What do pastors say
about Oilstone?
"My only reservation would be: don’t do it if you’re scared of becoming more self-aware, and more effective in your ministry." –– Graham
<Please note that Oilstone runs a slightly different format in Australia>
Mike W.
Lead Pastor
"I attended Oilstone earlier this year. The program was suggested to me by a variety of different people but I kept resisting it, partly due to cost. However, having taken the plunge, I can say I’m very glad.
“Headless chook” is a phrase that I have often used of myself and ministry. I have particularly felt this tension this year. There seem to be so many competing priorities and pressures. It leaves me feeling frantic and ineffective. And so, I was particularly looking forward to Oilstone to provide some clarity in leadership.
The course was great! I was hoping for a framework for leadership and that’s what I got.
I’ve heard and read a lot on leadership and now I’m able to fit these ideas into a bigger picture.
Priorities, not balance. Proactive, not reactive. Planned. Thoughtful. Leadership requires investing time in being thoughtful and planned so that we can set priorities and be proactive… not the reactive, 'headless chook' scenario I mentioned earlier.
There are a whole host of other areas for improvement and application. These reflections are just the tip of the iceberg.
Thank you.
Bruce B.
Senior Pastor
“Oilstone was a turning point in my pastoral leadership.
The Oilstone program helped me understand myself in a way I never had before, that is my personality and my personal leadership instinct. Grounded on the imperative of Jesus' mission and grounded in leadership wisdom Oilstone helped me see how I could more effectively lead myself and my church. Oilstone taught me to be more self disciplined as a Christian man and more reflective as a Christian leader.
Oilstone brings clarity to the complex thing that is leadership. For example three words remain stuck in my head, Enlist, Enable, Empower. My task as a pastor/leader is to enlist, enable and empower members of my church so that together we can pursue Jesus’ great commission. How simple is that? Oilstone taught me that and gave me the tools to help me get gospel rubber on the road."
Dan A.
Senior Pastor & Chaplain
“It was a transformative experience for me.
...and it came at a time when I was increasingly aware of issues in my leadership practice. I had the great gift of a first rate theology degree and a church that I loved serving but I wasn't sure how to turn that into practical strategies for managing my diary and bringing the church forward on important projects.
Oilstone marked a period of growth and equipping for which I continue to be very grateful.
The program helpfully moves from the skills and character needed to lead yourself and others well through to practical and actionable training on leading change and leadership in a church or other ministry context.
It weaves skills-based content together with direction for personal and spiritual growth. I think that this range—individual through to organisational leadership and skills growth plus personal growth—is what makes the program deliver such a punch.
I benefitted from the program so much that a few years later I did it again with my assistant pastor. I felt I still had more to learn from the course but even more, I wanted our team to share a philosophy and vocabulary for how we work and lead together. It was great to have rich conversations with each other as fellow servants about how we could grow as leaders together."
Graham S.
Lead Pastor
“I would absolutely recommend Oilstone to my peers/fellow pastors.
My only reservation would be: don’t do it if you’re scared of becoming more self-aware, and more effective in your ministry.
The way they set up the program was refreshingly simple… but incredibly profound.
During the program, I was humbled, saddened, inspired, encouraged, angry and happy as we shared together wide-ranging experiences of ministry. Each one of them brought a special richness to my own experience.
Michael engages personally as he presents. He owns it in real life, not just in the abstract. I would characterise him as a gospel ministry leadership ninja. (Seriously, by the time you get to black belt you really know how to use your skills for the best, and not to harm. Michael is at least 10th Dan black belt.)
It was clear to me that Michael cares deeply about the gospel and the reputation of Christ first and foremost – which was good news for me and the ministry I lead.
God has given both of these men incredible gifts that are being used to shape Christian leaders, and they do that with humility, conviction, clarity, grace, skill and deep love for Jesus and his church.”
Michael J.
Senior Pastor
“Oilstone was transformative of my weekly routine, and of my approach to change. It helped me become a more effective leader of people.
A number of years after doing the Oilstone programme, I still use many of the techniques and much of the wisdom I learnt there.
I can’t speak highly enough of Michael, Peter and the Oilstone process.”
Gus M.
Ministry Director
"I recently had the pleasure of attending the Oilstone ministry leadership program, and it was a transformative experience. The program is an excellent resource for ministry leaders looking to improve their leadership skills and strategic planning in the effort to make disciples. The content was engaging, informative, and practical, providing us with valuable insights and tools that we could apply to our ministry contexts immediately.
Throughout, the presentation style was engaging and dynamic, and Michael (& Peter) had a great ability to connect with the cohort. They are insightful, encouraging, and challenging, helping us to grow and develop as leaders.
The overall experience was outstanding. The program was well-organized, and the facilitators were knowledgeable, approachable, and supportive.
I would recommend Oilstone to my peers and fellow pastors without hesitation. It is an excellent investment for ministry leaders looking to grow and develop their leadership skills and achieve greater success in their ministry contexts to make disciples.
Thank you for an incredible experience!"
Paul G.
Dean of Students & Former Senior Pastor
“Oilstone was a great blessing from God at a significant moment in my ministry life (God provides richly for his people). I was feeling slightly overwhelmed by the complexity of the ministry that I was involved with and the ...distance away from ministry that Oilstone provided combined with the input really helped me to get perspective and make some wise decisions about my role.
Talking with other ministry leaders facing the same kinds of challenges I was, in an environment that was honest and vulnerable was just what I needed.
Michael brought lots of wisdom from his background ...and I found the exercises that we did extremely helpful in getting some perspective on my role and how to move forward.
In particular, I found thinking about how I was dividing my time between different responsibilities eye-opening. I realized that my diary was driving me and I wasn’t allocating my time according to the key priorities of my role. It wasn’t straight forward to fix, but the input and encouragement helped me to make genuine progress.
Since participating in Oilstone I’ve encouraged many colleagues to take part and benefit from the wisdom and expertise on offer. No one has ever been disappointed that they did.”
Gary K.
Bishop & Former Senior Pastor
“Oilstone provided a major step-change in helping me move from an intuitive leader to an intentional leader.
So much of Christian ministry is learned ‘on the job’, so to take some time out to receive some formal leadership training, which not only enhanced my ‘skills’ but deepened my self-knowledge in a meaningful and significant way, has been an indispensable in helping me to serve both God and his people.”
Richard & Jeanette C.
National Director & Senior Staffer
Richard:
"Oilstone played a pivotal role in ensuring that our Christian organization remained steadfast in its mission, preventing any possibility of mission drift.
In addition, I have incorporated the ingeniously straightforward tools used in my ministry ever since."
Jeanette:
"When my husband returned from Oilstone, he couldn't stop raving about it. When I completed Oilstone, I was the same!
Michael (and Peter) were excellent - clear, engaging and personable. We use the self-awareness and team building tools every year with our staff team; I've used the delegating information to improve my training skills; and adopted the coaching tips into my pastoral care conversations. It was an invaluable experience that I've now commended to many others.
I highly recommend it."
