Equipping Leaders, Sending Servants

The Church Planting Cohort

It’s 8:00 p.m. on a Sunday night. Twelve men sit huddled in a basement room. Not one of them wanted to leave the comfort of home at this hour, but now, gathered together, they’re grateful they made the choice. Laughter fills the room, they eat food, and their friendships deepen. As the conversation winds down, they turn their hearts to prayer for their souls, their families, and the places where God might call them to plant a new church.

Their weeks have been heavy. The demands of work, family, and ministry press hard against them. They’ve poured hours into studying the structure and central purpose of several books of the Bible, preparing for the discussion they’re about to engage in. They’ve also read about a faithful figure from church history, a man or woman who has gone before them, and it reminds them: this is worth it. For those who are married, they’ve talked and prayed with their wives about how the Lord might use them to build His church.

After an extended time of prayer, they reflect on the example of that faithful forebear they read about from church history. Then they dive into discussing the biblical books they’ve studied, exploring how each contributes uniquely to the unfolding story of Scripture. Through this, they’re learning to handle God’s Word with care and purpose, equipping them for the ministries to which they’ve been called.

This gathering of men, meeting on thirty Sunday nights between October and May, is called the “Church Planting Cohort.” They aim to grow into strong leaders who can serve at Oak Hill or in a church plant, as the Lord leads. These men are devoted, and I thank God for them.

In Year One, we studied principles of biblical interpretation and surveyed every book of the Bible. This October, we’ll launch Year Two, diving into a theology of the church and church planting, an overview of key disciplines in systematic theology, and a theology of missional leadership.

Please pray for these men and their families as the Lord equips them as leaders and the enemy opposes them as threats.

The Ministry of the Word Cohort

Imagine studying a text of scripture to understand it in its original context, considering that scripture in light of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and then learning to apply it faithfully to the situations of believers and unbelievers alike, only to share your work with others and open yourself up for constructive feedback.

That’s what it looks like to participate in the Ministry of the Word Cohort, and it's an amazing display of humility and growth.

This summer, twenty-seven people gathered every other Saturday to hone their skills in handling God’s Word across various ministry contexts. Eleven men met in the Oak Hill Students’ room to sharpen their preaching skills, focusing on studying, developing, and delivering gospel-centered expository sermons. In each session, two participants presented a worksheet on an assigned Scripture passage, and the group offered feedback—encouragement paired with sharpening questions. By summer’s end, five of these men preached on Sunday mornings, and three others preached for the first time to our cohort.

Meanwhile, sixteen men and women gathered upstairs in the lobby to apply the same format, using passages from James to learn how to wield Scripture in personal ministry—discipleship conversations, soul care, and giving counsel. For some, this was their first time stepping into such a role, but they overcame their nerves and humbly let the Lord work through them. From what I’ve heard, the feedback and discussions in that group were rich and deeply formative.

Pray for those who participated in the Ministry of the Word Cohort this year. Ask that the Lord would open doors for them to use what they’ve learned and that the Holy Spirit would guide them as they faithfully follow His lead.

By Pastor Ben Miller