Brian Croft - Pastoring the Pastors

In our eighth episode, Aaron Prelock sits down with Brian Croft of Practical Shepherding to talk about what no seminary can hand a man: staying. Staying when the church wants you gone. Staying when no one will mentor you. Staying long enough that your body breaks before the church turns. Brian and Aaron talk about why wolves in sheep's clothing and wounded sheep look alike until you stay long enough to tell them apart, the lonely nature of pastoral work, having no category for shepherding as its own work, and how the celebrity preaching conference circuit can overlook faithful, ordinary work.00:00 — Brian Croft, Practical Shepherding, and thirty years in ministry02:03 — From the Christian music world to a call to pastor04:38 — Why eighty percent of pastors don't last ten years06:13 — Four pastors who refused to mentor him09:35 — Taking a dying church at twenty-nine14:17 — Three firing attempts, threats, and a body that shut down at thirty-four15:10 — Year six: the church turns18:37 — Haunted by Hebrews 13:1719:41 — Wolves in sheep's clothing and wounded sheep act alike22:24 — Every pastor needs an older pastor and a younger one24:47 — The isolation of the pastorate26:50 — Lament versus complaining31:20 — How Practical Shepherding began37:54 — The lost art of pastoral theology43:43 — Content to be an ordinary, faithful shepherd49:43 — "Show me the army"53:14 — Stop measuring ministry by numbers and moneyLearn more about the Frontier Shepherds conference at newgenevaacademy.com