Thoughtful Reflections on Faith and Life
What does a healthy church look like? We might begin with a large congregation, a sizeable budget, multi-pastor staff, and a building big enough for any event imaginable. I will say that none of those things are bad. There are many such churches that are healthy. But it is not those aspects of a church … Read More “5 Signs of a Healthy Church” »
When people are looking for a church to join, what do they look for? Many people look at the quality of the Sunday morning services, as well as the number of programs offered. While I understand why people do this, that is not the real measure of a healthy church. The challenge is that measuring … Read More “Measuring a Healthy Church” »
Churches are starting new ministries and programs all the time. But how does a church choose whether or not to start a particular ministry? One of the bad motives for starting a ministry is also one of the tempting ways. People in the congregation have fond memories of a past ministry. People can look back … Read More “A Bad Motive For Starting a Church Ministry” »
I have had people in my congregation make comments like, “This ministry was done thirty years ago and worked, filling the church, we should go back and do that.” The problem with that thinking is that both the community and the church have changed. Simply duplicating a past ministry or worship style or whatever will … Read More “How Should Churches Look at Past Ministry?” »
Yesterday, we had a town hall meeting at our church. This was to look at, among other things, ways we do outreach and ways we welcome. Numerous topics came up and one of them was disabilities. Although I’m an advocate for people with disabilities, I wasn’t the one who brought it up. A lady in … Read More “What Churches Need to Know About People With Disabilities” »
I have had the role of a pastor, on and off, for over twenty years. It is an important part of my identity and I’m thankful to be able to serve in this way. As part of my reflections as I approach fifty, here are five things I have learned about being a pastor. Invest … Read More “Top Five Things I Have Learned As a Pastor” »
I first heard of the imposter syndrome in the context of blogging. Bloggers often write from the perspective of an “expert,” giving advice in a specific area. But it is not uncommon for bloggers to ask, “Who am I to give my opinion? Why should people listen to me?” This is called the imposter syndrome. … Read More “Pastors and the Imposter Syndrome” »
This is not about when pastors mess up by having an affair, developing an addiction or being financially dishonest. I’m talking about the regular mistakes that pastors make on a regular basis. They are common mistakes, but when not dealt with properly, they can cause major problems. I messed up on Sunday at church. The … Read More “When Pastors Mess Up” »
As a pastor, I try not to use the b-word. Which b-word? Busy. This is a change for me. Years ago, when people would ask how I was doing, I would always respond with “busy.” Then I heard some other pastors push back on the idea of talking about being busy. Why have I stopped … Read More “Pastors and the B-Word” »
When it comes to ministry, we can look at our past and our present. But what about our future? Specifically, how our ministry will end? Our pastoral ministry will end, the question is whether it will end well or not. Too many pastors simply hope for the best. But we can do more than that. … Read More “31 Days to Become a Better Pastor: Plan to Finish Well” »
There is much respect given to pastors who work long hours and who are always available to their congregation. But that doesn’t mean they are good pastors. What about their family? At one time there was talk of needing to balance church and family. Balance ideas have begun to fall away as a 50/50 split … Read More “31 Days to Become a Better Pastor: Focus on the Family” »
One of the frequent descriptions of pastoral ministry concerns the loneliness of being a pastor. It doesn’t have to be that way. While I think it is good to have friends within the congregation, it is also helpful to connect with other pastors who know the pressures of ministry. This can look a number of … Read More “31 Days to Becoming a Better Pastor: Connect With Other Pastors” »
I am not the best pastor in the world nor do I have all the answers. But I have been pastoring for over twenty years and have been able to serve in a variety of contexts. More than that, I’m still learning and know that I have a lot of room to grow. For the … Read More “31 Days to Become a Better Pastor: Remember Your Call” »
There was a time not long ago when it was trendy fir churches to develop vision/mission statements. We don’t hear as much about it now, perhaps because most churches have now adopted one and so it is less a topic of conversation. These statements are good but the danger is that it is officially adopted … Read More “A Challenge For Pastors in the New Year” »
It is hard to believe that only three years ago, I didn’t think that I would ever pastor a church again. It is not that I had a bad experience at my previous churches. I pastored for nine years at Woodford Baptist Church and First Baptist Church Meaford and I have extremely fond memories of … Read More “Good News: Thankful to Be Pastoring Again” »
One of the things that I have noticed about contemporary Christian ministry is there is disagreement over the purpose and aim of Sunday worship services. The two options for the focus are: Christians who are part of that Christian community. Non-Christians who will hopefully visit the church, either as an invited guest or their own … Read More “Who Should Sunday Worship Services Be Aimed At?” »
Some of the most helpful lessons I have learned have been from my own mistakes. This includes discovering the difference between big and small churches. At the time that I was called into ministry, I was attending a church that had a weekly attendance of about 800. I enrolled in seminary and needed to do … Read More “Forcing Big Church Ministry on Small Churches” »
I don’t think that there is any one answer to how long a sermon series should be. At the same time, there are some good decisions we can make to help our messages be most effective. Part of our consideration should be how the content informs the length of the series. For example, I love … Read More “How Long Should a Sermon Series Be?” »
As I write this, it is the beginning of September. As a pastor of a church, in many ways this is the beginning of the ministry year. After a couple of months of a relaxed schedule, things are just starting again. As the ministry year starts, I’m reminded of how I need to intentionally remain … Read More “6 Steps I Take Toward Healthy Ministry” »
A number of decades ago, a conflict erupted over the style of worship. Some congregations felt that the traditional hymns were the way to go and others wanted newer “choruses.” This was not the first war, as there had been strong feelings when churches switched from Psalms to hymns. Has that war ended? I’m not … Read More “The New Worship War” »
When I was studying at seminary, we were told that the greatest temptations for a pastor were sex and money. I have no doubt that many pastors have stumbled in these areas. However, this has not been my experience. That is not to say that I don’t experience temptations. There are some unhealthy habits that … Read More “My Four Greatest Temptations as a Pastor” »
I love being a pastor. It is one of the most fulfilling things I have done. But it is easy to lose focus. I need to remind myself of some important truths on a regular basis. While I need to do my best, it is God that brings the success. My family is my most … Read More “5 Things I Need to Remind Myself as a Pastor” »
My primary role in ministry is as a pastor of a local congregation. Why then do I choose to teach apologetics at my church? Is this just a case of me pushing my interests on my church? There are many different things that I could teach at my church and apologetics is by no means … Read More “Why I Teach Apologetics at My Church” »
I am no expert at gardening. In fact this is my first year of even attempting to grow vegetables. In the past, we enjoyed the flowers that previous people planted but even then never weeded or cared for the plants in any way. This year, I felt like growing a garden, particularly vegetables (and a … Read More “What Gardening Has Taught Me About Church Ministry” »
I have been most involved in small churches throughout my life. Except for a few years where I attended a church that was close to 1000 people, I have generally attended (and pastored) smaller churches. I have nothing against large churches, as it was at that large church that I was both baptized and married. … Read More “5 Things I Love About Small Churches” »
As a pastor, I’m very interested in discussing the role of my calling. If I don’t understand the role of the pastor, there is no way to know if I’m successful or not. I recently came across a blog post by Carey Nieuhof on this topic. First, I need to say that I like Carey. … Read More “Pastors: Shepherds or Entrepreneurs?” »
In this episode, I have the opportunity to talk with Darryl Dash. Darryl is the founding pastor of Liberty Grace Church in Toronto. We had a great conversation about what ministry looks like and his passion for church planting. I encourage you to check out Darryl’s website: Dashhouse. The book Darryl recommends is The Imperfect Pastor: … Read More “An Interview With Darryl Dash on Church Leadership” »
I believe that apologetics is important and not just for those interested in apologetics. Apologetics is especially important for pastors, whether they like it or not. The fact is that there is a steady stream of anti-Christian apologetics hitting our people and ignoring Christian apologetics is not going to stop that. While I’m not suggesting … Read More “7 Ways Pastors Can Begin to Integrate Apologetics into Their Ministry” »
September is the beginning of the new ministry year at church. This is also my first September at Queen Street Baptist Church. I always hope for good things but at the same time I never know what to expect. I want to see new things happening but not change for the sake of change. One … Read More “Good News: Encouraged By Church” »
Although the financial year for a church might start in January, the ministry year really starts in September. As I write this, September is just a couple of days away. Pastors should not just walk into the new ministry year blindly. Here are five questions that pastors should ask at the beginning of the ministry … Read More “5 Questions Pastors Should Ask at the Beginning of the Ministry Year” »
Perhaps you are considering attending seminary and getting a theological degree. But what degree should you pursue? I would like to put forth the case for getting a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree. The MDiv is the standard degree for many denominations for ordained pastoral ministry. The MDiv offers a blend of academic and ministry … Read More “Why You Should Get a Master of Divinity Degree” »
I recently wrote a blog post called Don’t Be That Apologist, where I gave some examples of apologists (without names) that are bad examples. I thought I would do the same thing for pastors. As a pastor, I have made plenty of mistakes and have witnessed mistakes by other pastors. Unfortunately there are lots of bad … Read More “Don’t Be That Pastor” »
I first had the role of a pastor in 1996 and have been ordained since 2001. I have been a youth pastor, associate pastor and solo pastor. I have been in traditional and contemporary churches, rural and downtown churches. Of course there have been some challenging times but overall I enjoy my career as a … Read More “5 Things That I Love About Being a Pastor” »
The very first pastoral role that I had began twenty years ago in 1996. I began my studies at McMaster Divinity College and my field placement was as a youth pastor of a combined Pentecostal and Salvation Army youth group. Since then I have had many roles and continue to learn. Reflecting on my experiences, … Read More “20 Things I Have Learned in 20 Years of Ministry” »
Churches need to reach people with the love and truth of Jesus Christ. But how do we do that? The Gospel does not change but whether Christians like it or not, different people respond to different types of ministry. That is where Effective Generational Ministry by Elisabeth A. Nesbit Sbanotto and Craig L. Blomberg comes in. The … Read More “Effective Generational Ministry” »
I sometimes encounter resistance by pastors about the value of apologetics. I have also heard from laypeople who have had negative experiences talking to their pastors about apologetics. I would like to argue that not only is apologetics compatible with pastoral ministry, it is essential to pastoral ministry. That may sound like a bold statement … Read More “Why Apologetics is Essential to Being a Pastor” »
Is your church ready to minister to families with disabilities? Perhaps you want to but have some fears about how that would look like. The following are some observations from someone who is both a pastor and a father of children with disabilities. 1. You do not have the resources for disability ministry You may … Read More “5 Reasons Churches Are Afraid of Disability Ministry” »
Just over three years ago I left pastoral ministry after nine years of pastoring at Woodford and First Baptist Church Meaford. I had a great experience at those churches and nothing took place that turned me off pastoring. If you had a personal conversation with me in those three years, I may have indicated doubts … Read More “Good News: Returning to Pastoral Ministry” »
Pastors are just as human as everyone else. This means that mistakes are made. The first step is to just be aware of these temptations. Here are five of the most common mistakes that I have seen among pastors (including myself). Taking it personally when a person/family leaves the church. Sometimes people leave a church … Read More “5 Mistakes Pastors Make” »
You show up for church and find that there is a guest preacher. Is that pastor on vacation again? I have heard such statements, about myself and about other pastors. People in the church seem surprised when the pastor is on vacation. Why are pastors away so much? Actually pastors are not taking more vacation … Read More “Is the Pastor on Vacation Again?” »
Today was my last day as an “adjunct pastor” at Toronto Chinese Baptist Church. I have been there since the beginning of May. My purpose was to give their English Pastor, Nolan Lee the time to work on the youth and children’s events that fill up the summer. Personally, I think it says a lot … Read More “Blessed With Ministry” »
While much of what I do is encouraging churches to have the right attitude, there is an important need for training. As a result, I was very happy to see that Biblical Training is offering some courses on Ministry and Disabilities. This is being done in cooperation with Joni & Friends. Go and check it … Read More “Ministry and Disabilities Online Training” »
As some of you may know, I have been semi-unemployed since November. What is “semi-unemployed”? I have two part-time jobs (teaching and military chaplaincy) but I don’t have a full-time job, nor do my two part-time jobs add up to full-time. So where is the good news? While I am still without full-time employment, I … Read More “My Good News is Made in China” »
What if you want your church to be autism-friendly but you don’t have any families with autism in your church? I’m glad you asked! This is exactly the time to be thinking of these things. It is so much harder to start the process after you have had people with autism for years. The best … Read More “Becoming Pre-Autism Friendly” »
One of my most personal projects has been How to Make Your Church Autism-Friendly. It has been available in Kindle for some time. However, I understand that it would be more helpful for the people who need this book to have it in print form. That is why I am thankful to announce that How to … Read More “How to Make Your Church Autism Friendly – Print Edition” »
One of my goals is to equip churches to minister to families dealing with disabilities, especially autism. I have an ebook planned on this very topic. This post is aimed at the mid-sized to small church that suddenly has a family with a child with autism attending. What is it that the church needs to know? … Read More “7 Things Churches Need to Know About Autism” »
Being in pastoral ministry is one of the most rewarding careers available. At the same time it is stressful and there are all too many cases of burnout. Pastoral ministry does not have to lead to burnout. There are some steps that you can take that will help to keep you healthy. 1. Focus on your … Read More “5 Tips to Prevent Pastor Burnout” »
The question of God’s call to ministry is something that has very much been on my mind. The reason for this is that I truly believed that God called me into the ministry and yet today I am not a pastor of a congregation. Am I disobeying God’s call on my life? The deciding … Read More “Does God Call People into the Ministry?” »
I pastored for fourteen years. While I have lots yet to learn, I did come to understand some things. As a person who now attends rather than pastoring a church, some of those lessons have a new meaning. I am assuming that you want the best for your pastor (Unfortunately, I know that is not … Read More “5 Ways to Bless Your Pastor” »
So you are a pastor who has caught a vision for apologetics. But how do you do that? Will people be overwhelmed? How do you bring up apologetics in a non-academic setting? Here are five suggestions to get things going in your congregation. 1. Don’t mention apologetics. The word ‘apologetics’ scares a lot of people. … Read More “5 Ways That Pastors Can Introduce Apologetics Into Their Ministry” »
Every Christian leader wants to have a strong ministry. But a strong ministry does not come automatically from standing behind a pulpit. There are certain things that are needed. Brandon Cox shares three pillars for a strong ministry that are very helpful for everyone involved in Christian ministry. It is well worth checking out.
It always broke my heart when I would read stories of how a pastor had a bad experience at a church and quit ministry out of anger, pain and frustration. I would hear those stories and would wonder how someone could give up ministry if God called them to ministry. A bad experience at a … Read More “Confessions of an Ex-Pastor” »
