THE COHORT EXPERIENCE
Community, Space, & Support
OUR APPROACH
More Than a Peer Group
Most leaders in a cohort aren't there because they're falling apart. They're there because they take their calling seriously — and they've realized that doing it alone, surrounded only by people who need something from them, isn't sustainable. The most effective thing a ministry leader can do is build real community with peers who truly understand their world and are willing to be honest about it.
That's why we designed our cohorts around WholeCare™ — a framework that treats your life, your leadership, and your ministry as one integrated whole. Every challenge that comes up — a leadership decision, a difficult relationship, a pattern you can't shake — gets looked at in full context, with experienced coaches guiding the process. The patterns that shape your ministry don't exist in isolation. Neither should you.
Kyle Burkholder
THE COVENANT CHURCH
"Pastoral ministry can be deeply isolating and I've longed to find others who 'get it.' During my cohort, I found meaningful relationships with real friends who know the journey I'm on and love me through my peaks and valleys."
Cody Whitfill
RIVER VALLEY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
"Tired of tips and tricks promising results only to be disappointed? I was. Then, I went to a cohort with the Authentic Pastor. The process was real and the results were tangible. I'm in this for life!"
Shawn Acrey
THE JOURNEY CHURCH
"Once I joined the cohort and got connected, I knew immediately I had made the right choice. As we got into our individual coaching sessions, it became clear that Tim understood where I was, even though I didn't."
Brett Lester
FBC LIVINGSTON
"I joined a cohort with pastors from all over the country who have became brothers. I’m being encouraged, challenged, held accountable and loved for who I am, not for what I do… that’s my Authentic Pastor experience!"
JR Lee
FREEDOM CHURCH
"I wasn't sure what I was walking into — but The Authentic Pastor has been an absolute gift. The camaraderie, the encouragement, the friendships. If you're looking for that, look no further."
Tim Eldred
FOUNDER | CEO
Tim spent over three decades in ministry as a pastor, coach, and author. He knows what it’s like to give everything to ministry and quietly wonder how long you can keep going. He’s walked with hundreds of pastors through that same moment ever since. He built The Authentic Pastor so no one has to figure it out alone. He lives in rural Central Michigan with his wife Cindy, and is dad to two adult sons.
Brian Aaby
CHIEF STRATEGIST
Brian has spent over 20 years helping pastors and churches figure out where they’re going and how to actually get there. He’s led local church ministry, coached leaders nationally, and brings a clarity to hard conversations that most people spend years trying to find. He’s married to Elisabeth, dad to three kids, and you’ll usually find him hiking in the Pacific Northwest or catching a baseball game somewhere.
LET'S TALK
Fall 2026 Spots Available
Everything you need to know about the cohort experience—what's included, the investment, the schedule, and a shareable overview you can pass along to your leadership team or church. After you submit, you'll receive the information packet by email. A cohort leader will then answer any questions and help you determine whether a cohort is the right fit—no pressure, no pitch. If it isn't, they'll be honest about that too.
Each cohort is intentionally limited to 8–12 leaders, and September and November 2026 registration is now open.