The third and final installment in our three-part look at Timeless Truths for 21st Century Ministers. I often tell young ministers that all ministers take their share of ‘hits” in ministry: from being disappointed by others to being fired; from not being taken care of by a church board to being abused by a church; from non-responsive church […]
This article is the second of a three-part series on essential truths for 21st Century ministers. You can read the first installment here. World events, church issues and the ministry itself tempt the minister to focus first on the ever urgent and always must-be-done now list. For others, attention and energy are spent one breath at a […]
When I entered full-time ministry forty years ago, 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. […]
Some silver lining on this dark cloud called COVID-19. A long-standing prayer of mine may be in the process of being answered: the return of Psalm 23 pastors to the church of Jesus. Call them “undershepherds” of the Great Good Shepherd of John 10. TECHNIQUE-BASED PASTORS: Members of Journey Pastoral Coaching know that I am no […]
QUESTION 3: Will this lead to more pastoral care among people who are suffering? In the business model church in the 20th-Century, shepherds morphed into CEOs, talking vision statements, 5-year plans, numbers, and programs. Pastors came to see their primary role as that of business leader and vision-caster. With the advent of the digital age, […]
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 […]
In 1729, while a student at Oxford University, the humble but history-making pastor and preacher, John Wesley, started a discipleship group with his brother Charles. (Note: Charles went on to become the prolific hymn writer in history, writing almost 9000 hymns. Among them are “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “And Can It Be,” “O for a […]
One of my favorite movies is the 2001 classic, “Cast Away,” starring Tom Hanks. Who wouldn’t love a movie where the best friend (or pastoral coach) is a volleyball named Wilson, right? Hanks plays Chuck Noland, a high-energy, driven, FedEx systems engineer who loves traveling the FedEx world and fixing it – it’s not just […]
A “Chance” Meeting Several years ago, my wife and I had the opportunity to visit San Diego, California. We loved our time there, discovering that its reputation as one of America’s most beautiful cities is well deserved. One day we went downtown to see the city on foot, a custom we came to appreciate during […]
I was privileged to serve five years as Campus Pastor at the national Bible College of my denomination. It was a wonderful season of life and ministry, walking with the most incredible people I have ever known – administrators, faculty, staff, and students. My colleagues remain cherished friends to this day. And those life-changing students: […]
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