Join us for a conversation with Dr. Drew Dabbs on how to create margin, avoid burnout, and lead effectively. Drew is the pastor of First Baptist Church, Hamilton, Texas. He completed his undergraduate work in Christian Studies at Mississippi College, and later attended Truett Seminary, where he completed his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry. Drew has over 20 years of ministry experience.
We interview Richard Ray, the current Director of Missions for Tri-Rivers Baptist Area, a network of 80+ churches in central Texas. Under Richard's leadership, Tri-Rivers purchases a retreat center for area churches, hosting a series of student camps, church trainings, and conferences which has further accelerated the growth of Tri-Rivers. He has also set up a free shelter for domestic abuse survivors.
Dr. Anthony Svajda uses a scuba-diving analogy to explain the different pressures many church leaders can face while pastoring.
Only secure people can serve. Insecure people do not like to put themselves in a servant's posture because they think that people are looking down on them or people are going to treat them poorly.
Mike Fritcher shares how to have a marriage that leaves a legacy for the glory of God. He also leads a church impacting impacting the world.
We interview pastor and author John Stange on how to create margin, avoid burnout, and lead effectively in ministry. John recently wrote the book: Dwell on These Things.
Join us as we interview pastor and author Steve Hinton on how to create margin, avoid burnout, and lead effectively in ministry.
Do you find identity more in success than in your calling from God? On this episode, Kyle Willis and Dace Clifton talk about the book Dangerous Calling by Paul David Tripp. Join us as we talk about how pastors and church leaders can avoid some common negative thoughts that many pastors face.
We interview Pastor Chad Missildine on how to create margin, avoid burnout, and lead effectively. Chad is the President and CEO of The Stephen Group and the author of the new book A Tale of 2 Leaders. Chad served on staff for 12 years under Craig Groeschel at Life.Church and works now with high-performing leaders across both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Chad and his wife Macy have three daughters and live in Edmond, Oklahoma.
We can all face times of spiritual dryness. The key is to recognize what is going on and make the changes needed. Below are five causes and steps you can take to recover.
We interview Hunter Bobo of Sow and Tether on his songwriting process and his experience on leading his congregation in meaningful worship.
We interview Pastor Kyle Bueermann. He works in the area of church revitalization and is lead pastor at First Baptist Alamagordo.
Self-care is never selfish. Join us interview Pastor Mike McDaniel on how to create margin, avoid burnout, and lead effectively.
Join us as we interview church planter Dylan Dodson on how to create margin, avoid burnout, and lead effectively.
We discuss the lessons learned from Covid-19 for many pastors and church leaders. Join us as we reflect on the opportunities and challenges.
Jesus is the good shepherd. He is the perfect model for every pastor to follow. In this article we discuss why shepherding is so important and the qualities needed to lead well.
We interview Mike Fritscher on how to create margin, avoid burnout, and lead effectively. Mike is a native of New Orleans who now leads a growing and dynamic church in central Texas.
On the Thriving in Ministry podcast, we interview Pastor John Wilke on how to create margin, avoid burnout, and lead effectively.
2020 was a wild year! Join us as we look back and remember some of the great moments of the Thriving In Ministry Podcast.
Why would a pastor take their own life? In this article we cover five different areas that can negatively impact the mental health of pastors.
Do you struggle with telling your church no? Learning how to say no to some things so you can say YES to the best things!
Holidays can be stressful. We are discuss self care around the holidays. How should pastors and church leaders manage their personal self to create margin during the end of the year?
Are you having difficulty preaching? Preaching can be hard. Whether you are just getting started or stuck in a rut, we can all use help. In this article we will talk about nine important moves you can make to preach more effectively.
Carl Walker interviews Jacque and Dace Clifton on the practical realities of sabbaticals.
How do you eliminate non-value added work? How is it that pastors can create margin, and what are the routines and habits that lead to value added input?
Do you struggle with stress? In this article we discuss 5 different things you can do to face stress and stay healthy.
Why do pastors fall out of ministry? We talk about pastors and moral failure in this episode of the Thriving in Ministry podcast.
What is a Ministry Sabbatical? Why should you take consider taking one? Learn about the major benefits for pastors and churches.
Let's talk about sabbaticals. How is it that pastors taking time away from your church may actually be the best thing for your church?
How would God have us respond when the world around us is always changing? Pastor Chris Ortego reminds us what should be of first importance in the church today.
Pregnancy can be a trying time. It is also a unique opportunity to grow in our faith, strengthen our marriage, and see God bless in unexpected ways. In this article, we will discuss three different ways you can bless your marriage, grow in your faith and apply God’s word during pregnancy.
What do you do when your situation frustrates, discourages, or disappoints you? In this article Dace advises what to do when you just want out.
As scandals of abuse and abuses of power are brought to light, the question comes to mind "Do pastors really have authority over their congregations?" Is "pastoral authority" a legit thing?
How's your attitude? Our attitudes reveal where we are placing our focus. Attitude is like a barometer for our hearts - it shows what's going on underneath. What you cultivate inside always finds its way out.
Take any introductory course to preaching and I can almost guarantee that you will learn about the three functional elements of preaching. They may not be called by that title,…
Want to make a good first impression? Making a good first impression is very important. Sometimes churches can overlook vital ways to improve the experience of a first time visitor. In this article we address seven areas that are critical for making a good first impression.
How clear are your sermons? Listening to an unclear sermon is like being on a road-trip with an unknown destination. Clarity is a key feature of effective communication. In this article, preaching Professor Dr. Matthew McKellar explains how you can bring clarity to your sermons for effective preaching.
Jesus calls his followers to make disciples of all nations. The discipleship process begins with sharing the good news with the lost. Unfortunately, this great commission has become the "great omission" in many churches. In this article, Dr. Carl Bradford explains three critical moves every leader must make to cultivate an evangelistic culture in your church.
How does pastoral tenure impact church health? It is not uncommon to see churches change pastoral leadership every few years and in some cases every few months. In this article, Dr. John Mann explains how pastors serving for an extended time can contribute to church health. Before you make a move in ministry, consider the impact you could have by staying at your current post.
Serving Christ in a local church is a special calling. The decisions you make, the causes you champion, and the life you live all have an impact on the ministry. We are all leaving some type of legacy. What type of legacy are you leaving behind? In this article, Pastor Chris Ortego reflects on the type of legacy he endeavors to leave in a well-established church.
Have key members in your church tried to get rid of you on multiple occasions? Has your flock deliberately tried to undermine your ministry? Have you been the object of fierce hostility, anger, and spite? If so, you are in company with one of history’s greatest preachers: Charles Simeon (1759-1839). In this article we will look at the turbulent beginnings of one of the greatest preachers of the nineteenth century.
Why do we have such a hard time adjusting to life when things don't go our way? Oftentimes, we look to blame outward things (situations, circumstances, and people) when what we're really upset about is our unspoken, oftentimes unrealistic expectations.
As Christ-followers, what place does profanity have in our lives? Is there a link between the words that flow out of our mouths and the condition of our hearts? What does the Bible have to say about these things?
There may never be the perfect time to talk about your church’s finances, but today we will add some greater detail around budgeting and forecasting for your church. This article is a response to an earlier post, Church finance: the business basics.
There are many pitfalls on the path to good leadership. In this post we will discuss common hazards of Christian leadership. Knowing these hazards will better prepare you to lead well in your ministry.
What does frustration in life have to do with our theology? In this article, we'll take a look at how God can work deeply in us through the trials of life, unchanging circumstances and difficult people.
Does God call us to be warriors?Being a Christian and a warrior are two ideas seldom connected in the modern world. However, if Christians embraced the discipline and ethic of a warrior, we would see an unparalleled resurgence of strength, leadership, sacrifice, courage, and love in our world. In this post, I’ll identify two more areas Christians can embrace the call to be a warrior.
Ministry and church leaders wear many hats as they seek to fulfill their calling. This article is designed to assist pastors and church leaders as they navigate the financial aspects of ministry by providing a basic foundation of business principles. The knowledge and application of these principles will help strengthen the financial integrity of any ministry. Stay tuned for additional articles on managing ministry financials.
Being a Christian and a warrior are two ideas seldom connected in the modern world. If Christians embraced the ethic and discipline of warriors, our world would see radical change in Christian leadership.
The Gospel brings about a radical change in our lives. How should our parenting be impacted by Gospel truth? In a world full of conflicting information, God's Word provides the needed foundation to lead our children in following Christ. In this article, we will discuss a few areas where the Gospel can produce liberating changes in our approach parenting.
Being well-known and having deep and abiding relationships with others are two completely different things. Some pastors are hesitant to develop relationships that go beyond surface matters out of a fear of being hurt or betrayed. In this post, we will discuss a few reasons why it is critical for pastors and ministry couples to cultivate deep friendships with others.
Have you ever been troubled by your thoughts? Maybe you know what it is like to be burdened by chronic worry, fear, despair, or anger. Sometimes our minds can feel like a battleground. However, as a Child of God, we don’t have to let negative thoughts live “rent free” in our minds. In fact, the Bible talks about taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (see 2 Cor 10:5). In this article, we will walk through the steps to kick troubling thoughts to the curb.
The dinner table is a much under-used tool for evangelism and discipleship. As God has torn down the barrier that once separated us, inviting others to share a meal in our homes can also help tear down barriers. This post explains how we can use our dinner tables in an effort to reach out to others and build the Kingdom.
There will be times in ministry when you are going to be hit. You will be the subject of criticism (some warranted and some unwarranted). Occasionally, someone fueled by a sense of self-contrived justice, is going to say something to you that is unfair, insulting, or ill-informed. Expect it. How do you face an unjust critic or personal insults? During this post we will discuss the keys to keeping your focus on Christ even when targeted by a critic.
There are no vacation days available when it comes to spiritual warfare and the fight can be exhausting. The struggle is real. Some days it feels as if the enemy never takes a holiday. In this post we discuss several ways to keep your focus on God when enduring difficulty, discouragement, and spiritual warfare.
Are you experiencing depression in ministry? Depression in ministry should not take us by surprise. Like other obstacles in our lives, it can cause us to look to Christ, lean on God's promises, and rely on the Holy Spirit to get us through.
Are you in bi-vocational ministry? Bi-vocational ministry has unique challenges and opportunities. This article highlights some of the advantages of serving God in bi-vocational ministry. Bi-vocational ministers have the opportunity to leverage their calling in the workplace for the glory of God.
Is bitterness ruining your ministry? Bitterness is a real killer of effective ministry. Every man and woman in ministry must guard against this danger. In this post I’ll explain the ways bitterness can take root in our lives. Understanding how bitterness grows prepares us to be on guard against this danger.
How do you find balance between ministry work and family life? Here are a few tips to help find the balance we all need.
Be sure to check out our series on how to love your wife in ministry: Part 1: 5 Ways to love your wife dailyPart 2: Loving your wife: a long-term strategy…
Andrew Franklin is the Lead Pastor of Mosaic Community Church in Eastside Seattle, Washington. He is also the author of Created for Love, a book about reclaiming Jesus's Vision for Sexuality, Gender & Relationships.
Dr. Phillip Koo is the Leadership Residency Director at Christ Chapel Bible Church in Fort, Worth, Texas. On today's episode we talk with Phillip about creating margin, avoiding burnout, and church leadership, especially as it relates to Seminary students or pastors in a residency program.
Join us as we speak with pastor Randy Kendrix. Randy is the the Pastor of First Baptist Church Madill, Oklahoma. He has served at churches in Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana and as an Area Representative with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Join us as we talk to Dr. Danny Forshee on mental health and pastoral leadership. Danny shares his story and encourages leaders.
Do you know someone struggling with depression or having suicidal thoughts? The answer is almost always "yes". Dr. Matthew Sleeth explains the impact of mental health on pastors and challenges us to be more proactive from the pulpit on addressing the current suicide crises.
Are you tired? Dr. Matthew Sleeth, MD, shares the benefits of living grounded by the Sabbath will lead to a more fulfilling life and ministry.
Dace shares 10 lessons he has learned from pastoring the same church for the last decade. The changes have made a big difference.