United Pastors Network

I remember years ago during my initial stages of being a Christian, and throughout the years of my training under Ps. George Evans, watching my pastor interact with his friends. You would often hear him say something like this, “I have known this pastor for a quarter of a century,” or “We’ve been friends for two decades.” And as time moved forward, I even heard him say, “We’ve been friends for half a century or longer.”

In those beginning days, the longevity of friends in the ministry marked me. His friends were men like Charles Green, Mel Davis, Lenard Fox and many other great men. Today, I enjoy these same types of friendships. It is an honor to be able to say that I’ve been friends with Ps. Doug Balcombe for close to 40 years or with Ps. Dale O’Shields for nearly 30 years, and others in UPN for more than 20 years such as Ps. Joe Champion and Ps. Dino Rizzo. I love long-term friendships. They have helped me form the ministry that we are today. This is what UPN is all about. There are many conferences out there –– to enjoy, to learn from, and to be inspired by –– and this is exactly what takes place at UPN. Yet, what I value even more are the long-term friendships. The type of friendships where our kids can grow up together and now our grandkids. So for many of us, UPN is a family of friends.

I look forward to seeing you there on May 21-23.

God bless,

Robert & Karyn Barriger
Camino de Vida | Lima, Perú
caminodevida.com

I have attended the UPN conference several times now and the thing that keeps me coming back for more is the friendships. UPN feels more like a class reunion than a ministry conference. While I certainly benefit from the world class speaking lineup and the excellent staff it would be difficult to take the time to come back if I felt like I was going to be alone. In fact when I attended the inaugural UPN I did feel alone! I was scared, anxious and wondering if this was the right investment. It wasn’t until a couple of guys invited me to watch an NBA game after the session that I really felt like this was the right event for me.

Now I have life long friends who are invaluable to me especially during times of ministry transition and growth. My friends from UPN have become my go-to source for prayer, resource referral and real life understanding on what it means to be a Pastor. Whether it’s long phone calls and emails or comedic jabs on twitter we are in touch throughout the year and for a couple of days in May we get to enjoy some real time together, maybe even watch an NBA game.

Daniel Balcombe
Youth Pastor
Living Way Church | Poway, CA
http://www.lwcpoway.com/

As a pastor who has pastored the same congregation for the past twenty-three years, you are always looking for opportunities to take those traveling with you to a higher level. Having participated over the past three years, UPN and the folks at Church of the Redeemer have certainly afforded me that opportunity.

The personal value for me and our leaders is found in three key areas. First of all, the great spirit of unity and comaraderie that you sense among all the participants helps our team to realize the Kingdom is much bigger and broader than our little parcel of territory. We are encouraged to be a part of the larger scheme of God’s work. We feel important.

Second, it is the excellence in which the staff and volunteers serve. Amazing! They certainly raise the bar for us. A picture is worth a thousand words. And there is no better way to inspire excellence than to experience it. We experience it.

And finally, our time together as a team always brings us closer together and we return home with some valuable ‘intangibles’ that carry us forward; renewed and ready to re-engage in our work. We are empowered.

If you are looking for a few days that will highly motivate you personally, and a few key people that serve with you, I know of no better investment than a few days in Gaithersburg, Maryland with UPN pastors! Join us!

Ken Jumper
The Harvest | South Carolina
http://www.the-harvest.org/

What are you doing May 21-23?

If you’re a pastor or church staff member, I invite you to join us here at Church of the Redeemer for our annual United Pastors’ Network CONNECT:2012 Gathering.

Many times ministry can be lonely and challenging. Having people in your life that encourage you, pray with you, and become a real friend to you is an incredible blessing.

That’s what UPN is all about. It’s about building ministry relationships and providing encouraging ministry connections.

We’d love to have you be a part of this year’s gathering, May 21-23 in Gaithersburg, MD. We have some great speakers, great opportunities for meeting new ministry friends, and refreshing worship. I promise that it will be a highlight of your year.

For more information, check out our website, unitedpastorsnetwork.com. Also, take a few minutes and view the video below.

If you know of pastors who might be blessed by UPN CONNECT:2012, please pass on the word to them!

We hope to see you!

Pastor Dale

When Pastor Doug Balcombe invited us to our first United Pastors Network gathering, my first thought was not a happy one. We’ve all packed suits, starched shirts, ties, and the biggest Bible we can find, and prepared for several days of artificial friendships, fake smiles and a hotel ballroom full of insecure, nervous preachers desperately trying to act religious and impress one another. The thought of enduring yet another awkward conference was hardly appetizing. My mind raced, thinking of excuses to escape the inevitable charade.

I have never been so glad to be so wrong.

At UPN we found love, acceptance, godly counsel from veteran pastors, and vibrant, new friendships with pastors who are facing the same challenges we face every day. But most importantly, we got to be ourselves! Pastor Dale and his team at Church of the Redeemer have created a warm, inviting atmosphere that welcomes everyone to relax and be truly refreshed.

If you need a few days of encouragement and fun, don’t miss United Pastors’ Network this year… and leave your ties at home!

Jim & Esther Ost
Iglesia Bíblica | McAllen, Texas
iglesiabiblica.us

Ministry. What a privilege, what an honor, what an opportunity to have a part in building His Church. And as with any building project, I’m learning that there are certain materials that are necessary and essential for a well-built, stable, and enduring foundation. This is where UPN comes in. When I think about this UPN, two things come to mind that have impacted me deeply in several years of being a part of it.

1. Relationships. One thing I know, it’s nearly impossible to attend this gathering and go unnoticed. Others genuinely care about what is happening in my life, family and ministry. The unique setting of this gathering fosters an environment for deep, meaningful, genuine relationships to be developed. I always look forward to reconnecting with those from previous gatherings, but I also get so excited about the new ones that will be formed.

2. Resourcing. I thank God so much for those who have gone before me, those who have laid incredible groundwork for His Church. Sessions packed with their wisdom and practical ministry insight. Others who are currently in the trenches of ministry. So many others doing ministry in unique ways. All of this wisdom and experience comes together in one place with opportunities and settings to share them. Mix that with a heart to build God’s house and the potential is endless. It’s just an incredible environment of sharing, encouraging, helping and resourcing one another, an overall spirit of unity.

Combine relationships and resourcing and you have a perfect match. I pray you are able to make it to this years UPN 2012 gathering. It’s an experience that will encourage, equip and refresh you as we build each other up. I hope to see you there in just a few weeks.

Steve & Christi Rivera
Church of the Redeemer | Frederick Campus
Maryland

Julie and I feel extremely blessed to have found the United Pastors Network. To us, the UPN gathering in May is fun, fresh, authentic, engaging, practical, without pretense and an overall really cool event. Picture first class facilities, food and service coupled with phenomenal teaching sessions from proven church leaders, and refreshing worship among truly great friends. It doesn’t get much better than that. Do whatever you need to do to get to Gaithersburg, MD this year. UPN here we come!

Steve Trevino
Lead Pastor
CrossCentral Church

In his book, Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster says, “The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people or for more gifted people, but for deep people.”

As I reflect upon this statement, I thank the Lord for the many gifts and pool of experience found in the UPN family. I am most thankful, however, for the spiritual depth we have found through our connections with UPN. There is a true sense of genuineness and sincerity that exudes from this group of amazing people that gather each year. There is such passion to “spur each other on” in the faith, and a natural camaraderie  that only the Lord could orchestrate – no ministry or church too small, no “achievements” required.

Last year, in particular, I felt that our gathering was not only refreshing to me personally, but refreshing to our ministry as worship leaders, our marriage, and our overall spiritual health. I loved the fellowship with the women of UPN. It was so special to spend time talking with women who love the Lord and their husbands, hearing their stories and praying with each other. I left feeling inspired to get back to work, placing my shoulder to the wheel and hand to the plow.

I thank the Lord that there are men and women each year that are open and willing to share their life experiences, their struggles and failures, and their victories and triumphs (laughing and crying along the way!). I thank the Lord for people that desire the manifest presence of the Lord so desperately, and are willing to walk out their lives in such a transparent and real way.

If you are crying out to the Lord to take you deeper as a leader, UPN is a great way to take your faith to the next level. Just as deep cries to deep, I would encourage you to join up with people that understand your pursuit and your struggles, and are waiting with open arms to love and accept you!

We hope to see you at our gathering this year!

Lauren and Brian Taylor
Worship & Choir Leaders
Church of the Redeemer | Gaithersburg, MD

1. Friendship: It’s much more than a conference because of the close friendships that have developed at the UPN. It’s more like a group of friends who gather to share stories, laughs and tears. The friendships are authentic and long lasting. It’s unlikely that more than a week will pass without me hearing from one of my UPN brothers. The UPN has a strong comradery.

2. Faith: I have learned an immense amount about leading my church, pastoring people, and growing in my relationship with God from the leaders of the UPN. Many of whom have taken time to mentor me throughout the years. The leaders and speakers of the UPN are proven leaders who embody integrity, love, and humility. I’ve never left our gathering without being full of faith and vision for the church.

3. Family: More than anything, you will notice the family feel. It’s the most attractive quality of the UPN. If you are looking for a group to take you in and love you – this is it!

Shawn Wiebers
Lead Pastor | Crosspointe Church
www.crosspointeada.com

1. I love the close knit, family feel of this conference. You’re not a fly on the wall. The UPN team does a great job of giving blocks of time for interaction. The speakers and other seasoned pastors and leaders are there and ready to listen and give feedback.

2. It’s close by. If you’re reading this and you’re in the DC area you need to snag this opportunity. No flights or rental cars. The price is extremely affordable. And if you are not in the DC area, I can assure it is definitely worth the travel.

3. The speakers are proven pastors and leaders who have been tried and tested. These guys are in the trenches. I know I’m not getting empty theories, but solid training and mentoring that really works.

4. I really enjoy the opportunity to sit back and soak in the worship. Each session kicks off with a powerful time of praise. The music and singing is well done, but what really gets you is being engulfed in unified song as men and women cry out to God.

5. As a pastor I want to expose my leaders to other pastors and churches that are further down the road in ministry. Last year we brought a group of eight. I could see the light coming on. They were getting a vision of what God could do through us in the future. So, don’t come by yourself.

6. I love Pastor Dale and Terry. I was on staff there leading worship back in 2002-03. They are role models for Wendy and I. They are always launching a new venture, tearing down a wall, painting something, expanding, believing. I want to see what they’ve been up to over the last year.

7. Great food. The Tuesday night dinner is always a home run.

8. Great prizes. There are always great giveaways. I hear this year every pastor gets a new iMac…..JUST KIDDING!!

9. It’s an opportunity to pull back, take a break, catch a breath, and be refreshed.

10. All of the sermons are made available on the UPN site. If you’re like me, when I hear a good one, one time isn’t enough. I want to listen to it again and again to really soak it in.

Arlie and Wendy Whitlow
Victory’s Crossing Church
Bristow, VA