02 Sep, 2017

It’s easy to forget that a pastor is human and no different than anyone else. I imagine this is because they represent our perfect Savior. But, the distinction is important. They are human just like you and me and need all the help they can get carrying the heavy and be a trying cross of ministry. Pastors and leaders are expected to help their entire

29 Aug, 2017

This is the hardest part of the year for me- graduation. As a youth minister, I can tell you (and if you are one, you know exactly what I'm talking about) that letting go of your graduating seniors is one of the hardest things that you'll do in this job. For me, it's especially hard because we're losing 6. That's the highest amount we've had so far, but I can tell you that there is a

17 Aug, 2017

My ears naturally perk up whenever I hear someone talk about the mission field or Christian missionary stories. The subject stirs very different images and associations in my heart, as it does for everyone who has called the mission field home. There are spiritual battles everywhere, but as a missionary ordinary life struggles are often exacerbated by the fact that you are living in a culture and community that is foreign to you.

10 Aug, 2017

If you hope to overcome criticism as a Christian, you first have to understand that it comes with following Christ. There is a reason that in John 15:18 Jesus says, “If the world hates you, remember that it hated Me first.” In other words, He was telling us that following Him would put us on the outskirts of society.

02 Aug, 2017

Church ministry depends heavily on the family. An effective, thriving local church is always working to find better ways to engage the entire family. How do we keep the family unit involved and encouraged? How do we engage each member of the family in our ministry without putting up walls? It starts with you. As Paul addresses leadership in the church in Titus and 1 Timothy, he does not exclude the family. 1 Timothy

27 Jul, 2017

There are moments in life that require an "if" mindset. Sometimes, that "if"  mindset is needed. For instance, I tell my youth that IF they study, they're more likely to do well in their classes; IF we raise enough money in our fundraisers, we might have enough leftover to go to Six Flags on our way home. I tell my pastor that IF he approves me for full-time ministry, I'll be able to reach more teens. For the most part, we can

22 Jul, 2017

One of the challenges that those in ministry face, whether full-time or part-time, is knowing when God may be moving us to another ministry. That may mean moving from youth ministry to a senior pastor position or relocating to a new church or community. All of us have faced difficult times in ministry, where we begin to question if it is time to move on. Sometimes the

15 Jul, 2017

My dear brother, my purpose is to encourage and support you in whatever circumstances you have to face. I know today that whatever I have suffered, God had a plan for it all. I wish that I had adequate space to tell you how He showed me that it is worthwhile to trust and obey His will – which is NOT to throw in the towel.

07 Jul, 2017

There are always going to be difficulties in any ministry one serves in. My husband and I went through a difficult one a while back--one of those that has you editing your resume and wondering how bad it would be to just work at Walmart. If you’re in ministry, you’ve probably had your own experiences with those tough seasons. Maybe the church plant that started with a hundred people has dwindled to a few families six months in. The new evangelism

01 Jul, 2017

Although it wasn’t easy for Paul, he did it. It might not be easy for you, but with peace and perseverance, you can do it. Just remember this--breaking through barriers in ministry can be difficult, but it’s not impossible.

23 Jun, 2017

There are times in your ministry where you're going to see the potential for growth. Last year we were working on updating our facility for the youth program. The fact is that the room had not been updated in almost two decades. There's a running joke among the ministry staff that my room had become the chair graveyard.

18 Jun, 2017

I would like to share some encouraging words for pastor and ministers. You can do this. Yes, you heard that right. You can do this! God is the one who has called you, and God is the One who will equip you for the calling. From Abraham to Moses, and from David to Paul, God always enables His people to accomplish the purposes He has set before them. Whether you are a senior pastor at a large and growing church, a missionary in a foreign land,

04 Jun, 2017

We all know there are many types of people in the world. But in debriefing settings, they very frequently boil down to people who like to talk, and people who don’t. For a long time, I fell into the second category. After all, I grew up on the mission field. I knew how all of this worked and I didn’t see a particular need to talk about feelings. Adapting was just part of life. But my opinion on all types of debriefing has changed completely.

26 May, 2017

Having Faith, Not Worry There's something amazing about the summer. Schools are out. Families are planning trips, and churches are preparing for camps and summer activities. Last year, the church I am serving in now started doing something it had never done- something called "Hang Time" at the church. What this was and continues to be is this block of time Tuesdays through Thursdays where our church doors are open to the youth in the community. I had never done anything like that. I was

20 May, 2017

Ministry is hard and often the family is stuck with the remaining time and energy a pastor has at the end of the day, and this can cause issues. I've always felt that encouragement for pastors through this struggle is necessary. A question that has often come up when dealing with stress in the family of a minister has been... If there is always going to be a professional ministry