Pastoral Care 101
Pastoral Conversations
Grow your people skills and learn how to have meaningful conversations appropriate to the context.
Flexible Learning Options
Flexible Learning Options
Your leaders are the frontline of care... are they equipped?
Pastoral care is becoming increasingly complex and demanding. Leaders are facing situations they were never trained for.
Your small group leaders and ministry leaders are the front line of pastoral care. They are often the first and primary way people experience belonging, support, and connection within your church.
Without the right skills it is easy to say or do the wrong thing, feel overwhelmed, get out of their depth, or unintentionally create risk for the church.
This is why training is no longer a nice-to-have. It is essential.
How we can help
We equip your leaders with the skills and practical frameworks they need to relate well, care safely, and lead confidently.
Two training options
Available IN-PERSON or ONLINE, this training is designed to equip your team in a way that is practical, clear, and immediately applicable.
Online Training
Get 12 months access to the full training
- Train individuals or your whole team
- Work through the material at your own pace
- Use it in group settings or individually
- Options for single and multi-location churches
In-Person Training
Delivered at your church in a one-day format
- Personal training with Richard
- Guided group exercises
- Life Q&A based on real situations
Both options build practical skills your team can apply immediately.
The difference this training makes
After this training your leaders will:
• know how to have meaningful pastoral conversations
• understand their role and limits
• feel confident rather than overwhelmed
• care for people in a safe and sustainable way
What you will learn
You will learn key pastoral skills, building one layer at a time, and be left with a comprehensive approach to having meaningful and safe pastoral conversations.
This training is suitable for small group leaders, pastoral cares, ministry, chaplains, youth workers, and community ministries.
Topic Areas
This training will equip you with essential skills to build trust, listen deeply, and guide conversations with purpose, ensuring that you can effectively support others without overstepping boundaries or feeling overwhelmed.
Churches we have helped
- Our Testimonials
Hear from Our
Clients
Carl and Angela Crocker, Lead Pastors, Life Church
As a church, we have partnered with Richard Black for several years now. Richard’s training seminars have been invaluable to us as staff and wherever possible we take the opportunity to send our pastoral team when training is available. We have also put our pastoral staff through the Pastoral Transformation block course which has been a great help to upskill them and give them confidence in their roles.
We highly recommend working with Richard for the benefit of your leadership, staff and congregation members.
Steve Graham, Principal, Equippers College
Over the past few years, I have heard the following in discussions with leaders across various streams of the church: “I was stuck, I was in a hole, I was struggling, but I talked with Richard Black, and his insights and wisdom were so helpful in me moving forwards.” Richard is making a significant contribution to the thriving of church leaders. Thanks so much, Richard!
Major Kylie Tong – The Salvation Army, Wellington
Richard Black has a way of holding up a mirror that brings clarity and insight to what’s really going on beneath the surface.
Simon Gill, Senior Pastor, The Street Church
I am so grateful to Richard for his expertise and investment in my leadership over the past decade.
Jonathan Dove, Senior Pastor, Gracecity Church
Executive Chair, Auckland Church Network
I’ve long trusted Richard Black — he brings a researcher’s rigour and a pastor’s heart to everything he does. Richard’s gift is making confronting realities like this simple and — crucially — changeable.
Dr Francine Bennett - Senior Lecturer in Education, Laidlaw College
Having benefited from attending Richard’s workshops, I am consistently impressed by his integrity, clarity, and pastoral heart.
Boyd Ratnaraja – National Leader, Elim Church of New Zealand
Richard Black addresses the issues many of us feel but rarely articulate, areas we often overlook or avoid. He speaks with the wisdom of experience and the heart of a shepherd, offering insight that is both deeply personal and profoundly practical.
Ps Sam Tolley – Church Unlimited, Auckland
Richard brings a wealth of knowledge, compassion and practical wisdom in the area of wellbeing, pastoral care and longevity in ministry. Because of this we have had Richard come and speak at our church on a Sunday and also he has been a keynote speaker at our annual conference.
Richard is an amazing asset to the churches and pastors of NZ.
Ben and Amy Kendrew, ARISE Church
We are very grateful that over the years, the trainings that Richard has offered, have really helped build a solid foundation for our staff and for our pastors… No one really presents as articulately and professionally and with substance as Richard does.
Rev. Simon Martin, Bishop’s Chaplain, Nelson Anglicans
Richard’s process is clear and the wisdom he brings is deeply reassuring as I know I am in good hands. Each session helps me be a better leader, husband, and disciple.
Ps Adam White, National Leader, New Life Churches NZ
As a Christian leader I can’t stress enough how valuable my regular session with Richard Black has been. – Highly recommended
- Meet Richard Black
Your Course Teacher
Richard Black is the founder of Thriving Churches HQ, an ordained minister, trained counsellor, and member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors.
He works alongside churches to provide specialised support for pastoral care. He holds a Master’s degree in Counselling, completing his research on “Emotional health in the role of a church leader”. His Honours dissertation explored key factors that enhance the wellbeing and effectiveness of pastors.
Through counselling, training, and public speaking, he helps people strengthen their thinking, be proactive in relationships, and succeed in life. Having been involved in pastoral ministry for many years, he understands the everyday challenges people face and the demands placed on church leaders.
Richard has the ability to communicate complex issues in a practical and accessible way. He has authored:
• The Thriving Pastor: Realigning ministry so leaders excel and churches flourish
• Centred: Knowing who you are in an off-balanced world
• There’s a Happy Moon in My Side (children’s book)