Digital Learning Intensive: Cultivating Friendships in Ministry
Spring 2026 Harbor Digital Learning Intensive
January 29, 2025 | Noon–1:30 PM EST
When: January 29, 2025 | Noon–1:30 PM EST
Who: Lead pastors, staff pastors, elders, and spouses
Cost: $25 per screen (invite your spouse or team to join you!)
Format: Live digital cohort with teaching, Q&A, and conversation
Led by Brian Croft, this session will be recorded and available for later viewing.
Friendships are complex in ministry.
The people we long to draw near to are often the same people who depend on us for pastoral care and oversight. We're surrounded by people every week, yet many of us find ourselves isolated—without the deep, trusted friendships our souls desperately need to not just survive, but thrive in long-term ministry.
How do we navigate this disorienting terrain? How do we wisely pursue and cultivate the kind of friendships that actually sustain us?
Join Brian Croft for an honest conversation about pastoral friendship.
Brian Croft, Senior Pastor of Auburndale Baptist Church and Founder of Practical Shepherding, will guide us through the forgotten piece of persevering ministry: pastor-to-pastor friendship. Drawing from his co-authored book Pastoral Friendship: The Forgotten Piece in a Persevering Ministry, Brian will help you understand why cultivating intimate, sacrificial friendships isn't just nice—it's necessary.
In this DLI, you'll discover:
Why friendship is essential for soul care and ministry perseverance
How to move beyond "excessive acquaintanceship" to genuine companionship
Practical steps to develop trusted friendships that regularly turn your gaze to Jesus
The power of presence and listening in pastoral relationships
This isn't about networking or ministry partnerships. It's about the kind of friendship that sits with you in silence, cares for your soul, and helps you become your best self as a shepherd to God's people.
What to Expect
This 90-minute digital gathering creates space for teaching, interaction, and connection. You'll leave with:
Relief from the pressure of isolation
Renewal for your weary soul
Clarity on how to pursue life-giving friendships
Connection with other pastors navigating the same terrain
Harbor's Digital Learning Intensives are designed to be intimate, accessible, and interactive—small enough for real conversation, affordable enough for your whole team to join.