Pastoral Ministry

“Three sermons still need preparation this week, a church member is in the hospital and another family is struggling. He wants to be fully present with his own family, but too often they receive what remains after everyone else has taken their share. By the time he sits down to prepare, much of his emotional and mental energy has already been spent elsewhere. Then his phone buzzes.

“An annual review does not need to be complicated. A simple, clear, and collaborative process can provide helpful feedback to both the pastor and the elders or church board while encouraging thoughtful reflection on the pastor’s well-being and the fruitfulness of his ministry.” - RHMA

“A California pastor named Justin Lester has built a digital twin of himself using nearly 2 million words from his sermons, books, and other messages. The artificial intelligence–generated clone offers counsel around the clock to hundreds of people in Vallejo, a city in the Bay Area.” - CToday

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.’” - 9 Marks

“Compared to two years ago, the average senior pastor pay package and total compensation have decreased, while inflation continues to rise.” - Lifeway

“My parents are aging and in need of care and attention. To complicate matters further, I live eight thousand miles away. But many of the dynamics of caring for our parents as they age are the same regardless of how far we live from them.” - 9 Marks

“As pastors we live in plain view of God’s people. God designs it this way so that the flock can observe and emulate our faith (Heb. 13:7; 1 Pet. 5:3). Our people need to see how we practice what we preach in every area of life—including how we suffer.” - 9 Marks

“How do Christians continue to practice a biblical leadership model rooted in marriage from within a cultural moment where half the population isn’t married, whilst following a Savior who was never married?” - Baptist Press