Self-care isn’t selfish. You probably know this is true, and most would not challenge this notion. While we might not openly disagree with this statement, internally we live in a way that embraces it. Often, the not so direct comments and expectations of others also affirm the falsehood that self-care is selfish. Self-care is something […]

One the key tools for self-care is setting, maintaining and enforcing boundaries. We live in a culture, even in the church where we do not value boundaries. In fact, the church is terrible about boundaries, seeing the word ‘no’ as some sort of statement of lacking commitment or faith. The people who struggle with boundaries […]

Its common to make new resolutions each year. While a new calendar year can be a helpful and natural time to make some changes, as leaders we should look to change things when e notice that they are an issue. Each year does provide us an opportunity to think about how we can have greater […]

In his book, The Advantage, leadership guru Patrick Lencioni notes that ‘organizational health trumps everything.’ There is so much truth in this statement for the church and for ministry leaders. The corollary that our ministry, Preparing for Amazement Ministries (amazed15.org) has adopted is that outside of the work of God through the Gospel, health trumps […]

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 […]