The last event in the third year of the Intentional Leader program focused on Shepherding Well.

Hosted at the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions office in Prattville, the conference featured several SBOM staff.

Bryan Blass, director of the Office of LeaderCare, told of his call to vocational ministry after several years of work in sales.

Two mentors “encouraged me to pursue God’s call and told me that people would be both my greatest joy and my greatest disappointment,” Blass recounted.

“Today I deal with conflict resolution as part of my ministry. I tell pastors they’re called to love and lead the sheep, even though sometimes sheep bite!”

Blass cited Paul’s counsel in 1 Timothy 4 for pastors to give themselves to love, faith and purity.

“Faith means that we suffer graciously when persecuted, persevere when nothing spectacular is happening and we forgive even when the offender continues to offend,” Blass asserted. “And purity is a prerequisite for fellowship and intimacy with God.”

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This article was originally published at TheAlabamaBaptist.org.