Mar 16, 2017 | Calling, Career, discouragement, friendship, Leadership, Quitting, Uncategorized
I get to talk with pastors and other ministry leaders for a living. It’s a privilege to walk alongside these men and women, and listen to their joys and heartaches, their hopes and fears, their victories and defeats. Wonderful people, each one of them. Yet for a...
Mar 9, 2017 | Calling, Fear, Leadership, Loneliness, Mentors, Relationships, Uncategorized
Pastors often struggle alone. While having breakfast with a pastor earlier this week, we talked about how leaders tend to feel trapped when they’re going through a difficult season. Questions like: “Who do I talk to when I’m hurting?” and “Who is safe to confide...
Mar 2, 2017 | Calling, Depression, Fatigue, Fear, Leadership, Rest, Stress, Uncategorized
The more pastors I talk to, the more I realize many of them struggle with busy. At a recent conference, I asked several pastors how they were doing with taking a day off every week. The first two replied: “I don’t take a full day off and haven’t for years.” Two more...
Feb 23, 2017 | Calling, Fatigue, Leadership, Stress, Uncategorized, Work
When I ask pastors about their day off, I’m often greeted with a blank stare followed by uncomfortable mumbling. Some report they haven’t taken a day off in years… and even worse… a few of them are proud of it. Many contributors to pastoral burnout exist. An...
Feb 2, 2017 | Calling, Leadership, Marriage, Pastor's Spouse, Uncategorized
Today we welcome a fresh voice to the Converge Coaching blog… Jamie Hlavin. Jaime is a wife, mother, and a friend of mine. Hope you enjoy her contribution ~ John When I was 15, I met a guy with perfectly straight teeth and a beautiful head of gorgeously styled hair....
Jan 26, 2017 | Calling, discouragement, Fatigue, Leadership, Stress, Uncategorized
It’s Monday morning. Sitting here in my office, thinking about yesterday’s church service. Truly a powerful day: Great worship; great message from our lead pastor; great response from our people. We had a great crowd too. Afterward Laura and I met with our team...
