Safe Community
Pastors typically don’t have a safe, supportive community. The Pandemic made it even harder. How do we help them?
We’re in a new season—in the world, for sure, but also at Provisions Group. After a tremendous four year season serving in a great church in California, doing our coaching and acquiring another certification, we are ready to expand the work of Provisions Group.
2021 was a year of transitions and travel for us. After coming over the mountains from California last December with our truck and trailer laden, Karen and I have taken trips in our trailer to the mountains in Colorado and all the way down to Big Bend National Park, with a visit to our board member Bryan Charlton in Albuquerque on the way. The highlight of the year though was being able to spend Thanksgiving with all our children, their spouses, and all nine of our grandchildren. It had been seven years since we were all together. The youngest cousins met for the first time and aunts and uncles met nephews and nieces for the first time. Chip and Kelsey with McKenna (17), Murrin (15), and Maeya (6) flew in from North Carolina. David and Jennifer, Olivia (12), Rhona (6), and Lorna (4) are here in Castle Rock. Tim and Rachel came down from Montana with Ezra (7) Amos (6) and Lark (4). We had a blast and were so grateful for the time to just be together.
Now I'm ready to focus again on accepting a limited number of fellow pastors, pastoral couples, and leaders to support, encourage, coach, and mentor. It will be Provisions Group 2.0. And there is great news about that....
Introducing Shaynor Newsome
Throughout the past year, multiple conversations, prayer, brainstorming, and work behind the scenes took place with my friend Shaynor Newsome. The result is that he has accepted the board's invitation and call to join in the work of Provisions Group as our second pastor-coach and spiritual director, and we're so thankful. Shaynor brings tremendous experience and gifts to this work and we're blessed that he wants to join with us.
Shaynor is married to Heather. They have two children Jonathan and Violet. He hails from Dallas. After completing seminary he spent some time leading tours in Western Europe, 12 years in campus ministry with Reformed University Fellowship at New Mexico State and Baylor Universities and the last 7 1/2 years as the Senior Pastor at City Church in Eugene, Oregon.
I am so encouraged by Shaynor's heart; his ability to understand and connect with fellow pastors—particularly those whose journey has been difficult—and his grasp of the gospel. He also understands the unique approach we take in our coaching and spiritual direction. I'm honored that he wants to come on board. He will be introducing himself more fully as we refresh our website in 2022 so stay tuned.
With the start of 2022 we will have been doing this work on the side or full time for nearly twenty years. It has been our goal and prayer to do this well for the glory of Christ and the strengthening of our brothers and sisters in ministry leadership. Karen and I want to be faithful to him and his people in this chapter in our lives.
...and we would love to have your help.
First, we would greatly value your thoughts, experiences, and feedback. For some of you that means you've been a pastoral client. Some of you have been sponsors for others to receive our ministry. You may have a pastor in mind now that you would like to sponsor to make our ministry accessible to him. That would be wonderful.
But why Provisions Group among all the rest? Here is why I think what we do stands out.
We use a process, and have an ethos, that has evolved and has been perfected since 2004. Gratefully, it has been used of God and often has a powerful impact in a pastor’s or pastoral couples’ life.
We describe what we do as the hospitality of L’Abri, laced with learning from our season with the Genesis Project and the research findings of the Pastors Summit in which we participated. We've pursued some advanced degree work, I've done training with the College of Executive Coaching, and we have and will complete additional certifications for using scientifically validated behavioral assessments. These provide a solid foundation for self-awareness, working on emotional intelligence, and appreciation of team dynamics. We meet repeatedly, with feedback, and facilitated peer learning by a veteran pastor in a safe place of deep community—processing and growing for two years in cohorts and individually.
It is really a beautiful thing.
We’ve learned that you can’t get this by reading a book. The learning process is experiential, personal, individual, and collegial. For those who want or need a curriculum we can give you some great recommendations. But that’s not what we do.
Here’s something you can do.
If you’re open to having a brief phone conversation to share your ideas or ask questions here’s my cell: 303.906.5764. Text me or email me at stephen@provisionsgroup.co and we’ll set up a time to talk with me or with Shaynor. If you want to help with a sponsorship give me a call.
If you need this for yourself don't wait. Call.
Contemplating the new year I was helped reading Jesus’ words in John 16:33—
“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart. I have overcome the world.”
In this crazy world we're in, we need to help each other remember Jesus' words and the provision of his presence, and his Spirit, and the strength that he has for us in deep, close fellowship with our spiritual family.
You all have been highly engaged friends through the years. Thank you. Thanks for taking the time to read all this. Your interest in caring for the well-being of pastors, pastoral couples, and Christian leaders gives us hope.
With love and blessings to you in Christ,
Stephen & Karen
