Strengthening Churches
“We believe that every church has room for growth and development. Working together in collaboration, we hope to partner with local churches to help them better understand and articulate their mission, vision and purpose and then help them to take steps to achieve it.”
- Brian Kirby, Strengthening Churches Core Strategy Director
Explore opportunities to connect, grow, and collaborate with us.
We want to promote emotional and spiritual health for IBC church leaders, knowing that healthy leaders help grow healthy churches.
Revisiting & Refining Your Vision and How to Get There:
Church Ministry Analysis
Strategic Planning
Leadership Pipeline
Participate in EQUIP monthly Zoom meet ups.
Subscribe to our monthly mailing list by selecting 'EQUIP' in the preferences section to receive updates on dates and topics.
Connect Group with IBC pastors and leaders.
Connect in small groups that meet every 4-6 weeks virtually for about 60 minutes, to encourage one another through sharing and prayer. (This is open only to IBC churches and church plants).
Collaborate with Partner Organizations.
The IBC has a number of people we collaborate with who help us strengthen churches and their leaders.
Care for Leaders.
We care about the health of leaders and churches. Because church leadership can be challenging for pastors and their families, we offer pastoral counseling to support their emotional and spiritual well-being, partnering with Christian counselors and experienced leadership coaches.
Meet the Team
BRIAN KIRBY
Core Strategy Director of Strengthening Churches
Rev. Dr. Brian Kirby is an American from North Carolina who has spent his ministry career in Paris, Bangkok, Rome and greater Washington DC. In 2023, he became the pastor of the International Baptist Church Berlin as well as the IBC Core Strategy Director for Church Strengthening. His Doctor of Ministry is in Theology and the Arts from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC. He and Denise have been married for more than 25 years and their daughter, Analisse, serves in ministry in Northern Virginia. He loves snowboarding, cycling and music.
When thinking of Church Strengthening, Brian believes that every Christian and church is called to continually seek growth and improvement. Seeking this together through a family of churches like the IBC means that each pastor, leader and church has not only something to learn but also something to offer to others on this journey of growth. He has assembled a team of pastors and leaders from around the world who serve on the Strengthening Churches Leadership Team and together they collaborate with the churches of the IBC to reach their potential and to achieve their mission.
Dan Maxton
IBC LEADER / COORDINATOR FOR IBC INTERIM PASTOR MINISTRY
San Diego, California
John Hugh Tate
PASTOR EMMANUEL INTERNATIONAL CHURCH: RIVE GAUCHE
Paris, France
Andrea Hesterberg
HEALTHY CHURCHES GLOBAL GUIDE / CERTIFIED MEDIATOR
Düsseldorf, Germany
A.J. Mathieu
PRESIDENT / HEALTHY CHURCHES GLOBAL
Burleson, Texas
Paul Dreesen
PASTOR INTERNATIONAL BAPTIST CHURCH SAN JOSÉ
San José, Costa Rica