May 2023 Issue
Empowering young adults in mission: What churches can do
Dustin Serns
God worked miracles to revitalize our aging church in just four years, growing the number of young adults from fewer than 5 to more than 30.1 It radically transformed our congregation and community. As more young adults began joining our church, one historically characterized…
“My well is empty”: Adverse childhood experiences among pastors
David Sedlacek, René Drumm
Recent research on pastoral stress has revealed startling insights into the emotional needs of pastors in the United States.1 In one study, a pastor shared: “When it is expected from you to give, and to give, and to give, and to teach, and to be a wise man and a counselor…
Experiencing happiness—producing fruitfulness: A pastor’s reflection on Psalm 1
Kenroy R. Campbell
Fulfilling pastoral goals can sometimes lead us to pursue happiness within such accomplishments. Unfortunately, “research on daily happiness has revealed an interesting paradox: pursuing daily happiness is one of the surest ways to impede or diminish our capacity to…
Learning from the diversity of the disciples
Tom Grove, S. Joseph Kidder
Jesus’ calling of the twelve disciples was intentional, not haphazard. He spent an entire night in prayer, specifically to ask for His Father’s guidance (Luke 6:12, 13). He selected twelve disciples who were different from each other and from their Leader in so many…
Where do barriers to church growth come from?
Onajite Akemu
Many years ago, I was called to pastor of a small church with about 70 members. To grow the church required so much effort and energy that I told myself, “Never again!” Yet taking that church past the 200-person mark was both my greatest ministry challenge and my highest…