November 20, 2019
Lifeway Research reports that many pastors are dealing with incredible stress. In one survey, 84 percent said they're on call 24-hours a day and more than half said they frequently find the role of pastor overwhelming.
Announcing: GC2 Summit 2019 - A Conversation for Pastors and Church Leaders on Leadership, Burnout, and Mental Health
The Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College, in partnership with the Wheaton College School of Psychology, Counseling, and Family Therapy, will be hosting a GC2...
October 18, 2019
“Appoint elders [pastors] in every city.” Titus 1:5 NKJV
[this is part 4 of a 4 part series]
The fourth issue you find among pastors who quit the ministry is this: They teach others how to build strong families without necessarily knowing how to build one themselves. Or they’re not willing to pay the price to do it, and eventually it becomes a problem.
The greatest sermon you’ll ever preach is at home! Pastors’ wives can slip into despair and depression because they feel like the ministr...
October 10, 2019
“Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock.” Acts 20:28 NKJV
[this is part 3 of a 4 part series]
Here’s another issue pastors often grapple with: They know how to feed others spiritually, but not themselves.
Before leaving the church at Ephesus for the last time, Paul gathered its leaders together and said, “Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.” Before you attempt to take care of others, learn to take care of yourself....
October 4, 2019
“I face the daily pressure of … all the churches.” II Corinthians 11:28 NIV
[this is part 2 of a 4 part series]
Let’s take another look at why over 50 percent of pastors quit the ministry. They love the crowd, but can’t handle the pressure.
We like to talk about the power of the New Testament church, but what about its problems? The church is made up of human beings, and human beings have unresolved issues. The New Testament church had:
(1) Moral problems. One man was sleeping with his stepmothe...
September 27, 2019
“I have finished the race.” II Timothy 4:7 NKJV
[this is part 1 of a 4 part series]
Did you know that over half of those who enter the ministry quit before retirement? Why?
There are lots of reasons – here is one of them: They discover that great revelation comes with a “thorn.”
The apostle Paul, who wrote half the New Testament, says: “To keep me from being conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from m...
March 26, 2019
One of the disturbing trends I have witnessed in ministry comes from pastors who neglect their families for their churches. It would seem for some that busyness and pulling long hours is the mark of a successful pastor. However, when we learn of countless pastors who burn out from exhaustion or from those who lose their families due to neglect or infidelity, one must wonder whether this model is good after all.
The Scripture places a high emphasis on the family unit. It seems to indicate that...
November 5, 2018
I am confident that you love your kids dearly and you strive to do everything you can to make sure they are safe in your home.
But I must confess, as a Christian parent, while I was Senior Pastor of New Life Community Church, there were things that happened in our home with our kids that I was not aware of until much later.
The newly released documentary, Over 18, features a committed Christian family where they home schooled their children and were very involved in their children’s lives. I t...
February 23, 2018
In January’s Newsletter, Chris McKenna was very transparent and vulnerable as he shared his personal story of being powerless against porn for many years. We decided to focus part one on telling his story in detail because we believed God would speak to the hearts of others through the details.
In this February issue Chris addresses the response — Now What? What Chris shares this month will also touch your heart and give you hope. He identifies lots of practical next steps and he has develope...
January 18, 2018
Do you ever feel powerless? Are there temptations in your life that perpetually get the best of you? Do you struggle with a dark side that no one really knows about? Are there issues in your life that you would never dare to share with anyone at church?
I thank God for my friend Chris McKenna. I am so proud of him for being willing to share his story in this Newsletter in such a transparent and vulnerable way. I believe God will use his story to touch the hearts of many people...
December 14, 2017
Our December 2017 Newsletter contains Stories of God's Intervention and Provision.
We thank God for His faithfulness and grace during 2017. We praise the Lord for the opportunities He orchestrated for us to coach, encourage, and bless numerous pastors and families again this year. We honor the Holy Spirit for moving in the hearts of believers to partner with us through faithful prayers and financial support. We thank God for the privilege of coaching and encouraging pastors and their familie...