Timeless Truths For Young Ministers Pt I
When I entered full-time ministry I wasn’t naïve. But I was idealistic. In our twenties, most ministers are. I believed in the goodness and sovereignty of God, the truth and promises of His Word, the salvation and power of the Gospel, the beauty of the church, the privilege of serving in ministry. I believed in these things. I believed in them then and I believe in them today, even more than I believed in them…
Read MoreYou’re Killing Me, Smalls!
“You’re killing me, Smalls!” Everyone knows this wonderful quote from the classic movie, “The Sandlot.” Too often, I say this. But not with a smile. Let me explain. I'm sitting in Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport waiting for my next flight. How many times in my life have I sat in these gate areas waiting for “the next flight?” As I stood in the aisle of the plane waiting to disembark from “the previous flight” earlier today,…
Read MoreWhy Pastoral Coaching?
The Historic Opportunity In our rapidly changing world, the church faces many challenges external and internal. These challenges affect doctrine, daily living and ministry. But seen through the eyes of faith, these same challenges offer the church unprecedented opportunities for internal renewal and a great external move to present Jesus Christ to our world and to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28.19-20). To make the most of these historic opportunities, the church needs innovative, bold, and…
Read MoreCode Blue In The Church Part One
A church leader, a great friend, told me today of churches closing in his city. Sadness and lament poured from his heart. He is grieving for the church in his area, aching for his fellow believers and church leaders. Key phrases he shared with me: “The apostasy grows day by day.” “What we see around us these days is so disheartening and almost surreal.” He is hurting for the Church in America - even as…
Read MorePastoring in the 21st Century
I am a collector of quotes. As I read a book, I note significant passages and add them to my collection. At present, I have approximately 20,000 quotes on my computer (yes, backed up!), the fruit of more than forty years of reading, all filed by subject. One of the largest sets of quotes in my collection is on the subject of pastoring, words of wisdom and encouragement that I share daily with the members…
Read MoreMinister Health Part Two
In my previous article, I addressed the essential elements needed for living a healthy life in vocational ministry today. As a pastoral coach who focuses exclusively on young ministers, the ten essentials I share—five in this article and the five presented in my previous article—require the careful attention of young ministers in America right now, immediately. Click to read Part One of this two-part series on Minister Heath This list of ten essential elements is…
Read MoreMinister Health – Part One
In my previous article, I presented the results of Journey's conversations with small groups of young ministers across America on the good and the bad of life in vocational ministry. I also shared what they deem to be the essential elements needed for living a healthy life in vocational ministry. Their responses reveal great insights and wisdom. You can read that article here. In this and my next article, I discuss minister health. As a pastoral…
Read MoreThe Good, the Bad, & The Healthy
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE HEALTHY OF LIFE IN VOCATIONAL MINISTRY "The life of the minister is the life of his ministry." Albert Martin We recently sat down with small groups of young ministers from across America and talked life in vocational ministry. Our discussion focused on three subjects: 1. What are the best parts of life in vocational ministry? 2. What are the hardest parts of life in vocational ministry? 3. What are…
Read MoreWill You Not Revive Us Again, O Lord?
Are you hearing what I’m hearing? America is on the verge of a great revival! All the signs indicate we are on the precipice of a history-making revival of never-before-seen proportions! “Revive your church, oh Lord, beginning with me.” Augustine A REVIVAL STORY. OR IS IT? When God called our family to serve as missionaries to Europe, we left a church we loved dearly. This church was not a “thing” to us but a people.…
Read MoreMy Home Church Closed. A True Story.
I read the news today; oh boy About another church that failed the grade. And yes, the news was rather sad I found no reason there to laugh. My home church closed. Even as I type these words, I can’t believe it. And yet, I know it's true. After 48 years of ministry, the church where I was formed in Christ forever closed its doors. The interim pastor placed the keys in the hands of…
Read MorePredictions for the Church in 2024
With 2024 only days old, here are my predictions for the Evangelical church in America this year. My predictions are not presented as prophetic (we have enough of those), but as my read on the future based on present trends. There is no “God told me” in the thoughts below so you can put away your stones if time proves I have missed the mark. The sources that flowed together to form my predictions include:…
Read MoreStarry, Starry Night 2024
CAST ADRIFT IN STORMY SEAS My wife, two young daughters (seven and four years of age), and I had just moved to the city of Tours, deep in the heart of the celebrated châteaux region of France. As first-term missionaries, we had left family, friends, and ministry in America to make a new life in the historic home of the French language. We were here to learn French language and culture, and share the Gospel…
Read MoreA Young Pastor’s Christmas Wish List
Every Christmas at Journey, we write at least one, if not two, articles on pastors’ Christmas wishes. Last year, we wrote two articles featuring the Christmas wishes of pastors throughout the centuries. You can read those here (Part One) and here (Part Two). Because Journey’s ministry focuses on young ministers, this year, we asked Journey members - and non-Journey members - what they are “wishing” for this Christmas as they carry out their ministry. “What…
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