When Criticism Cuts Deep
I will never forget the moment Archie walked into my office at FBC Cleves and said, “Boy you are over your head, you are picking a fight you don’t want to pick, and you are not going to last long!” I’m pretty sure I heard a voice say, “welcome to the ministry!!” I was the 21-year-old pastor of FBC Cleves, getting blasted by the chairman of the deacons because I didn’t want him and another gentleman smoking cigarettes in the church’s basement on Sunday mornings. I remember
3 hours ago3 min read
The Administrative Trap
For many pastors, one of the quiet frustrations of ministry is not theological controversy, congregational conflict, or even the weekly responsibility of preaching. Instead, it is the steady accumulation of administrative responsibilities that slowly consumes hours that once felt reserved for shepherding people. Most pastors entered ministry because they sensed a call to preach the Word, disciple believers, evangelize the lost, and care for people. Yet a large portion of
Mar 44 min read
With Eyes Lifted: Four Dreams Guiding Us into the Year Ahead
There is something quietly sacred about the turn of the year for pastors and ministry leaders. Long before goals are written or calendars fill, most shepherds begin with dreams not about buildings or budgets, but about people. We dream about what God might do in hearts, homes, and churches if we walk faithfully with Him in the months ahead. Even after challenging seasons, surveys continue to show that most pastors retain a strong sense of calling and genuine hope for the
Dec 19, 20253 min read
Pastor’s Christmas Survival Guide
Finding Joy in a Beautifully Busy Season Christmas is one of the most meaningful seasons in ministry, and yet one of the most demanding. Pastors and ministry leaders often move from sermon prep to Christmas programs, from Life Group parties to benevolence requests, from community events to staff gatherings… and somewhere along the way, the joy of Christ’s birth gets buried under the weight of the calendar. You’re not imagining the pressure. Nearly half of all pastors say th
Dec 3, 20252 min read
Developing Rhythms of Renewal: Practicing Rest and Sabbath
“ Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. ” Exodus 20:8-10 ESV One of the greatest ironies of my ministry was how often I felt guilty for taking time to rest. I can’t even count the times I preached about the importance of trusting God, yet I hesitated to take time off because I feared things would fall apart. I often encouraged others in our church to slow down, but
Nov 18, 20252 min read
The Performance Trap… Freedom From Unrealistic Expectations
“ For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ. ” Galatians 1:10 HCSB I just read this verse again, and boy, is it humbling! Perhaps you can identify with this, but for most of my ministry, I carried a very quiet and relentless pressure… the feeling that I had to please everybody in the congregation! Of course, I would not have said that out loud for
Nov 12, 20253 min read
A Hidden Weight: Stress in Ministry
“ But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair .” 2 Corinthians 4:7–8 (ESV) Make no mistake about it... both pastors and ministry leaders carry a specific kind of weight, often unseen by the people under their care. There’s the weight of teaching and preaching God’s Word, shepherding those who hurt and need direction, managing t
Nov 3, 20253 min read