The vision for an outreach to pastors and churches has become a vibrant fellowship of pastors and church leaders. The fellowship meets 3 times a year on the STS campus, and has grown to include more than 100 men serving in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Each meeting allows for fellowship, prayer and resourcing as our regional fellowship of shepherds is encouraged to expound the Scripture and shepherd the flock with integrity, passion, courage and wisdom. Some meetings will involve panel discussions led by experienced pastors address various subjects that are relevant to contemporary ministry. Topics have included church administration, selection of elders, church conflict, expository preaching, and counseling. Each gathering ends with a delicious luncheon provided by Colonial.
About Shepherds 360 Regional Fellowship:
Benefits
- Fellowship among evangelical pastors and workers
- Cooperation in church-planting initiatives
- Pulpit supply for churches
- Placement assistance for pastors and churches
- Access to the STS Library
Scheduled Regional Events
- October 19-21, 2020: 360 National Conference (click here for details)
- January 19, 2021: 360 Regional Fellowship, Dr. Benjamin Merkle, “Questions About Elders and Deacons”
- March 11-12, 2021: STS Alumni Institute with STS Professors (click here for details)
- April 13, 2021: 360 Regional Fellowship, Dr. Timothy Laniak, “Shepherd Imagery in the Bible and Implications for Today’s Pastors”
Dr. Les Lofquist serves as director of the Shepherds 360 Regional Fellowship. You may contact him at llofquist@shepherds.edu or by phone at 919-573-1565. Please provide your email address to receive all communications relating to Shepherds 360 Regional Fellowship meetings.
To participate in the Shepherds 360 Regional Fellowship, we desire that the pastor acknowledges a commitment to the mission, objectives, and Doctrinal Statement of the Fellowship.
Mission Statement
A partnership of pastors to equip and send believers into vocational ministry; accelerate church planting initiatives; support missionary appointees and develop creative mission strategies for the 21st century.
Passion
- Establish more churches – locally & globally – with doctrinal integrity and biblical methodology
- Train believers in vocational ministry – pastors & missionaries
- Develop increased financial resources for church planters & global missions
- Reach lost people with the Gospel and equip believers for life & ministry
Objectives
- Training Leaders—through Shepherds Theological Seminary, seek to expand church-based mentoring and leadership training
- Strategic Mission Partnerships—to develop sister church relationships, formulate strategic plans, and activate short-term mission projects
- Resources—to provide needed resources to the Fellowship pastors – teaching, training, and curriculum materials
- Church Planting—to identify new church plant locations, encourage church planters, and seek joint participation by participating churches.
- Funding—to increase funding for missionary appointees and future church planters, and conduct periodic pastors conferences
Expectations
- Attend the Shepherds 360 meetings to strategize ministry initiatives and encourage fellow pastors
- Recommend students to consider STS as they pursue training in ministry and missions
- Welcome and support candidate missionaries from members’ churches as God directs and church funds allow
Benefits
- Fellowship among evangelical pastors
- Cooperation in church-planting initiatives
- Tuition discounts for members of Shepherds 360 churches
- Pulpit supply for member churches
- Placement aid for member churches and pastors
- Relevant ministry materials to pastors and churches
- Access to STS library
- Attendance at STS Colloquia at no charge
- Encourage STS students to serve internships at Shepherds 360 churches
360 Doctrinal Statement
The Scriptures
We believe that the Bible as originally written was verbally and plenarily inspired, and that it is truth without any mixture of error.
The Triune God
We believe there are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ
We believe in the eternality, deity, incarnation, virgin birth, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, ascension, and second coming of Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is a divine person, the third member of the holy trinity, equal with God the Father and God the Son.
The Fall of Man
We believe that man was created in innocence but fell from his sinless estate and is totally depraved; that all men are sinners by nature and by conduct and, therefore, are under just condemnation.
The New Birth
We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; it is instantaneous and not a process.
The Local Church
We believe that God’s program for this age is the local church, which is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel.
The Second Coming of Christ
We believe in the literal, premillennial return of Christ for His Church, which will be followed by the thousand- year reign of Christ on the earth.
The Righteous and the Wicked
We believe there will be everlasting joy in heaven for the saved and everlasting conscious suffering for the lost in the lake of fire.