For nearly 25 years of ministry, I have tried to surround myself with spiritually minded, Bible-believing, pastoral-hearted shepherds who love the Lord and tend to the flock of God. Throughout those years I have sought their counsel, gleaned from their wisdom, and learned from their experiences. The practical theology one can learn at a syrupy Waffle House table while Sweet Home Alabama is playing in the background is a profound reality. During those unassuming moments, God sharpens iron, He uses the wisdom of one pastor to mold and shape the convictions of another.

It would be impossible to articulate or …