Humility Network
Why a Network?
We have never lived in such a content-rich environment. Content is everywhere! But authentic community and mutual accountability that bring real change? They're scarce. Maybe more than ever, pastors need a small group of peers who get them, who have walked in their shoes, and want nothing more for than to help one another be both fruitful and fulfilled.
The Process
The Humility Network brings pastors and leaders together in groups of 8 to 10, led by an experienced pastor and coach. We meet twice a month for 2 hours each time by Zoom, and twice a year for a 48-hour, in-person retreat.
Cohorts are forming all through the year. To discover the H4 culture of the Humility Network and the 9 benefits you can expect, go here. [Link to Humility Network 5-Page Explanatory Document]
Testimony From the Front
Recently joined the Humility Network.
The Humility Network has been a transformative blessing in my life. In a short time, it has equipped me with tools that have helped me grow not only as a pastor, but also as a husband and father. Though I’ve been part of a covenant group and many small groups, this experience has been entirely unique. The content from our sessions has been excellent for identifying church challenges and fostering healthy growth, but that's not the best part. Under Roger’s thoughtful and Spirit-led leadership, the Humility Network creates a sacred space for clergy to speak freely, pray together, experience genuine fellowship, and deepen our walk with God. It came into my life at just the right time, and I’m deeply grateful.
Rev. Kevin Hinkle, Lead Pastor
State Street Ministry (Centenary, Grace, & Waverly First UMC’s)
Illinois Great Rivers Conference
How Does It Work?
Some may wonder what actually happens in the network. It’s a combination of three elements:
Spiritual formation: We cannot give what we do not have. Being comes before doing. If pastors and leaders are not being deeply formed into followers of Christ, how can we expect them to do that with the people they lead?
Christian mastermind: Pastors and leaders need a group of peers who are 100% for each other. They want to see each other succeed for the greater advancement of God’s work in this world. To that end, they willingly share spiritual insights and best practices and lovingly hold one another accountable.
Leadership development track: Too many pastors and leaders drift from day to day, week to week, allowing the urgent to dictate their lives and ministries. The network is designed to help leaders be proactive by setting Goals for Life (GFL), both professionally and personally. It also helps them put together a Ministry Strategy that creates focus, alignment, and accountability. These tools are essential to move a person’s life and ministry forward.
All this is done in a H4 culture that is humble, hungry, holy, and healthy. Find a definition of each of these cultural values and the 9 outcomes you can expect from the Network here
The High Cost of Free
Along the way, some have questioned if a network is a good investment of time and money. Some pastors and leaders think they can gather a group and do the things this Network provides on their own for “free.”
A commendable theory, but in practice it never works. The relentless demands of leading others as well as challenges in our own personal lives often squeeze out our best intentions. Regrettably, it costs these leaders, churches and non-profits far more in the long run.
Here’s why. There are three indispensable ingredients to bring real change in a person, ministry or church:
A trained coach who listens carefully and provides a process for transformation.
Loving accountability to help people follow through on what they want most.
The Holy Spirit working through these first two ingredients and working in a person or group.
Apart from these three elements, transformative change does not happen. Pastors and leaders just keep doing what they have always done and keep getting the same or worse results.
The enormous cost of stagnation that leads to slow decline is tragic. The light of Christ that shines through a particular congregation or organization grows dimmer as it grows smaller and older each year.
Sadly, in an attempt to save money by doing this work on their own, leaders pay a much higher price. They ensure the eventual death of their church or organization.
In a rapidly changing mission field, we literally can’t afford to stay the same. Without transformative change, churches have no hope of surviving, much less thriving.
Most Effective Means of Change
Here’s the good news. A group of pastors who are committed to Christ and committed to an iron-sharpening-iron process can advance Christ’s mission both inwardly in each participant and outwardly in each church or organization.
Lilly Foundation research on the effectiveness of clergy groups bears this out.
Unstructured groups – Somewhat effective
Designated (from within the group), but untrained leader and unstructured – More effective
Hired, trained leader who establishes a structure and executive committee – Most effective
While getting together with others provides the benefit of support, groups guided by a trained leader with built-in accountability offer support and transformation.
