The last couple years have been challenging for everyone around the world. Ministry leaders are no exception. In fact, I am often heard saying that the ‘last two years of ministry have been the hardest decade of ministry in our lifetime.’ There is, I believe truth to this. Ministry leaders are tired and need to […]

Pastoral ministry, or really any kind of ministry leadership can bring the greatest joys and challenges. Serving in one of these roles often means some feelings of isolation, judgement and intense pressure.  I have never really seen a stool with 2 legs and certainly none with only one leg. I often think of the image […]

One of the lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic has been how important our ‘first responder’ type roles are in our society. We have often undervalued these roles financially and otherwise. Pastors are one of the many types of first responders that have been critical for our society in the midst of the pandemic.  The truth […]

Leader health is essential to the effectiveness and longevity of leaders. In order to be healthy, leaders must engage in self-care. Generally, Christian leaders, especially pastors and those working in churches are terrible about self-care. Martyr Syndrome Many Christian leaders, church staff and pastors have a martyr syndrome. Somehow we have come to believe that […]

Leader health is essential to the effectiveness and longevity of leaders. Health does not happen by accident, it takes intentionality. Health is also not easy. Below are three of the key realities of leader health. Health Trumps Everything Patrick Lencioni, in his book, The Advantage, notes that ‘organizational health trumps everything.’ Not only have I […]

Leader health is essential to the effectiveness and longevity of leaders. Health does not happen by accident, it takes intentionality. Health is also not easy. Below are three of the hard realities of leader health. No one will guard your health for you You have to be the guardian of your own health, especially if […]

Leonard Sweet wrote a book, 11: Indispensable Relationships You Can’t Be Without. This book is a great resource for leaders, especially leaders in churches and faith based organizations. The summary list is below. 11 Indispensable Relationships by Leonard Sweet Editor-Nathan True Friend-Jonathan Butt-Kicker-Jethro Protege-Timothy Encourager-Barnabas Yoda-Peter/Paul Back-Coverer-Deborah Reject-Zacchaeus Little One-Rhoda VIP’s-Lydia & Lazarus, Rich & […]

Self-Care is especially important in this season of crisis, isolation and turbulence. Consider using the self-care inventory on a more regular basis. Setting boundaries around time off, sabbath and more are especially important in this time.

I read this quote recently: ”Churches do not grow without godly and gifted pastoral and lay leaders. Pastors are severely limited in their leadership effectiveness until they know how to lead authentically.” Our effectiveness is connected directly to our authenticity. Our ability to be authentic is directly tied to our health.  How can we better […]

Introduction: As I reflect on self-care there are three keys to being effective in self-care: self-knowledge, boundaries and intentionality. Over the next several blogs I will be talking about each of these factors.  There are certainly other key factors in effective self-care, however I have found these to be the most essential three. We cannot […]