Michael Allen

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67 is a group of pastors that meet together for mutual accountability, encouragement and peer learning.   The 67 group I am in provides me a safe place where I can share openly and honestly the hard challenges and dark side of ministry.  The guys in my group get what I am going through and have something to say or speak into that dark side of ministry.  I feel encouraged to persevere in the ministry especially during hardships.

One particular challenge I was going through was the difficult task of releasing a staff member.  The men of 67 walked me through whether or not to release this person and what it should look like.  They also guided me through how to handle the fall out after.  I felt supported by their wise counsel and prayers.

"Being in a 67 group is so important to being healthy as a pastor.  The fellowship, accountability and simply being cared for is a blessing.  The details for each group meeting are taken care of.  We just show up and enjoy a delicious breakfast and round-table discussion with others.  There is really nothing like this ministry out there.

The 67 group I am in has given me the opportunity to have men I trust speaking into my life in a safe and confidential way.  I feel like I am not alone.  I have other men walking through ministry with me.  I find encouragement and prayer in my 67 group."

The 67 Group is a pastors’ group for which I had been longing for years.  I was looking for a group I could trust where I could share my most personal struggles and where I could get help discerning God’s leading in my ministry—a rigorous and collegial gathering where acceptance and confidentiality would be equally important.

 I joined my 67 Group just over five years ago.  It has been everything—and more—that I hoped it would be.  I love the format of spending a whole morning together over breakfast once every month.  Our facilitator does such an excellent job of keeping the six of us pastors on track.  We have truly developed a life-long bond over these years together.  New members are beautifully enfolded in the group.  This group has helped me personally.  The group has listened deeply to my struggles and has blessed me with deep prayer.  My ministry has been strengthened—both through personal support and through helpful discernment by the group as to what God might be inviting us to.  This group has been an answer to many years of prayer!

My name is Pastor Terrence L. Brown of the True Fellowship MB Church Where I’ve pastored for 18 years. I’m a member of the 67 group for at least 5 years. During this time I’ve had quite a few challenges with Church, Family, Finances etc. 

This group has managed to encourage, challenge and inspire me all in one session. The camaraderie and care that the members have for one another has brought me through some dark days and situations. I’ve learned how to be more open about my feelings as well as the challenges that this work brings. Over the years these pastors have offered sound counsel as well as creative ways to look at some of these situations. The members are caring supporters of one another and myself. I cherish this group for what it’s done for my life and pray their strength wisdom in the Lord.

One of the tendencies we have as pastors is to forfeit community as we shepherd God’s people. Either because we’re afraid of being known, or think we’re undeserving of being loved we often fall prey to the lie of leading God’s people in isolation. But one of the greatest truths about the gospel is that in Christ we are completely known and utterly loved by God. In Jesus we have a Shepherd who willingly laid down his life for us so that we might not experience isolation and the brokenness of our souls, but rather know Him and the extent of his love for us in his death and resurrection. It’s this gospel truth God has used 67 to remind me of these past 5 years — a truth which is experienced best in community, amongst other fellow pastors and the promises of his word. Might you consider this year the year you come alongside your fellow brothers and explore the richness of God’s grace over your life, family and ministry? In Christ 'somos familia' (we are family), and in his family no one is left behind!