“For years, I have longed for meaningful ministerial companionship. While I’ve known many pastors and ministers, I’ve often struggled to form true connections with them. I have mostly walked this journey alone, and at times, it has been a heavy burden. Fellowship of Lone Shepherds reminded me that I am not alone in this experience—and that God is answering my unspoken prayer by connecting me to this fellowship.”
Duke, pastor in Ghana
Fellowship of Lone Shepherds is…
An offer of friendship.
Sometimes being a solo pastor can feel a bit too… solo. So, let’s start up a friendship through email, texting, phone calls, Zoom calls, and/or in-person (depending on how far you are from Stillwater, Oklahoma). This begins by connecting one-on-one with our director, Everett Miller, who is a former solo pastor with a heart for solo pastors and the small churches.
This is not counseling or coaching. There’s no reading list or courses to take. There’s no cost, and we won’t pull a bait and switch and try to get you to buy something. It’s just friendship. FLS exists to introduce you to other solo pastors who want to hear about what God is doing in your life and through your ministry; to celebrate with you the joys of ministry and commiserate with you about the challenges of being a part of a small church; to listen to your struggles, your doubts, your worries, and how that particular church member is testing your patience. And, as faithful Christian friends do, Everett also offers himself as a safe person to whom you can confess your sins, to help you think through what repentance looks like, and to remind you of the graciousness of God. Being a solo pastor is tough enough; don’t try to do it all alone. Please fill out the contact form and Fellowship of Lone Shepherds will be in touch ASAP.
An opportunity to connect with other solo pastors.
Fellowship of Lone Shepherds also wants to connect you to other solo pastors. More friends! As we become acquainted with more and more solo pastors, FLS is forming groups that either meet in person (if geography allows), online, or just in a group text.
Friends, you may be solo pastors, but THERE IS NO REASON TO DO THIS ALONE. Help us start some Fellowship of Lone Shepherds groups! To do so, connect with Everett on an individual level first through filling out the contact form. Also, please understand that it’s okay if you just want to connect with Everett one-on-one without being a part of a group. A group will, however, enhance your experience.
How is FLS different from other ministries that serve pastors?
We are incredibly grateful for the Kingdom work being done by ministries that serve pastors through providing counseling, coaching, retreats, academic cohort groups, and resources such as online courses and articles. Countless pastors have been blessed by their efforts and, when appropriate, we refer pastors to those ministries to fill those needs. We also may employ some of those methods in the future. What FLS does is different from those ministries, however, in two main ways:
FLS is intended to meet the needs of solo pastors of small churches rather than those Christian leaders on multi-pastor staffs at larger churches. We contend that, while all pastors have some shared experiences, pastoring small churches is a uniquely challenging way to serve the Body of Christ.
FLS specializes in forming friendships rather than in providing services. We are convinced that many of the problems solo pastors often face—burnout, discouragement, and loneliness—can, at the very least, be mitigated and sometimes even be avoided altogether if solo pastors are a part of a network of friendships. Again and again, solo pastors (even those in denominations) have told us that Fellowship of Lone Shepherds, just by introducing them to friends and then facilitating those friendships, has given them the encouragement, energy, and hope they need to thrive in their ministries. Friendships have been proven to do the following things, all of which are desperately needed by solo pastors:
Raise your sense of connection, belonging and purpose.
Boost your happiness and lower your stress.
Improve your sense of inherent worth.
Help you navigate hard times.
Urge you to change or avoid unhealthy habits.