It has been six months since I transitioned fully into Thriving Churches HQ, stepping into a space where I can focus more exclusively on the health and growth of pastors, churches, and their teams.
And I am loving it! It is such a privilege to walk alongside churches and leaders. What I have particularly enjoyed is the shift from offering one-off services to forming longer-term partnerships with churches. These partnerships have allowed me to walk alongside leaders in a far more productive way. I have been able to hear their needs, develop tailored plans, and support churches in pursuing the vision God has placed on their hearts.
Although no two churches are the same, as I have spent time listening to pastors and leadership teams around the country and beyond, two consistent themes have emerged: the need for Strategic Leadership clarity and robust Pastoral Care systems.
- Strategic Leadership
Many churches feel they are meant to have a mission or vision statement, but they are unsure how to use it. Recently, Greig Whittaker from City to City Australia made this challenge: “Is your vision statement wallpaper or a war-paper?” In other words, is it a decorative sentiment or a call to action?
For many churches, it functions more like wallpaper: something aspirational, but rarely activated. Too often, vision statements are seen as static words on a website or foyer wall, rather than a tool that can:
- Summarise the heart and DNA of the church
- Clarify strategic priorities and development steps
- Mobilise people into discipleship and mission
Every church is at a different place. Some churches have not yet articulated a clear sense of future direction. Others have a vision but are stuck, either because it is vague, overly complex, or disconnected from the life of the church. Still others have been building steadily but now sense it is time for a strategic refresh.
Without a transferrable and embedded vision:
- People are not mobilised
- Development slows or plateaus
- Busyness happens without strategic impact
- Leaders become weary
- Mission is muted
- Strong Pastoral Care Systems
Alongside the leadership challenge is a deeply felt concern about whether the church has the right system to care for its people well. This is partly because some leaders see themselves less as pastors or shepherds and more as leaders, which can lead to an underdeveloped pastoral care system.
In many churches, the burden of care falls mainly on clergy or staff. While this traditional model is common, it quickly becomes unsustainable beyond certain size. Other leaders have shared with me how their churches are experiencing growth and their pastoral care systems is struggling to keep up. Others have a pastoral care system, but it has not been organised and structured or the carers are well intentioned but not trained.
Added to this is the fact that pastoral care today is not what it once was. Carers are encountering increasingly complex issues, such as mental health struggles, trauma, addiction, family crises, self-injury, and suicidality. Because of this, many find themselves out of their depth or overwhelmed. Without training, structure, and support, it is easy for well-meaning carers to burnout, give up, or created a greater issue.
When care systems are underdeveloped or unclear, it creates strain on pastors and teams, and people fall through the cracks. When pastoral care is strong and structured, it strengthens the whole church.
Both Strategic Leadership and Pastoral Care Systems are vital to the wellbeing and thriving of a church. That is why I am so enjoying partnering with churches in these areas, joining their teams to foster greater growth and health in one or both.
Three Key Partnerships
In response to what I have been hearing and seeing, I have developed three tailored partnership packages that are already making a difference in churches. These are 12-month partnerships, intentionally designed to offer ongoing support, momentum, and sustainability.
Strategic Leadership Partnership
This is guided support to clarify and simplify vision, develop strategic objectives, and mobilise your people. Depending on a church’s need it may involve such things as:
- Clarify and simplify their vision
- Identify key objectives and measurable outcomes
- Build a strategy plan that brings the vision to life
- Equip teams to communicate and activate that vision across the church
When this comes together, something powerful happens; churches regain clarity, teams find new traction, and people begin to engage the mission together.
Pastoral Care Support Partnership
This provides your church with a scalable, structured care system tailored to your church context, with training for carers and leaders, and strengthens your overall pastoral culture. Depending on a church’s need it may involve such things as:
- Build a care system that is simple, scalable, and structured
- Train and support carers, life group leaders, and ministry volunteers
- Establish clarity and consistency in how care is delivered
- Provide on-call support and guidance for complex pastoral issues
A healthy pastoral care system allows pastors to lead without carrying everything, empowers lay leaders to serve with confidence, and fosters a culture where people feel seen, supported, and valued.
Healthy Growth Partnership
Strategic planning and resourcing to enable healthy growth throughout your church. It includes:
- Strategic review and planning to assess current health and align priorities
- Monthly coaching for leadership growth, clarity, and sustained momentum
- On-call support for acute issues and leadership consultation
- Access to the full suite of standalone online resources for your whole church, including the following with Q&A Zoom sessions:
- PTC Module 1: Pastoral Care Conversations
- PTC Module 2: Pastoral Care Topics
- PTC Module: Personal Growth & Pastoral Coaching Tools
- Life Enhancing Library
This partnership provides consistent input to strengthen church health, equip leaders, and resource emotional health across your community.
Let’s Talk
It has been a joy to support churches in this way—helping leaders gain clarity, build sustainable systems, and lead communities that are healthy, strategic, and spiritually vibrant.
If you are wondering what a tailored 12-month partnership could look like for your church, I would love to chat. Each partnership begins with hearing your needs and is shaped around your unique context. It is a privilege every time I am invited to journey with a church and their team.
📧 richard@thrivingchurcheshq.com
Together, let’s grow thriving churches.
— Richard
Thriving Churches HQ
