In my previous article, I presented the results of Journey’s conversations with small groups of young ministers across America on the good and the bad of life in vocational ministry. I also shared what they deem to be the essential elements needed for living a healthy life in vocational ministry. Their responses reveal great insights […]
With 2024 only days old, here are my predictions for the Evangelical church in America this year. My predictions are not presented as prophetic (we have enough of those), but as my read on the future based on present trends. There is no “God told me” in the thoughts below so you can put away […]
CAST ADRIFT IN STORMY SEAS My wife, two young daughters (seven and four years of age), and I had just moved to the city of Tours, deep in the heart of the celebrated châteaux region of France. As first-term missionaries, we had left family, friends, and ministry in America to make a new life in […]
As we turn the final pages of 2023, I again offer my list of favorite reads for the year. As always, this is not a list of my favorite books published in 2023, but books read in 2023. If a book is on my “Best Of” list, I recommend you give it a read in 2024. Of interest, the publishing […]
Many of us – children and children at heart – write Christmas Wish Lists. And why not! People are giving gifts, so why not “wish” for the gift or gifts we’d like to see under our tree. Or the gift we’d like to see under the tree for our spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, or friends. Even […]
It was a Sunday I’ll never forget. As a staff pastor, I had just finished leading worship in our morning service. As I did every Sunday, I exited the platform through a door to the right, descending the steps into our office suite. Closing the door behind me, I turned to my right, entering a […]
Most young ministers think to call a pastoral coach to help them deal with an issue of the moment: a problem, a difficult decision, or a personal discouragement. But a pastoral coach is much more than a one-time phone call. The coach represents an opportunity for a shared journey, walking life in ministry with someone […]
SOME BACKGROUND Every January, Journey kicks off the year with retreats for our members, held in the warm climate of Orlando. Members arrive from all over the country for one of our two retreat weeks. Those who cannot afford the cost of transportation are scholarshipped by generous donors – how thankful we are for their […]
A new year. With the dawning of a new year, we are prone to make New Year’s resolutions designed to improve us or our lives in the year ahead, or maybe even for the rest of our lives. Among the more common are: reading our Bible and praying daily, exercising, and losing weight. But, unfortunately, […]
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 […]
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