Built to Last
This month, Journey Pastoral Coaching turns not five years old, but five years strong. It’s hard to believe, but as of this month, Journey celebrates FIVE years of ministry to U40 ministers across America and overseas. We truly thank God for all He has done, not just in giving us these five years, but in giving us a thriving five years: God has done and is doing great things in and through Journey. Five years ago, some told us JPC wouldn'tlast...
A Pastor of Pastors Remembers His Pastors
October is Pastor appreciation month, a month when we make a special effort as churches and individuals to thank our pastors for their ministry to us as undershepherds of Jesus Christ. Every Christian's life is meant to be a parable of Jesus. But pastors are particularly suited to this because so much of our lives are spent doing what Jesus did in His life. An adequate definition of pastoral ministry emphasizes following Jesus as the act...
U40 Influencers
INTRODUCTION TO THE SURVEY Recently we asked U40ministers to name the individuals who have been the most positive influencers in their life. We asked them two questions: 1. “Who has had the most positive influence on your life? (Excluding wife or husband). 2. “In one or two sentences, how did this person so positively influence you?” Journey offered the following list of influencers from which respondents could select. Respondents were permitted to select one to three influencers:...
The iBible
The Bible You've Been Looking For! EDITOR: Unknown to many, Journey Pastoral Coaching has a small group of theologians who gather from time to time to discuss recent releases in theological works. They recently came across a new work they thought worthy of not only private discussion but of public commentary. They requested the privilege of posting that commentary or review here on the Journey website, and we have agreed to their request. They have chosen to...
Apostate Apostles
The recent news of young Christian leaders who are renouncing their faith in the Crucified and Risen Savior is troubling, to say the very least. It is troubling for at least three reasons: 1. The damage these denials do to those who are young in the faith; 2. As leaders in the church, their faith lacked the foundation of Jesus Christ. Their ministries were instead built on one of two false floors: at best, an immature faith in...
MEMORIAL OR FUNERAL SERVICE?
Editor’s Note: Journey is pleased to announce that our new resource for pastors, “When the Call Comes: A Pastor’s Guide to Funerals” has just been released. This book (paper and ebook formats) helps ministers prepare themselves to walk with families in grief – from the moment the call comes informing the pastor that a death has occurred all the way through to the final “Amen” of the graveside service. Two weeks ago, the Journey blog...
When The Call Comes
Sharing the Journey With Those Who Mourn Editor's Note: Journey is pleased to announce that our new resource for pastors, "When the Call Comes: A Pastor's Guide to Funerals" has just been released. This 232-page book (paper and ebook formats) helps ministers prepare themselves to walk with families in grief - from the moment the call comes informing the pastor that a death has occurred all the way through to the final "Amen" of the...
Why Young Ministers Isolate
BEFORE WE REVEAL THE WHYS . . . The number one killer of ministers is isolation. Isolated ministers - ministers who walk alone - don’t survive, much less thrive. They may remain in the ministry, but they end up as one of two types: the Hard and Bitter or The Cruiser (See Journey’s March 15 blog post to read more about it.) “He could have eased his pain if he had had someone to talk to. ....
Staff Pastor Horror Stories
I received the following two horror story phone calls in one week. Call #1: A Young Staff Pastor in Shock. Without warning, he had been fired by his senior pastor the day before. No notice or signs. None. No indications that anything was wrong. From the day he was hired, no one, not his pastor or anyone in church leadership, ever let him know anything was wrong. From day one of his service at the...© [2015] — Journey Pastoral Coaching