Articles
Ways To Keep Kids Engaged
It can be hard to plan church activities for children during the summer, especially in small churches, because of sports, family vacations, and so forth. Our church will have Vacation Bible School, as will many other churches. But, in addition to whatever Sunday and...
It Made a Difference to That One
Many of us in pastoral care prefer getting to know people in groups, on Sundays, or at meals. While group settings are helpful in building a team and a community of believers who support one another, I have found one on one relationships are truly the key to the most...
The Pastor And His Rural Community
For most of his ministry, my husband has pastored rural churches. He feels called to serve smaller churches, to “remind them . . . to be ready for every good work” (Titus 3:1 nkjv). Pastoring in a rural community is a mixed blessing. On the positive side, we have...
8 Books for Pastors Who Want to Last
Every pastor who still wants to be in the ministry five years from now needs to carefully read eight books. All eight have been game-changers for me. Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box by Arbinger Institute (Berrett-Koehler). This international...
Matt Blair of Limitless Church on Overcoming the Battle of the Comparison Game
What do you do when the dream God puts on your heart doesn't look like you thought it would? Matt Blair and his wife planted Limitless Church in Tampa Florida through ARC (Association of Related Churches). Here, they share their story on some of the unexpected...
Making Disciples, Not Diaper Changers
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. —Matthew 28:19–20 Go. Make disciples. Baptize them. Probably every single evangelical church is very familiar with Jesus’ final command to...
The Power of A Sunday Morning Testimony Time
I grew up passively watching TV and learning by quietly listening to lectures. However, technology has transitioned our culture from passive listening to active involvement. Perhaps we're catching up with Benjamin Franklin who is often quoted as saying: "Tell me and I...
A Pastor Shares About a Deep, Painful Addiction
With addiction, there is hope and recovery is possible. PastorsLife.com, in partnership with Celebrate Recovery, have documented this story with the desire to share that message of hope to anyone struggling with this addiction.
Pray For Sister Dicki
PKs—or, preachers’ kids—have it rough; they really do. How do I know? I am one. My father pastored my whole pre-adult life—and I loved it. But it is not without its challenges. In the ’60s and ’70s, when I was growing up, evangelists didn’t stay at the Hilton when...
Seven Ways to Battle the Urge to Quit
I quit! Admit it. Sometimes you feel like shouting it from the highest rooftop…or the closest podium. I quit! I’m done with people who are ungrateful and selfish. I’m finished with ministry leaders who serve their own agenda. I’m exhausted by ministry participants...
Pastor Davey Blackburn: Working Through Unthinkable Grief & Loss
Just when Pastor Davey Blackburn and his wife were beginning to experience traction in their new ministry at Resonate Church, unthinkable tragedy struck. Davey shares his story of grief and loss and how God is working through his story and bringing revival, working...
Never Stop Learning, Pastor
Lawyers. Teachers. CPAs. General contractors. Typically, these and many other professions have required continuing education courses to take, in order to stay up to date with all the latest federal and state laws and/or guidelines. And beyond these vocations that have...
When a Former Pastor Won’t Go Away
Throughout our years of ministry, my husband and I have had some wonderful relationships with former pastors of our church and their wives. Normally we see them at funerals—many times my husband and some of the former pastors conduct funerals together, and sometimes...
Hitting a Wall in Ministry
Joel Bruce with H2 Ministry shares his story of working in ministry and being wounded by a pastor in leadership over him. He tells how he hit the wall in ministry and how working through the hurt and pain ultimately had a positive impact on his life. Don't let the...
How To Find New Church Members
Identifying potential church members and attracting them to your church can be challenging. This is especially true where I live in the Bible belt because selecting a church can be like going through a buffet line: there are a variety of churches to choose from, and...
What is the best way for you to de-stress?
Giving Your Worship Service a Budget-Friendly Facelift
Has there begun a slight indentation on the top of your desk from where you bang your head each week trying to plan yet another worship service? Have you already run out of fresh ideas for Sunday worship this year . . . and it’s February? Are you not one of the lucky...
When A Pastor Has Temporary Physical Limitations
A few years ago, my husband decided to buy a small motorcycle. This was during the time when gas was more than $4.00 a gallon locally, and some gas pumps had to shut down temporarily because of a supposed shortage. He went through proper motorcycle training,...
Inspiring Giving in Low-Income Areas
If you pastor a church in a low-income area, giving might be an uncomfortable subject to approach. Even if you aren’t necessarily in a low-income area, but you have many congregants on fixed incomes, you might have the same discomfort. How do you inspire people to...
Rob Rucci Shares his Heart on Working through Church Controversy
Rob Rucci, pastor at Upcountry Church in Traveler's Rest, SC, shares his heart and story about working through church controversy. Dealing with change in the church can lead to controversy. How do you deal with church controversy without becoming embittered and angry?...
