NOTE: This is an edited version of an article first published March 15, 2019. It’s a part of our Summer Sabbatical Series at journeypastoralcoaching.com. 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, […]
In their book, “Among Friends,” James Hinkle and Tim Woodroof cite a 1945 study conducted by social scientist, René Spitz. The study tracked the development of 88 healthy children (1 to 2 ½ years of age) who had recently been separated from their families and institutionalized in a group home. When these children entered a group […]
INTRODUCTION Two years ago, and again last year, Journey Pastoral Coaching published an article entitled, “The World Will End in 23 Years (The Church World).” In that piece, I cited statistics on the graying of the American pulpit. How gray are we going? This gray: “By the time your son or daughter, born today, graduates from college, […]
In the TV series, The Mandalorian, the title character and those of his kind are readily identified not only by their distinctive armor of protection but by the way they live. Some would identify their way of life as a set of rules or a code. But these words are insufficient in that they define […]
During December, Journey asked pastors, their spouses, and ministers who work directly with pastors to reflect and project: reflect on the health and strength of the church and pastors in 2020; project the health and strength of each in 2021. We asked respondents to consider the American Evangelical church as a whole rather than their […]
INTRODUCTION During December, Journey asked pastors, their spouses, and ministers who work with pastors to reflect and project: reflect on the health and strength of the church and pastors in 2020; project the health and strength of each in 2021. We asked respondents to consider the American Evangelical church as a whole rather than their […]
For such a time as this? Even in a dark winter? Recently, a national politician spoke of America living in a “dark winter.” He promised Americans that he was born for such a time as this and is able to lead the nation in this dark time. With the seeming death of virtue in America […]
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. […]
I remember the anxiety that filled our nation. People were dying. We knew the name of the infection that was killing them. But we didn’t really know how the disease was spreading. And killing. And because we didn’t know with certitude, the rumor mill raced in to fill the void. The black hole of curiosity and […]
INTRODUCTION One year ago this month, Journey Pastoral Coaching published an article entitled, “The World Will End in 23 Years (The Church World).” In that piece, I cited statistics on the graying of the American pulpit. How gray are we going? This gray: “By the time your son or daughter, born today, graduates from college, the average […]
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