Fresh Hope For Mental Health

In nearly two decades of vocational ministry, I’ve experienced the wounds and weariness that we pastors endure. Ministry hurts. It’s hard to remain resilient. But, ministry itself is not the issue. It’s the what, how and who. What patterns keep us healthy? How do we maintain a sense of hope? Who are the trusted confidants that come alongside to encourage and exhort us?   These are questions I explore with my pastor friends and coaching clients. They are borne out of lessons that I learned the hard way. I went to an excellent seminary (Covenant Theological in St. Louis). I gained a great deal of knowledge. When my family moved to a new city to plant a church in 2009, I was not fully prepared for the challenges of pastoral ministry. During ten years of church-planting and previous years serving in a variety of roles, the Lord gently and graciously exposed my shortcomings while also shaping my character and sharpening my mind.   In those early days…My emotional intelligence was a bit lacking. I hadn’t establishe