Lessons from a Young Church Planter By Josiah SmithOriginally published October 2019 in Evangel Magazine Free falling at over 120 mph isn’t for the faint of heart, but I thought I’d give it a try. It was a sunny day in May of 2014. My friends and I had arrived in front of the small, […]
“How is swimming in the ocean different than swimming in a pool?” It was my kids’ first time ever seeing the ocean. As I stared at the immensity of it, the dangers it presented flashed like a terrible powerpoint in my mind’s eye. I realized I had done a poor job preparing my kids for what they were about to experience. They had no concept of the dangers […]
As I have written before, during my high school and college years, I was blessed to have three true pastors, three shepherds in heart and action ( You can read about them here). Each of these men embodied the promise of God communicated through the prophet Jeremiah in chapter 3.15: “Then I will give you […]
Let’s be clear: I am not a baker. However, my wife is a phenomenal cook AND baker. One thing I’ve learned about baking is that ingredients and instructions REALLY matter. While cooking can be a bit forgiving and leaves room for creative reimagining of flavors and textures as you go, baking is more precise. It’s […]
More pastors should preach like a supermodel. I know that sounds like a provocative statement, but let me explain. I do not mean that pastors should try to look stylish on stage. Nor do I intend to encourage pastors to master clever communication techniques or include ornate props in their preaching. Unfortunately, we have too […]
Two weeks ago, in Part One of this two-part look at church trends to anticipate in 2026, I presented nine negative trends of the year to come. You can read that article here. In this article, we turn our attention to a more encouraging subject: nine welcome trends. “Revival is Christ. . . Revival is […]
Born in the late ‘50s, I’ve seen my share of trends. Cars, clothes, and cultural icons, I’ve seen them all. And having lived in the French-speaking region of Europe, I’ve even seen fashion trends come to America. In their teen years, on those rare occasions when my daughters came to America, they were always studied […]
We recently asked a group of young ministers to share the opportunities they see for ministers and the Church of Jesus Christ in 2026. Here’s what they told us. I. What unique opportunities do you see for young ministers in the American church/culture in 2026? 1. Younger ministers have an opportunity to operate as true […]
As he does every morning, a young pastor rises early. He can do so because last evening, he went to bed early, focused on beginning this day well as a disciple and pastor: he knows that what he does tomorrow will affect eternity for one, possibly for many. He prepares for the day before driving […]
My heart sank. No, please, Lord, not another one. Not another minister of the Gospel who surrendered his call to run off with a mistress. He had such a great thing going. He and what he said was “the love of his life” were so happy together. Content. Fulfilled. And their love for each other […]
© [2015] — Journey Pastoral Coaching