The Teaching Pool

The entrepreneur in question is Darren Campbell, owner of several bookstores and Lead Pastor of Exit 59. With previous pastoral experience within the Wesleyan denomination, Campbell has been a part of both sides. “The collective knowledge in the Teaching Pool is better than any commentary I could use. Since we come from different church backgrounds, our perspectives vary, bringing a balance to our teaching. Frankly, I never want to pastor the ‘old way’ again. I wish more pastors could experience what we have.”

Unfortunately, many pastors are unable to experience what these leaders are experiencing. Disunity, even within denominations, keeps potential communal study groups from beginning. Within the Teaching Pool, there are people from different denominations, age groups and passions. There are also vastly differing beliefs on various Scriptures and facets of theology. Because of this, the tension can be high, and arguments are a weekly occurrence. However, the commitment to each other and to the communal experience keeps the group together for the long haul.

“While we may have times of disagreement or even anger, it never lasts past our meeting time,” notes Pfanz. “In order for a group like this one to prosper, or even form, they must be committed to something bigger than themselves and bigger than their own personal opinions

or viewpoints.”

“In my mind, it would be impossible to do it alone,” says Heath Pearson, pastor of Springwater Church. “Of course, I continue to study on my own; but the group effort and support by going through the text together opens up insight, keeps me from being blind, and challenges me in ways that I could never be challenged on my own.”

Another aspect of developing a communal study group is the mentoring that it allows for upcoming leaders and teachers. Pearson interned at Muncie Alliance Church after attending Indiana Wesleyan University. Soon thereafter, he began sitting in on the Teaching Pool, learning what it means to develop a sermon, gleaning study methods and developing his own habits throughout the week. Soon, Pearson was filling in at the various church plants when a particular pastor had to be away.

Now, Pearson is pastoring his own church, having had the chance to learn along the way. And yet, he is still able to receive help from the weekly meetings. “No price can be placed on the Teaching Pool. Without it, I would be unable to do what I am doing in a lead pastoral position. I am an equal in a room with pastors who have been in the ministry longer than I’ve been alive.”

Pfanz agrees that the model has served the church planting movement well. Soon after coming to Muncie Alliance Church, an internship program was developed by Pfanz and others for those looking for ministry training. But even with that in place, there was another step missing for those who felt called to teach on a regular basis.

“With the internship program now in its sixth year, I have seen that side of ministry grow and develop into a unique preparation. The Teaching Pool is the next step as young pastors launch into new sites,” says Pfanz. “It serves as a model for them to catch ministry more than learn in a class setting.”

Campbell, 33, agrees with the mentoring aspect of the Teaching Pool. “You often think of mentoring as a one-on-one thing, as in an older, mature person taking a younger, less experienced person under his wing. In our teaching pool, the collective experience of the group becomes that mature person; and all of us, despite our age or experience, become the person being mentored. It is unlike any mentoring model I have ever heard of.”

Perhaps the greatest aspect of the Teaching Pool has actually been for the personal spiritual health of the leader. Each pastor within the MAC movement noted that the weekly meetings are personally enriching and have become a source of much-needed energy.

Robinson says he has learned better how to be the church in his own life. “I’ve learned how to follow the Father, Son and Spirit in more practical ways by watching and catching the things we teach and model for one another.”

Campbell agrees, adding, “The teaching pool is bigger than just a device we use to study Scripture. It really is my church.”