Practically Trained Pastors: A 52-Week Field Guide for Ministry in the Trenches

This 52-week field guide for ministry in the trenches provides a thorough and practical training program for pastors, aspiring pastors, and church ministry leaders. Tackling seven key areas in the life of a shepherd, Practically Trained Pastors takes a step-by-step approach to study. Each week includes a Bible passage to read, an additional reading assignment, a teaching section, a 4-5 minute video to watch, and reflection questions to help you to apply each topic to your ministry context. The field guide draws on experience from decades of pastoral ministry and is designed specifically to bridge the gap between academic study and the hands-on practical training necessary for the work of any pastor. A one-stop resource for in-the-field training, when used alongside other practical shepherding resources, this is the ideal course for a solo pastor to sharpen his pastoral skills, or for a lead pastor to use with his church interns, ministry leaders, or fellow elders.

Brian Croft is the former Senior Pastor of Auburndale Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky and is the Founder and Executive Director of Practical Shepherding, Inc. He is also Senior Fellow for the Mathena Center for Church Revitalization and an Adjunct Professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served in pastoral ministry for over twenty-five years, spending seventeen of those years as Senior Pastor of Auburndale Baptist Church.

James B. Carroll is lead pastor of Parkway Baptist Church in Bardstown, KY, and author of several books.