Confessions of a Burned Out Pastor
But suddenly I hit a wall. I was no longer motivated, I was listless. I was missing some appointments and inadvertently double-booking others.
I was a pastor and things were coming at me all the time. I didn’t have the luxury of stopping to consider how I was feeling.
But there is something wrong with the way that we add virtue to never taking breaks.
Former Seventh-day Adventist Pastors: Qualitative Study Report (2021)
The most often cited challenges that led to a decision to seek other career options included: (1) having ongoing challenges with church members, (2) encountering difficulties with Conference leadership…
Perhaps one of the most painful challenges that former pastors recalled was the pervasive sense that their administrators and/or church members did not care about their welfare.
When these participants judged the cost of continuing in ministry on the family as too high, this served as impetus to leave pastoral work.
Deferred Gratification
Adventist Pastors whose net worth is anticipated to be over one million are more likely to practice deferred gratification.
Use an aging app to have a conversation with your future self.
If you invest $1,000 a month for 40 years your future self will be a millionaire.
After the Earthquake: Ministering to People in Crisis Cross-Culturally
Many Muslims are struggling with this earthquake not only at the human level (senseless loss of life), but at a theological level, too.
Sixth principle: a prayer that is “ours” is better than one that is “yours”.
Prayer is sweet, healing, and in his presence we were one, one community of grieving people yearning for God’s healing.
NAD Best Practices Book Club: A House on Fire with Maury Jackson and Nathan Brown
These authors draw on the Bible…as well as Adventist history, and sound the call to respond to these contemporary issues faithfully, thoughtfully, practically, pastorally, and politically.
Register here.
March 7 at 1pm on Zoom
March 8 – International Women’s Day
1. Strong Women Series - Plan a series of sermons or bible studies about strong women in the Bible. You can invite different women from your church community to lead, or you can have them give their personal testimonies on how God has helped them through a difficult situation.
2. Get Involved with good causes – Have the ladies of your church be actively involved with organizations that advocate for a social cause. Walk together or participate in 5K runs for good causes, such as 'End It Now,' or Mental Health Awareness.
3. Healthy Women Emphasis Meeting. - Invite a nurse, a nutritionist, or a doctor to an in-person or Zoom meeting for a talk on women's health. Promote the event to the community and encourage the women of your church to invite their friends to participate.
4. Self-Defense Class – Promote a Self-Defense Class for the ladies. This is an excellent opportunity to invite friends to get to know you and your church friends.
5. Adopt a Women's Shelter – Find out about shelters or organizations for women rescued from human trafficking. They always need things like toiletries, personal hygiene products, and clothing. With March being Women's Month, have your church involved in collecting items to give to them. Women in your church could also reach out to their friends and coworkers to donate and get involved.
Culture, Cultural Intelligence, and the Gospel
Part of the problem resides in many people seeing culture as being a “bad” thing.
God gave this couple a cultural mandate.
The fact is that while sin has interrupted God’s original plan, its intrusion has not canceled the cultural mandate.
Financial Mentor
Adventist Pastors whose net worth is anticipated to be over one million are more likely to have a financial mentor.
Look for pastors/mentors who have done well in their own finances.
Take advantage of the free service of a certified financial planner provided by the NAD Retirement plan.
Why Black History Matters: A Theological Perspective
From a theological perspective, I believe that there is great value in recognizing Black History Month.
We can become more well-rounded, culturally aware, and compassionate.
Since we live in a society where some seek to idealize history and America’s treatment of racial minorities…we need to recognize Black History Month now more than ever.
Epic Church in Chicago
What does art have to do with church planting? In Chicago, Epic Church has created a unique community outreach ministry called Art Space. Find out how they use art as a means to connect with their secular community and connect their community with their church. This story will inspire you to think outside the box in your ministry context.
Practicing Presence
“How can our interactions with one another in worship encourage, empower, and enable us to be more responsive and present to a gracious, ever-present God? And, in turn, how might that transform the way we are present with all those around us?”
Empowering Worship Ministry Volunteers: A Conversation with Crosswalk's Isai Moran
“Good and meaningful fellowship and community are most essential. Our team really enjoys spending time together every week and also during the week. We try our best to have team nights and vespers where people can connect outside of Saturday mornings as well. I think community is one of the main reasons why people are so committed.”
It’s Always Me
I was battling an injury that no doctor could fix.
I remember arguing with God. I was feeling so disconnected.
The couple shared things from my sermon and how impactful it was for them.
Avoid Tax by Contributing to a Church Retirement Account
Those whose net worth was anticipated to be over one million contribute more to a church sponsored retirement account than those whose net worth was less than a million.
Contributions are tax free and grow tax free.
Contributions are tax free at retirement when you take it as parsonage exclusion.
Tools for Decoding Cross-cultural Communication: Mazhar and Islam as a Blanket
I had been aware of the huge gap between his Arab Bedouin, Islamically-shaped mental map and my Argentinean, European-shaped, Christian one.
How do you unpack a conversation like this?
“You as a Christian need to know this: Islam is my mother.”
February 14th – Valentine's Day
Small Groups: Guide your small groups to cover love and relationship issues for a few weeks. There are plenty of resources, and people always need relationship tips and advice.
Memorable Marriage Moments: Allow a few couples with lasting marriages a chance to share their stories and secrets during your February services or through video testimonies on your website or social media.
Love a Family: Choose a specific family or group to show love through action. Gather volunteers, resources, or finances to help the family with their needs.
Decorate cupcakes for seniors: This idea is excellent if you have many seniors in your church or if you decide to visit a nursing home. Ask each child to frost a cupcake and sign Valentine's cards. You will need volunteers to pick up and distribute those items to the seniors. You could bake or solicit unfrosted cupcakes from the parents and involve the adventurers and pathfinders in decorating them with their families at their homes.
Romantic Dinner: Your Family Ministries can oversee a romantic dinner for the couples of your church at the church's fellowship hall or a local restaurant. Invite couples from your church and community to participate. Having a good message, playing games, and renewing their vows are all great ideas.
The Gospel With-ness of Effective Ministry in the City by Todd Stout
Evangelism is a key component in any attempt to grow a church or community of people. The Seventh-day Adventist Church has developed multiple types of evangelism tactics for different target audiences and regions. This video specifically discusses evangelism tactics for urban centers like New York City, Los Angeles, Indianapolis, and countless other cities in the United States. Watch this video to get a better understanding of areas the Seventh-day Adventist church has had some difficulty within terms of spreading the gospel in cities and see ways how you too can minister in cities. Watch the video here.
Todd Stout is the Lead Pastor for the Advent Hope SDA in New York
Reaching Your Community through Acts of Compassion by David Jamieson, Paulo Macena and David Franklin
Traditional evangelism for the Seventh-day Adventist church has always been revelation seminars. However, currently, revelation seminars are not what the community is responding to anymore. Communities are responding to acts of kindness, support, and love. During Jesus' ministry, He and his disciples focused on helping the communities just as much as they focused on teaching them. Watch this video to see how you can follow Jesus' example and help your church truly help your community.
David Jamieson is the President of the Upper Columbia Conference
Paulo Macena is the Leadership Director for the North American Division
David Franklin is the Senior Pastor of Miracle Temple SDA Church
Cruise Control Off: Cultural Intelligence For Engaging “Them” Who Are Not Like “Me”
What do you do when you encounter someone who isn’t like you?
It’s at the crossroads of diverse cultures that we can encounter our greatest challenges, greatest self-discoveries and opportunities for growth.
This article will share a unique approach to developing your cultural intelligence as a pastor.