pastor, elder or ministry leader go to discover and benefit from these “iron sharpening iron” peer to peer relationships? Here are four suggestions.

1. Attend associational meetings: This past Monday I called one of our Kentucky Baptist pastors to hear an update on his ministry and encourage him in his good work. He took the call but let me know he was gathering with other pastors for their weekly associational pastors’ fellowship. Having been to this gathering many times in the past, I know it can be a conduit for building relationships and a wonderful atmosphere of mutual encouragement. Many local Baptist associations already have an existing group that meets, but if yours doesn’t you might be able to start one.
2. Take a leader to lunch: Everyone must eat and one of the best ways to build peer-to-peer ministry relationships is to be intentional about it by meeting a ministry colleague for lunch. I occasionally schedule lunches with other organizational, non-profit, leaders to spend time with them and glean from their ministry leadership experience. My go-to question in these meetings is, “What are some lessons you have learned about organizational leadership?” I always learn from these leaders.

If your budget allows, reach out to an area pastor, elder or leader and offer to take them to lunch for the purpose of getting to know them better and seek their counsel on a matter in your own ministry. If you do this a time or two, you will likely meet someone you really enjoy and who will be as much an encouragement to you as you are to them.

3. Join a social media group: Depending on where you live in the commonwealth, there is likely a social media group for Baptist pastors in your region. This can be a format for sharing ministry ideas, requesting prayer, hearing great stories and finding encouragement for ministry. If there is not a group already perhaps you can start one.
4. Pray and ask God to help: Throughout the Bible we discover instances of peer-to-peer relationships. David had Jonathan; Paul had Barnabus; and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had each other. Ecclesiastes 4:12 reminds us, “And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

God knows we need partners in ministry to keep us encouraged and help us stay faithful. If this is currently an unmet need in your life, consider asking the Father to bring a friend across your path with whom you can share the ups and downs of ministry leadership. Your life, and theirs, will be enhanced by the relationship.