High Steel Mindset: Ministry Lessons Learned 25 Stories Up
Over two hundred fifty feet in the air, standing at the intersection of four 12-inch steel beams, I froze. The sky above me and open space below me, I was completely unable to move. BEAM WALKER What was I doing standing on a 12-inch beam, more than two hundred fifty feet in the air? It was my first day on the job, working on one of the construction crews (iron workers, boiler makers, pipe fitters,...
This One Thing I Would Tell You: Journey Members Offer Advice to Those Entering the Ministry
Every month at Journey Pastoral Coaching, we ask our members to answer our monthly Insight Question. It’s an invaluable resource for me as the Lead Coach at Journey as members, in effect, coach me, helping me understand their world and their insights on the church and world. It’s also one way our members pay to receive pastoral coaching. Finances are tight for young ministers, so rather than add to their burden, Journey lifts the burden...
This One Thing I Would Tell You: Journey Members Offer Advice to Those Entering the Ministry (Part Two)
Thank you for clicking to read the Part Two of our “This One Thing You Must Do” article: an unpacking of the counsel Journey members would give to those just entering vocational ministry. Once again. . . The Scenario: There is a young man or woman in your circle of influence who is about to enter vocational ministry. This individual invites you to coffee and says to you, “You’ve been in the ministry for several...
20 Must-Reads on Pastoral Ministry: Part 2
INTRODUCTION In our previous article, we posted the first half of our 20 must-reads on pastoral ministry. You can read that article here. In this follow-up we look at the second half of our list, again focusing not on the “-ing” of pastoring, but the person, the pastor. These authors write with their attention fixed on the essential element of pastoring, the pastor’s soul. Doing is essential in pastoring; what could be more obvious? But...
20 Must-Reads on Pastoral Ministry
Editor’s Note: In this article, we share with you the first ten books in our look at 20 Must Reads on Pastoring. We invite you to join us in discovering the second half of our list in two weeks. “You’ve got to read this book!” How many times has someone said this to you? My library is testimony to the fact that I have heard it often over the years. You took their advice, you read the...
Lessons They COULDN’T Teach You in Seminary
(EDITOR’S NOTE: During Journey Pastoral Coaching’s 2022 summer break, we’re reposting this article from 2017, a look at five lessons your professors in Bible College or seminary couldn’t teach you – and through no fault of theirs: these are lessons learned only in the trenches of pastoring God’s people. We’ll soon follow up this article with a continuation of the list). I was privileged to formally study for the ministry in two schools: a Bible...
The Spiritual Checkup
(EDITOR’S NOTE: During Journey Pastoral Coaching’s 2022 summer break, we’re reposting this article from 2019, a look at a spiritual discipline we practice together at Journey. It’s a shared spiritual discipline that has not only become one of our most anticipated activities, but is now being used by Journey members in leading their ministries. It all began with a man who understood the value of discipline and method, John Wesley.) In 1729, while a student...
When God Goes Silent
Editor’s Note: The author of this article, Josh Havens, is co-founder and co-director of the online discipleship ministry, Daily Growth Discipleship, a ministry whose mission is perfectly described in its name. He serves at Global University, a worldwide distance learning pioneer, integrates education and service in 150 countries. He is also a senior member of Journey Pastoral Coaching, and represents Journey to ministers and ministries across the country. Silence is an interesting experience... Imagine...
The Graying of the American Pulpit: A Perfect Storm Isn’t Coming. It’s Here.
INTRODUCTION Across all denominations, the pastorate in America is aging at an alarming rate. Every year, Journey Pastoral Coaching reports on the crucial issue. With denominational statistics for 2021 recently released, it’s time to examine the landscape again. THE APPROACH We will again examine the graying of the American pulpit by focusing on four sets of statistics. Individually and collectively, these numbers reveal how rapidly credentialed ministers in the American church are aging. Our examination...© [2015] — Journey Pastoral Coaching