“Fuel in the Tank”

How Pastoral Cohorts Are Sustaining Pastors for the Long Run

Pastoral ministry is both incredibly meaningful and deeply demanding. The pastor needs to be pastored too.

For Adam Coppock, Senior Pastor of Young Meadows Presbyterian Church in Montgomery, Alabama, the weight of that calling became especially heavy after years of leadership transitions, church conflict, and running himself ragged. Eventually, everything came to a head.

“I was exhausted and came to a pretty significant burnout,” Adam said. “I got really sick and had to take an immediate six weeks off.”

Adam had served in ministry since 2007 and had been on staff at Young Meadows since 2015. —First, he served as a youth director, then assistant pastor, and eventually stepped into the senior pastor role two years ago. Along the way, he walked through multiple challenging seasons, including extended interim leadership and a painful church split.

“I needed it to survive.”

Adam was first introduced to Geneva’s Pastoral Cohorts shortly after he became the Senior Pastor of his church. After pursuing a counseling certification through the Allender Center for narrative-focused trauma care, he recognized the need for ongoing care for his own soul.

Geneva’s Pastoral Cohorts are designed to help pastors build supportive relationships, develop rhythms of rest and renewal, and navigate leadership challenges together. When the opportunity to join a cohort came along, Adam didn’t hesitate.

“It was really a no-brainer,” he said. “I needed it to survive.”

Led by a trained cohort leader, Adam’s cohort consists of seven pastors spread across the country—from California to South Carolina. They meet monthly via Zoom and twice a year in person for extended retreats.

Between meetings, the group stays connected through texts, calls, and prayer requests. Geneva also provides optional seminars and assessments that supplement the cohort experience.

Adam’s Pastoral Cohort group on a hike in Estes Park.

A Place to be Fully Seen and Heard

For Adam, one of the most powerful aspects of the cohort has been discovering he isn’t alone in his internal struggles.

“I think, in ministry, I’ve often had certain feelings I thought I needed to bypass…or just tighten the bootstraps and keep going,” he said. “This cohort was really one of the first places where I heard a lot of ‘me too.’”

Instead of trying to fix or “problem solve,” Adam and his fellow pastors show up for one another in deep, redemptive ways.

“One of the things that was so meaningful for me was having a group of guys who could grieve and lament together in a way that you felt very seen and heard…We’ve been the presence of Jesus to one another—it’s been very powerful.”

Caring for the Pastor, Not Just the Profession

According to Adam, the cohort is centered on true soul care for each pastor. While there are many places to learn tools like sermon preparation or time management, these cohorts offer something far rarer: the space and support to grow as emotionally and spiritually healthy leaders.

“It’s been incredibly dignifying,” Adam said. “The things that I feel matter, and even as a leader called to shepherd others, I never get past needing to be shepherded.”

Through assessments, training, and genuine friendships, Adam has become more self-aware and holistically healthy. He has learned how his wiring affects his preaching, leadership, and communication. But just as importantly, he’s learned when (and how) to slow down.

“It’s given me fuel in the tank,” he said. “It’s helped me know when I need to pull back…It has become a vital part of my sustainability as a pastor.”

A Non-Negotiable for Sustainable Ministry

When asked what encouragement he would give to other pastors considering a cohort, Adam didn’t equivocate:

“It’s really a non-negotiable to find a group of people to journey together with as a pastor. The cost of the program is worth every penny for long-term ministry sustainability.”

For Adam, Geneva’s Pastoral Cohort has been a source of renewal—a “breath of fresh air” that’s helped him remain healthy, present, and grounded as he shepherds his congregation.

To learn more about Geneva’s Pastoral Cohorts, visit genevabenefits.org/cohorts.