CORE COMPETENCIES

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

In ministry, you’ve got to sustain the well of your soul or else you’ll quickly run dry.

Every pastor feels the struggle of being poured out for the sake of others. Through this core competency, you will engage with the spiritual disciplines that will fill you as you enjoy a robust walk with Jesus Christ. You will develop the rhythms needed for a lifelong pursuit of God. 

FAMILY FIRST

A thriving ministry and a failing family is still pastoral failure. 

Through this core competency, you will learn how to establish healthy rhythms for life and family. Tools to navigate the mission of the church without sacrificing the mission of your family will be provided. You will be equipped to meet the challenge to live out the call to disciple and lead in the home as your first priority.

SELF AWARENESS

You’ve got to know who you are and whose you are.

The inability to discover what kind of leader you are and, just as importantly, what kind of leader you aren’t will derail your pastoral ministry. Through this core competency, you will be exposed to a variety of tools that will grow you in self-awareness. You will know who you are and whose you are.

SHEPHERDING

All ministry should be seen through the lens of shepherding.

By definition, a pastor is a shepherd of God’s people. This core competency will equip you to provide care and counsel to the flock. You will learn how to practically facilitate the defining moments of your congregation’s life as you gain hands-on experience conducting weddings, officiating funerals, performing baby dedications, visiting hospitals, and everything in between.

PREACHING

Pastor Ricky's grandfather always said, “It takes preaching to make a preacher.”

This core competency will expose and equip you to the fundamentals of gospel-centered preaching in today’s world. Through the SPR preaching cohort, you will learn your God-given voice, understand the principles and best practices for communicating the gospel, and be given opportunities to preach and receive feedback.

MULTI-ETHNIC MINISTRY

A pastor must pursue now what God is going to perfect later.

At the heart of the gospel is the vision of Revelation 7:9. God is planning for an eternity where every nation, tribe, and language is represented. Through the Multi-Ethnic Ministry competency, you will learn how to translate the gospel witness of Jesus Christ into various cultural contexts.

STEWARDSHIP

God has called us to steward what He owns.

The pastoral enterprise is one where God has entrusted you with His resources. Through this core competency, you will learn to incorporate best practices for church management, budgeting, fundraising, administration, and leveraging finances all for God’s glory.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

This core competency is the granddaddy of them all.

No matter the size of the church, every pastor needs a junk drawer of skills and tools to move their ministry from one point to the next. Through this core competency, you will learn how to cast a compelling vision, lead a team, empower staff and volunteers, and maximize the potential of those you lead. You will be built as a leader who will develop leaders.

CHURCH PLANTING

Every pastor better know how to start new things.

Whether you are called to plant a church or not, the exposure you will receive through this core competency will be significant to your development as a pastor. Through this core competency, you will engage with the what, why, and how of church planting. You will learn about entrepreneurial leadership, refining your calling, honing your vision and mission, identifying idols of a city, inaugurating a core team, and the brass tacks of what it takes to build a brand new church.