JEFF AND BETH JONES PRESENT
"THE SUCCESSION INTENSIVE"
A 6-WEEK VIRTUAL MENTORING EXPERIENCE FOR PASTORS
OCTOBER 13-NOVEMBER 17, 2026
ENROLLMENT IS NOW OPEN!
1.
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PASTORAL SUCCESSION ISN'T JUST INEVITABLE - IT'S ABOUT LEGACY.
Every church has a story… and every story eventually turns a page.
Pastoral succession isn’t something that might happen one day - it’s something that will happen. In fact, more than 450,000 pastors are expected to retire in the next decade. That’s not just a statistic - it’s a defining moment for the future of thousands of churches.
And here’s the real question:
Which of those churches will continue to flourish… and which will quietly fade because no one prepared for what was coming?
If you’re a Founding Pastor, Senior Pastor, or Lead Pastor, you already know what it means to carry the weight, the calling, and the deep love for your church. You’ve poured years...maybe decades...into shepherding people, building something meaningful, and following God’s leading step by step.
One day, you’ll pass that baton.
But succession isn’t just about stepping away - it’s about setting the next leader, and the next season, up to succeed.
Whether that day feels close or far off, the truth is simple:
The best transitions don’t happen accidentally - they’re built intentionally.
And the churches that thrive in the next chapter? They’re the ones led by pastors who chose to prepare before they had to.
If you’ve ever wondered what that could look like for your church… you’re not alone. Wise leaders across industries have long understood this principle—even voices like Dave Ramsey emphasize that healthy succession is one of the greatest gifts a leader can leave behind.
The question isn’t if you’ll pass the baton...
It’s whether you’ll do it in a way that protects, strengthens, and carries forward everything God has built through you.
Now is the time to begin.
2.
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WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN OUR 2026 VIRTUAL SUCCESSION INTENSIVE.
Hello, we’re Jeff and Beth Jones - and whether you’ve heard our story before or not, we’d love to share a piece of it with you.
For 32 years, we had the incredible privilege of founding and pastoring Valley Family Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan. What began as a small gathering of just 5 adults and 4 kids became, by God’s grace, a thriving, life-giving church reaching thousands each week.
But the real story isn’t just about growth - as a pastor yourself, you know that. It’s about faithfulness.
-It’s about the prayers no one saw.
-The challenges we didn’t expect.
-The seasons that hurt and stretched us more than we thought possible.
And at the same time, we were raising four children - now grown, married, building families of their own, and each walking out their own calling in ministry and business.
After 32 years, we sensed God's leading to step into pastoral succession.
In 2023, we passed the baton to our son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Alexa - and by God’s grace, the church isn’t just continuing… it’s thriving. Watching the next generation lead has been one of the greatest joys of our lives.
But we want to be honest with you:
This journey was graced, but it wasn’t simple.
It was blessed, but it wasn’t always smooth.
And it definitely wasn’t something we could have navigated without intentionality, prayer, and wisdom.
Succession has a way of bringing both the beautiful and the challenging to the surface.
And that’s exactly why we created this.
We’d love to invite you to join us for our 2026 Virtual Succession Intensive - six Tuesday nights designed to walk with you through this important season.
This isn’t theory.
This isn’t a polished highlight reel.
It’s a real, honest, faith-filled roadmap - built from lived experience - to help you:
- Navigate the emotional and spiritual weight of succession
- Avoid common (and costly) mistakes
- Create a transition plan that actually works
- And step into your next season with clarity and peace
Because the truth is, what you’ve built matters too much to leave this to chance.
And you don’t have to figure it out on your own.
LEARN MORE ABOUT JEFF AND BETH
Jesus said, "...I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it." Matthew 16:18
3.
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THIS IS FOR THE PASTOR WHO KNOWS A TRANSITION IS COMING.
If you can see a leadership transition somewhere on the horizon - whether it feels two years away or ten - this was created with you in mind.
Because deep down, you already know: succession will be one of the most defining moments in the life of your church.
And as the pastor, you don’t just participate in that moment… you shape it. You set the tone. You influence the outcome. You help determine whether the next season begins with clarity and strength - or confusion and uncertainty.
And here’s what many leaders discover too late:
Succession isn’t just about choosing who will come next.
It’s about discerning the when.
Understanding the why.
And prayerfully walking out the how in a way that honors God, protects your people, and positions the church to thrive.
That kind of transition doesn’t happen by accident.
It requires both spiritual sensitivity and practical wisdom and a clear plan.
That’s why we want to walk alongside you.
To help you think clearly. To help you pray confidently. To communicate clearly with your board, members, elders and staff. To help you lead this next chapter with wisdom, peace, and faith - knowing you’ve done the work to prepare well.
Because the way you finish this season…will shape everything that comes next.
If you see a leadership transition on the horizon - whether it’s 2 years away or 10 - this Succession Intensive is for you!
4.
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LET'S BUILD A ROADMAP YOU CAN TRUST.
Succession isn’t a single decision—it’s a journey.
And like any meaningful journey, it deserves more than a last-minute plan. It requires time, prayer, wisdom, and intentional steps along the way.
The truth is, the healthiest pastoral transitions don’t happen quickly.
They’re built over time.
While many churches try to navigate succession in a short window, we’ve seen firsthand that a strong, life-giving transition typically takes at least two years to do well. And when you can begin three, five, or even ten years in advance… everything changes.
There’s more peace.
More clarity.
More confidence—for you and for your church.
That’s why the best time to start isn’t “someday.”
It’s now.
And you don’t have to figure out the path on your own.
Inside this Intensive, we’ll walk with you step by step as you begin creating a Succession Roadmap you can actually trust—one that cares for your church, your leadership, and your future.
Together, we’ll help you think through:
- The Who, What, When, Why, and How of succession—so nothing feels unclear or rushed
- 12 essential qualities to prayerfully look for in your successor
- 3 key communication pathways that protect unity and build trust
- 4 critical phases every healthy transition should move through
- 2 pivotal church moments you’ll want to begin planning for now
- 5 practical strategies to help secure your financial future
- 3 ways to prepare your spirit, soul, and body for the season ahead
…and so much more.
This isn’t about overwhelming you with information.
It’s about giving you a clear, steady path forward—so you can move ahead with peace instead of pressure… and confidence instead of uncertainty.
Let’s begin building a roadmap that helps you finish well—and sets the next season up to flourish.
Keep scrolling—we’d love to show you what this could look like for you.
CLICK TO ENROLL NOW
5.
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WHAT ARE OTHER PASTORS SAYING ABOUT THE SUCCESSION INTENSIVE?
We were incredibly blessed to pour into the 18 pastors who joined us for our charter 2024 Succession Intensive, and what an amazing experience it was! Seeing leaders step into clarity and confidence for their next season was truly inspiring and watching churches transition successfully, while the other churches are in process, made the time together so worth it!
Now in 2026, we can’t wait to do it again. We’re looking forward to pouring into the next group of pastors who will be part of our 2026 Succession Intensive—will that be you?
Here's What Pastors From Our 2024 Succession Intensive Had to Say ...
- Pastor D and W, Florida: "I was privileged to have been able to go through the Succession Intensive with Beth and Jeff Jones and I want to encourage you, it's never too early to prepare for what it looks like to pass on the pastoral responsibilities to the next generation. This was an amazing opportunity for my wife and I to learn and glean wisdom for the next season of our lives. We loved the practicality of being able to do it over Zoom and then being able to come together in Kalamazoo to meet the other folks and hear each other's stories was really special."
- Pastors C and C, Ohio: "We have always respected Jeff and Beth, and we thought, if anyone's going to do this, they will do it right. They gave us a step-by-step plan that we will use and prayerfully make our own. It was so great to learn from those who were in a very similar season to ours -- and especially learning all the little details that we wouldn't have thought of. That was really, really helpful. We loved the two parts of the process -- the virtual Zoom training really helped us to see the roadmap and the in-person wrap up in Kalamazoo at Valley Family Church was really, really fun because we actually got to meet the people we had been in the virtual intensive with. We made some great friendships along the way and we've learned from each and every one of them. We would highly recommend the Succession Intensive for any pastor who knows they will be passing the baton -- whether it's two years out, five years out or six years out."
- Pastor M and D, Florida: "We've ministered and pastored our church for almost 30 years now, and we knew a change was coming. We felt it in our spirit, but we really had no idea what the succession process looked like. We found out about Jeff and Beth's Succession Intensive, how they had transitioned their church successfully, and how they were offering to share what they had learned with the rest of us -- so, we took full advantage of it and we've enjoyed every minute. It's brought us such peace as we take the next steps in our journey and look forward to the future God has for us. We highly recommend this Intensive."
Watch more testimonies below...
DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY.
SPOTS ARE LIMITED
$1999
SPOUSES ATTEND AT NO CHARGE
📌 6 LIVE Group Zoom Trainings – 12 Hours
📌 1 LIVE One-on-One Zoom Training – 1-2 Hours
📌 Unlimited Call/Text Access to Jeff & Beth Jones
📌 Optional In-Person Gathering in Kalamazoo, MI
📌 Dozens of Worksheets & Expert Guidance to Write Your Own Succession Roadmap
📌 Spouse Attends at No Additional Charge Upon Your Registration
🔹 Gain the mentorship, tools, and support you need for a successful succession journey!
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At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.
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Ephesians 1:23, AMPC
6.
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OUR VIRTUAL FORMAT IS BUILT FOR THE REAL LIFE YOU'RE LIVING.
We know what your days look like.
Full calendar.
Constant demands.
People to care for, messages to prepare, decisions to make.
For 32 years, we lived that same rhythm - foot on the gas, week after week, carrying both the weight and the joy of pastoral ministry.
So when we created this Succession Intensive, we didn’t design it to add more pressure to your life…
We designed it to fit into it. To meet you where you are. To serve you in a way that’s personal, practical, and actually doable.
Because preparing for succession shouldn’t feel overwhelming- it should feel like a steady, supported path forward.
Here’s what that looks like:
- 📅 Begins October 13, 2026—a meaningful starting point to begin preparing for what’s ahead
- 📝 Personal Succession Assessment so you can clearly see where you are (and what comes next)
- 💻 Six Live Group Zoom Sessions—once a week, learning alongside other pastors on the same journey
- 👥 Private 1-on-1 Mentoring Session tailored specifically to you (or you and your spouse)
- 📲 Direct Access to Us—text or call anytime for real-time guidance and encouragement
- 📄 Simple, Customizable Worksheets to help you apply each step without feeling overwhelmed
- 🛤 Step-by-Step Guidance so you’re never left wondering what to do next
- 🤝 Optional In-Person Gathering in Kalamazoo—a powerful time to connect, collaborate, and even meet the next-generation leaders who are now leading well
This isn’t just content you’ll listen to and forget.
It’s a hands-on, relational experience - designed to walk with you, support you, and help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
Because this season matters too much to navigate alone, we would be honored to work with you.
QUESTIONS? CLICK FOR FAQS & SCHEDULE
7.
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"BEFORE" SUCCESSION - WHERE WISDOM MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
Long before the baton is ever passed…the most important decisions are already being made.
The “before” season of succession is where clarity is formed, trust is built, and the foundation for everything that follows is established.
And yet - this is the part so many leaders rush past… or navigate alone.
But a healthy, Spirit-led transition doesn’t begin in the moment you step aside. It begins now - in the quiet, intentional choices you make ahead of time.
The conversations you’re willing to have.
The questions you’re willing to wrestle through.
The wisdom you choose to seek before it’s urgent.
That’s what we’ll walk through together.
Not just surface-level ideas - but the real, weight-bearing questions that every pastor must face in this season:
- How will you recognize when it’s truly time?
- What voices, books, and resources can help guide you with wisdom?
- How do you prayerfully discern the right successor - not just a capable leader, but the right fit for your church?
- When - and how - do you begin sharing this with your family, your board, your staff, and your congregation?
- What is the “Residency Phase,” and how does it prepare everyone involved?
- When does an “Interim Phase” become necessary - and what purpose does it serve?
- What happens during the “Changeover Phase,” and why does it matter more than most people realize?
- What financial decisions should you be making now to protect both your future and the church’s?
- What role should your board play - and how do you ensure alignment and unity?
- How do you navigate the relational dynamics - with family, staff, leaders, and the people you’ve shepherded for years?
These aren’t small questions.
They’re the kinds of questions that shape not only a transition… but a legacy.
Because succession isn’t just a leadership change. It’s a priceless handoff of everything God has built through you.
And when handled with wisdom and intention, it doesn’t just preserve that legacy - it positions it to grow even stronger in the next season.
Let’s make sure you’re ready for that moment - long before it arrives.
8.
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"DURING" SUCCESSION - LEADING THROUGH THE MOMENT THAT DEFINES EVERYTHING.
There comes a moment when succession is no longer an idea…it’s happening in real time.
This is the “during” season.
And it’s here that everything you’ve prayed through, planned for, and prepared begins to unfold - one decision, one conversation, one Sunday at a time.
Because succession isn’t a single event.
It’s a spiritual, visible, and often emotional process.
It’s the season where your church is watching closely.
Where your successor is stepping forward.
And where your leadership still matters more than ever.
Handled well, this season builds trust, unity, and momentum.
Handled poorly, it can create confusion, tension, and uncertainty.
That’s why this part of the journey matters so much. And it’s why we want to walk you through it - honestly, practically, and from real experience.
Together, we’ll step into the questions every pastor faces during succession:
- How long does a healthy transition actually take - and how do you pace it well?
- What challenges should you expect, and how do you navigate them without losing momentum or unity?
- What role should your successor step into during these months - and how do you release responsibility at the right time?
- How do you thoughtfully plan the key moments - like your Legacy Service and the Baton Pass - so they carry meaning, honor, and clarity?
- What happens to attendance and engagement during this season - and how do you lead your church through those shifts?
- What wins can come from succession when it’s done well?
- How can your successor genuinely honor you and the history of the church?
- And how can you, in turn, publicly and wholeheartedly honor them - so your congregation is ready to trust and follow their leadership?
These are the moments that people remember.
The tone you set here…
the unity you protect…
the honor you model…
It all shapes how your church steps into the future.
You don’t have to guess your way through it.
We’ll help you navigate this season with wisdom, grace, and confidence - so when the transition is happening in real time, you can lead it well.
Because how you lead during succession…will echo long after it’s complete.
9.
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"AFTER" SUCCESSION - STEPPING INTO WHAT'S NEXT WITH PURPOSE.
Passing the baton isn’t the end of your story - it’s the beginning of a brand new chapter - and for many pastors, this is the part no one really prepares you for.
After years - sometimes decades - of leading, building, shepherding, and pouring out…what does life look like on the other side of succession?
Who are you now?
Where do you fit?
What is God inviting you into next?
The “after” season of succession can be incredibly meaningful…but it can also feel unfamiliar, emotional, and even uncertain if you’re not prepared for it.
That’s why this part of the journey matters just as much as everything that came before.
Because finishing well isn’t just about how you leave -
it’s about how you live afterward.
Together, we’ll walk through the real-life questions pastors often carry into this next season:
- How do you continue to mentor and support your successor - without overstepping?
- What does your new role look like as a Founding or Former Pastor?
- Should you continue attending your church - and if so, how do you do that in a healthy way?
- How do you and your successor honor the past while confidently moving the church forward?
- What are the hardest parts of this transition - and how do you navigate them with grace?
- What are the unexpected joys waiting for you in this season?
- What does it really look like to be an “active-retired” pastor?
- Where do you continue to serve - on the board, in ministry, or in something entirely new?
- How do you rediscover purpose, rhythm, and joy in a different kind of calling?
- And looking back… what would you do differently?
This isn’t about stepping away into obscurity.
It’s about stepping into a season that can be just as purposeful, impactful, and fulfilling - just in a different way.
A season with more margin.
More reflection.
And new opportunities to invest where God leads next.
Your next chapter matters.
And with the right perspective and preparation, it can be one of the most meaningful seasons of your life and leadership.
Let’s step into it with clarity… with joy… and with a deep sense of purpose.
10.
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A PERSONAL INVITATION - WITH LIMITED SPACE.
We’ve been very intentional about this:
This isn’t a large, impersonal program. It’s a relational, hands-on experience.
And because of that… space is limited.
Not to create pressure - but to protect the kind of environment we believe pastors truly need in a season like this. A space where you’re known, where your questions are heard, and where you receive real, thoughtful guidance - not just general advice.
We want every pastor - and every couple - to feel supported, seen, and personally invested in.
And that means we can only open the door to a small number of participants.
If you sense that this is your season… don’t wait.
Because the pastors who benefit most from this experience aren’t the ones who delay - they’re the ones who recognize the moment and step into it.
This is an opportunity to:
- Gain practical, real-world wisdom you can actually use
- Receive personal mentorship tailored to your unique situation
- Build a roadmap that brings clarity and confidence to your future
- And walk through succession with guidance, instead of guesswork
Spots will fill.
And once they do, we’ll close enrollment to honor the level of care we want to give each participant.
So if this is stirring something in your heart…
If you know succession is on the horizon…
If you want to do this well - for your church, your family, and your legacy.
We would love to walk this journey with you.
Secure your spot today.
11.
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THE INVESTMENT - AND WHY IT MATTERS.
We understand that this is an investment.
The cost for the 2026 Succession Intensive is $1,999 - and your spouse is welcome to join you at no additional charge.
And when it comes to investing in something like this, the natural question is:
“Is it worth it?”
That’s an important question. But in a season like this, there may be an even better one to ask:
💡 Is this season of my leadership worth preparing for well?
💡 Is the future of our church worth intentional investment?
💡 Is finishing strong - and setting the next generation up to thrive - worth doing right?
Because succession isn’t just another leadership decision.
It’s one of the most significant moments you will ever lead through.
And many pastors have shared, in hindsight, that what they didn’t prepare for…ended up costing far more than they expected.
Not just financially - but relationally, spiritually, and organizationally.
The goal isn’t to add pressure.
It’s to help you avoid regret.
To give you wisdom where it matters most.
Clarity where things can feel uncertain.
And guidance through a process that carries real weight.
This isn’t simply paying for a program.
It’s investing in:
- The health and future of your church
- The strength of your leadership transition
- The legacy you’ve spent years building
- And the peace of knowing you’ve prepared well
You only walk through succession once.
Let’s make sure you do it with the kind of wisdom, support, and confidence that reflects the value of what you’ve been entrusted with.
ENROLL BELOW:
SPOTS ARE LIMITED
$1999
SPOUSES ATTEND AT NO CHARGE
📌 6 LIVE Group Zoom Trainings – 12 Hours
📌 1 LIVE One-on-One Zoom Training – 1-2 Hours
📌 Unlimited Call/Text Access to Jeff & Beth Jones
📌 Optional In-Person Gathering in Kalamazoo, MI
📌 Dozens of Worksheets & Expert Guidance to Write Your Own Succession Roadmap
📌 Spouse Attends at No Additional Charge Upon Your Registration
🔹 Gain the mentorship, tools, and support you need for a successful succession journey!
