A Prayer You Can Replay: Extending Care through Voicemail
Looking for a simple, intimate way to extend your pastoral presence? Laura Heikes reminds us that a voicemail prayer only takes a few seconds to…
Browsing: Pastoral Care
Articles
Congregational Vitality Begins with An Inward Journey
If there are internal conflicts within your worshipping community, will others want to worship at your church? Pastor Andreá Cummings invites us to consider the…
5 Steps to Help Your Church Be Friendlier to Guests
How can your church be friendlier to newcomers? Karl Vaters believes churches can become friendlier by implementing the G.I.F.T. Plan: Greet, Introduce, Follow up, and…
Thriving in Bivocational Ministry: An In-depth Interview with Kris Bentley
How can bivocational ministers and the congregations they serve thrive? In this interview, Kris Bentley redefines bivocational ministry beyond traditional models, emphasizing shared leadership, congregational…
“Thriving in Bivocational Ministry” featuring Kris Bentley
Podcast Episode 171 How can bivocational ministers and the congregations they serve thrive? In this conversation, Kris Bentley redefines bivocational ministry beyond traditional models, emphasizing…
10 Ways to Care for the Emotional Health of Your Congregation During a Pastoral Transition
Pastoral transitions are pivotal moments that deeply affect a church’s spiritual and emotional health. Barry Howard highlights that by acknowledging emotions, communicating clearly, honoring the…
4 Traits that Make Small Churches Vital, Formational Communities
In small-membership churches, spiritual formation thrives when it is intentionally embedded in the community’s life. Allen Stanton writes that while church size doesn’t determine the…
4 Rhythms of Rest for the Weary in Ministry
How can weary church leaders live into God’s design for flourishing? Laura Heikes challenges church leaders to resist the culture of busyness and embrace the…
Ten Non-Negotiable Rules for Child Safety in Churches
Child security is crucial in church ministries to ensure a safe environment for children to grow spiritually. Sam Rainer identifies ten key measures to help…
From Weary to Wholehearted: Overcoming Ministry Burnout—An In-depth Interview with Callie Swanlund
How can church leaders overcome burnout? In this interview, Callie Swanlund discusses her book, From Weary to Wholehearted, exploring burnout and its unique challenges. She…
“From Weary to Wholehearted: Overcoming Ministry Burnout” featuring Callie Swanlund
Podcast Episode 164 How can church leaders overcome burnout? In this episode, Callie Swanlund discusses her book, From Weary to Wholehearted, exploring burnout and its…
Ask Better Questions: Turn Sunday Small Talk into Sacred Conversations
Why do so many Sunday morning conversation get stuck in small talk? Laura Heikes challenges church leaders to move beyond chit-chat and create meaningful connections…
Exploring Spiritual Direction: An In-depth Interview with Eunhyey Lok
How can spiritual direction impact leaders and congregations? In this interview Eunhyey Lok reflects on the role of spiritual direction, its benefits for personal and…
“Exploring Spiritual Direction“ featuring Eunhyey Lok
Podcast Episode 161 How can spiritual direction impact leaders and congregations? In this episode Eunhyey Lok reflects on the role of spiritual direction, its benefits…
8 Steps for Planning a Dementia Caregiver Support Group
Dementia caregiving is an arduous, emotionally taxing journey filled with constant challenges and a profound sense of responsibility. A support group can provide a sanctuary…
Remembering 9/11, Leadership During a Disaster: An In-depth Interview with Terry Bradfield
How can we lead in times of disaster? As we remember 9/11, Terry Bradfield, a retired Army chaplain who was assigned to the Pentagon on…
“Remembering 9/11: Leadership During a Disaster” featuring Terry Bradfield
Podcast Episode 154 How can we lead in times of disaster? As we remember 9/11, Terry Bradfield, a retired Army chaplain who was assigned to…
“Remembering 9/11: Leadership During a Disaster” featuring Terry Bradfield
Podcast Episode 154 How can we lead in times of disaster? As we remember 9/11, Terry Bradfield, a retired Army chaplain who was assigned to…
5 Characteristics of Effective Preaching in the Wake of Mass Trauma
How would you preach next Sunday if a mass shooting, a natural disaster, or a public health crisis shook your community? Sadly, such events are…
Preaching in the Wake of Mass Trauma: An In-Depth Interview with Kimberly Wagner
How would you preach next Sunday if tomorrow your community fell victim to a mass shooting or was devastated by a natural disaster? Ann Michel…
“Preaching in the Wake of Mass Trauma” featuring Kimberly Wagner
Podcast Episode 138 How would you preach next Sunday if tomorrow your community fell victim to a mass shooting or was devastated by a natural…
Building Inclusive Communities: An In-Depth Interview with Brandan Robertson
How can church leaders build an inclusive community of faith? Jessica Anschutz of the Lewis Center staff interviews Brandan Robertson, the “TikTok Pastor,” about social…
“Building Inclusive Communities” featuring Brandan Robertson
Podcast Episode 132 How can church leaders build an inclusive community of faith? In this episode Jessica Anschutz of the Lewis Center staff speaks with…
8 Key Questions to Shift Pastoral Counseling Encounters from Reflection Toward Action
Alan T. Baker identifies eight questions that help shift pastoral counseling encounters from reflection toward action. While written for use by chaplains, these questions can…
Keep Your Bucket Full of Energy and Compassion
Alan Baker highlights the importance of self-care for pastoral care providers to keep their personal buckets filled so that they are not emptied by burnout…
7 Ways Your Church Can Respond to the Reality of Sexual Assault
Ruth Everhart, a pastor, author, and sexual assault survivor, outlines steps that any church can take to respond to the sexual victimization of women. Scripture,…
The Church’s #Me Too Reckoning
How can the church confront its complicity in sexual abuse and misconduct? In this interview, Ruth Everhart, a leading voice on issues of sexual abuse…
“The Church’s #MeToo Reckoning” featuring Ruth Everhart
Podcast Episode 117 How can the church confront its complicity in sexual abuse and misconduct? Ruth Everhart says churches must restore justice by creating safe…
“Gen Z and Mental Health: Insights for Faith Leaders” featuring Josh Packard
Podcast Episode 115 How can church leaders better reach Gen Z? In this episode, Josh Packard shares findings from the Springtide Research Institute on what…
Gen Z and Mental Health: An In-depth Interview with Josh Packard
How can church leaders better reach Gen Z? Doug Powe, Director of the Lewis Center, speaks with Josh Packard about Springtide Research Institute’s research including…