Thursday, September 24, 2026
Growth · Health · ConnectionResearch & PracticeFor those who shepherd

Scholarship for the study. Tools for Sunday.

Desk II

Associate & Under-Shepherds

For associate pastors, elders, deacons, ministers, and care leaders who shepherd alongside the senior pastor. Pastoral care, second-chair leadership, and the ministry that happens between Sundays.

An empty hospital bed in a dimly lit roomConnection
People & Community

Hospital Visits: A Practical Theology for the Room

What to do before you go, what to say at the bedside, and what to leave unsaid. A field guide to hospital visits for ministers, deacons, and care teams.

Pastor Leah Simmons · 8 min
Coming to this desk
  • How Deacons Can Carry Care Without Burning Out
  • Managing Up: Serving Your Senior Pastor Well

The Under-Shepherds shelf

Books our editors recommend for this desk.

Leading from the Second Chair by Mike Bonem & Roger Patterson

Leading from the Second Chair

Serving well under another leader without losing your voiceView on Amazon
Deacons by Matt Smethurst

Deacons

How deacons serve and strengthen the churchView on Amazon
The Trellis and the Vine by Colin Marshall & Tony Payne

The Trellis and the Vine

Growing people, not just maintaining programsView on Amazon
Pastoral Visitation by Nancy Gorsuch

Pastoral Visitation

The art of visiting homes and hospitals wellView on Amazon

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