The Journey Blog Archives

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…

“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,…

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…

EDITOR'S NOTE: Beginning with this post, Journey begins a summer series, "Stories From the World of Missions." Every two weeks this summer, we will publish an article recounting a story from the experiences of our founder-director who was privileged to serve two decades as a missionary in Europe. We hope you will join us here for a summer of rejoicing at the works of our great God. In 1992, I was privileged to help launch…

I am a pastoral coach. For over ten years, I have invested my life in walking with young pastors across America and overseas. In general, I love what I do and consider it the greatest privilege and joy of my more than four decades in ministry as a pastor and missionary. However, like any pastor or missionary, there are aspects of my ministry that are difficult. Painfully so. “I have said these things to you,…

GOD’S GIFT I’ve been married for 44 years. Some years ago, it dawned on me that God had not only given me a wonderful wife, but He had given me His own precious daughter, His “little girl.” With that realization came the understanding that I was to take care of her not only as my wife but as His daughter. I also saw that, one day in the future, He will ask me how well…

In my two most recent articles, I’ve addressed the important issue of stewarding our pastors. (Click on the links to read each): The JPC Pastoral Compensation Survey: Young Pastors Across the US Weigh In It’s the Best of Times. It’s the Worst of Times: Being a Young Pastor in the 2020s In each, I wrote that it is clear we as a church need to do all we can to support pastors of all ages,…

The first paragraph of “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens is one of the most recognizable openings in literature. It's words are evocative, setting the reader immediately into the ethos of Dickens' subject: the French Revolution Allow me to adapt those words of Dickens to our subject today: “For young pastors, it is the best of times, it is the worst of times. It is the age of our prosperity, it is the…

At Journey Pastoral Coaching, we are focused on helping young ministers build strong for a lifetime of healthy and effective ministry. We know that as we build the minister, we build the ministry.  Pastors’ ability to lead healthily and effectively is strongly affected by the churches they pastor, how well the people give attention to their pastors’ needs. If pastors are overly stressed, unable to provide for their families, or hindered from growing personally and…

Raindrops pattered softly on my windshield. In front of me were dark clouds and more rain. Yet the blinding sun was reflecting in my rearview mirror. In the wide open river valley, I could see the sky transform from sunshine to foreboding darkness. Being the science nerd I am, I knew there must be a rainbow somewhere. I craned my neck all around (as safely as I could while driving) and saw nothing. Finally, when…

Here’s a list of treasures all too rare in the church today, every one of them free for the taking. Or making. The list is compiled from conversations with younger ministers and church attenders: I asked them and they answered. It’s a touching and thought-provoking look at someone we love dearly, the body of Christ. An aesthetic of worship that previous generations fostered Not a narcissistic experience, but a God-focused worship that makes the glorious…

EDITOR’S NOTE:  In my previous article, I promised to present in this piece predictions for pastors in 2025. However, since then, one of my most loved and respected mentors left this world for his reward in eternity. The trip north to mourn with family and participate in the funeral gave me time to meditate on what he meant to my life and ministry, and to many others. It gave me time to reflect on the…

In his celebrated novel describing the time of the French Revolution, A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens’ opening lines are breathtakingly appropriate for today: “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, . . .” In these thirty-nine words, Dickens reminds us that two opposites can,…