Articles
Holes in Our Fences: Why Preventative Measures Sometimes Fail
A couple of summer’s ago, my wife and I discovered that some skunks were living under the porch of our house. We awoke one morning to the nose-pinching smell of a skunk’s spray permeating our home, called a pest control company, and waited a week or two for the...
Podcast Episode 1 – Churches Reopening – Bob Franquiz Part 1
Dave Wike speaks with Bob Franquiz about how churches are dealing with reopening. Hey guys, this is Dave Wike with Pastor Resources. You may remember back in early March we sent out a bunch of resources right when COVID took off and it became quite a crisis for the...
Examination of Our Anxiety
The interior examination of anxiety is another powerful practice to engage in. To be anxious is to be human. But to be regularly shaped by anxiety diminishes our humanity. Therapist and pastor Peter Steinke noted two types of anxiety: acute and chronic. Acute anxiety...
As Long as It Has Fuel
The metaphor of fire is common among the spiritual masters. Indeed, ever-greater union with God has often been understood to be accompanied by purification and illumination. But that process is by no means linear. There is no straightforward progression from one to...
Finding Jesus in the Storm: The Spiritual Lives of Christians with Mental Health Challenges
Define healing We must clearly define what we mean by healing. The temptation is to conflate healing with curing. When we do this, the quest becomes the eradication of troublesome experiences with a view to initiating a return to some kind of perceived psychological...
Specific Actions to Manage Your Emotions In the Aftershock of Painful News
Many of us have been taught some damaging and false principles about emotions. You might have been told that it’s wrong to feel angry, that you shouldn’t feel sad, or that your faith is weak if you’re emotional. Your Emotions Are Neither Right Nor Wrong But your...
How Churches Are Filling the Gaps in the “Last Mile of Need” Part 2
A New Approach to Feeding Hungry Families Local churches are innovatively taking the torch where others fall short and feeding the most food-insecure families. The Role of the Local Church Local churches have a unique ability to fill the gaps because they are in close...
How Churches Are Filling the Gaps in the “Last Mile of Need” Part 1
A New Approach to Feeding Hungry Families While each step of the supply chain is important, there is none more pressing than delivering through the “Last Mile of Need.” Due to the many challenges of the pandemic we know the health and economic impact of COVID-19 is...
She Reminds Me of You
My Mother’s father grew up in the village of Gungyi, hearing the roaring sounds of Japanese jet fighters, the crescendo of explosions, and the rainfall of debris. As a freelance journalist, he published an article that was falsely accused of criticizing communism. It...
The Ministry of Incarnational Listening
Pastors are under more pressure than ever. In the wake of the COVID crisis, many churches are struggling. Others have not been allowed to reopen. Offerings are down and stress levels are up. What will church look like moving forward? Will folks feel comfortable...
What Pastors Should Know About Stress
What is stress? Not that a pandemic is new in our history. Nor the emergence of many disasters at once an odd occurrence. War, plague, poverty, drought, fires, floods, and revolution, are nothing new. However, the American experience has had relative comfort in most...
What Kind of Foundation? Part 3
In times like these, we begin to realize how critical our foundations are. We all strive to value strong foundations all the time, but we all know that we struggle to put down strong foundations. It is often easy to build and grow and expand during the good times...
When We Were Lonely, God Came Down
Sometimes I feel lonely. Of course, there’s a big difference between feeling lonely and being alone. I can be alone and not feel lonely at all. Conversely, some of my loneliest experiences have been when I was in a crowd of people. Perhaps loneliness is meant to serve...
How God Fills Our Emptiness with His Grace
I heard a preacher say one time that we all have dark thoughts about God. My initial response was skepticism. As someone whose earliest memories are filled with Bible truths, I didn’t want to think that I have anything but esteem and love for God. But I’ve come to see...
What Kind of Foundation? Part 2
In times like these, we begin to realize how critical our foundations are. We all strive to value strong foundations all the time, but we all know that we struggle to put down strong foundations. It is often easy to build and grow and expand during the good times...
Are We Working Out Our Heavenly Job Description On Earth? Part 2
Consider the labor (trouble) experienced by Moses, Abraham and Elijah. Then consider their work. In I Corinthians 6:2-3 Paul declares that “the saints will judge the world,” and, that “we will judge angels.” In Matthew 25:14-30 twice Jesus says “Well done,...
Are We Working Out Our Heavenly Job Description On Earth? Part 1
As a Christian, you expect to go to heaven when you die, but what do you expect to be doing after you arrive? Perhaps you will spend time with loved ones, make appointments to meet the great saints of the ages, or take a long rest. But, is that all you will be...
Leading and Discipling Into the New Normal Part 2
In challenging times your people more than ever need to know you care about them personally. That’s critical when it comes to reopening. If your people sense you are more concerned about getting them back in the seats than you are about their personal wellbeing, it...
Leading and Discipling Into the New Normal Pt. 1
Many Christian leaders are wrestling with what it looks or will look like to reopen in-person church gatherings. Some churches, perhaps yours, are meeting in person now. But whether you are or not, if you’re honest you know things are not “normal.” And so do your...
Fiscal Year vs. Calendar Year: Which Is Right for Your Church?
Pastor Resources · Fiscal Year Vs. Calendar Year For Churches While your church is unique in its offerings, it still operates similarly to other types of businesses. It must pay employees a fair wage, cover debts and expenses, and maintain a budget. As a church...
