The 27 Cents Solution
A CARD COLLECTION & 2 KEYS Recently, on his Facebook page, a friend, posted a photograph of the many missionary prayer cards he has collected over the years. What a joy it was to see one of our family’s prayer cards in the mix of so many wonderful missionary-friends. My friend’s purpose in posting was not to show off a large card collection, but to highlight the Great Commission and the vital connection that believers...
Those Who Get the Most From Pastoral Coaching
Pastoral coaching, though it is biblical ministry and central to the ministry and mission of Jesus, is often a new thought for some followers of Christ. Oddly enough, non-Christians seem to instinctively “get it.” They see that Jesus talked to thousands, but He walked with twelve. In conversations with Christians and non-Christians about pastoral coaching (and our focus on young ministers), many of the questions revolve around the single subject of just “who” it is...
7 Life-Changing Truths Released In the Resurrection of Jesus
A LOOK INSIDE THE EMPTY TOMB To begin, two quotes on the single most important event in history. . . “Taking all the evidence together, it is not too much to say that there is no single historic incident better or more variously supported than the resurrection of Christ.” B.F. Westcott “Christianity is in its very essence a resurrection religion ... If you remove it, Christianity is destroyed.” John R. Stott THE CROSS ALONE...
A Missionary Story of Life & Death
“TELL US THE STORY . . . “ As a former missionary, pastor, and now pastoral coach, I have been told countless times, “tell us more of those incredible stories of your life in ministry, and especially, from your life as a missionary.” Here’s one of those stories. Actually it’s two stories: one of life and one of death; one, a dream, the second, a nightmare. STORY #1: A MINISTRY DREAM COME TRUE -...
Journey Surveys Young Ministers About Internal Stressors
This is part two in a recent Journey Pastoral Coaching study of young ministers and the stressors that most affect their lives. In our most recent study we looked at external stressors, those stressors coming from these four sources: those to whom they minister, those with whom they minister, those who are over them in ministry those who in any way exercise some measure of influence over their life or ministry. In part...
Journey Surveys Young Ministers About External Stressors
Study after study confirms that ministers deal daily with higher than normal levels of stress. Many studies and statistics are available, but consider just the following seven statistics: 90% of pastors (all ages) said the ministry was completely different than what they thought it would be like before they entered the ministry; 75% of pastors (all ages) say they are extremely or highly stressed; 40% say they have considered leaving their pastorates in the...
What I Love About Being a Pastoral Coach
I have a confession to make: I am a pastoral coach. And I love it. Many in the church are unfamiliar with pastoral coaching, usually assuming it is what it isn’t. They’re always intrigued when I explain pastoral coaching and then specifically how we do it at Journey. Many in the church are also intrigued that a “former” pastor and “former” missionary would so love pastoring young pastors, church planters, missionaries, evangelists, ministry directors, and...
Professor Audrey: Life Lessons My Granddaughter is Teaching Me
“He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.” Matthew 18.2 2017 was marked by two wonderful Ephesians 3.20-21 blessings of God in my personal life: My oldest daughter married, and she married very well, saying “I do” to a man who loves God and her very much. I was privileged to both walk her down the aisle and officiate the wedding – friends and family came from around the world to celebrate with us; And, (drum roll,...
Journey’s Best Reads of 2017
In 2017, as is true every year, we read a number of good books, a few great books, and a couple of “why was this ever published” books (no, you won’t find books of the last category in this list). 2017 was another great reading year with many happy hours invested with the essential “Big Three”: good music, good coffee and a good book. As the year ends, we offer up our list of our...© [2015] — Journey Pastoral Coaching