# pastoral ministry (blogs) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 1 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover pastoral ministry. Page: Feed: --- ## [Honoring the Laborers](https://www.churchleadership.com/leading-ideas/honoring-the-laborers/) _2026-08-25 · Matt Lyons · Lewis Center for Church Leadership_ Dr. Dontá McGilvery suggests that churches draw inspiration from Labor Day to create an annual season of rest and appreciation for faithful volunteers. Drawing on 1 Thessalonians 5, he argues that intentionally honoring those who labor in ministry strengthens congregational health, reduces burnout, and demonstrates biblical gratitude. I am currently making my way through a \[...\] The post Honoring… ## [Unlocking the Potential of the 164 Hours a Week Beyond Sunday](https://www.churchleadership.com/leading-ideas/unlocking-the-potential-of-the-164-hours-a-week-beyond-sunday/) _2026-08-25 · Matt Lyons · Lewis Center for Church Leadership_ Jevon Caldwell-Gross says churches can no longer assume that Sunday morning is the primary way people will connect with a congregation. He shares how the COVID-19 pandemic revealed new opportunities for St. Luke’s United Methodist Church to engage its community—and why churches should think beyond Sunday when reaching new people and forming faith. In 2020, \[...\] The post Unlocking the Potential of… ## [We’re Hiring! — Multimedia Specialist](https://www.churchleadership.com/leading-ideas/were-hiring-multimedia-specialist/) _2026-08-21 · Matt Lyons · Lewis Center for Church Leadership_ LEWIS CENTER FOR CHURCH LEADERSHIP OF WESLEY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY – Washington, DC $55,000 – $65,000 a year Description About the Lewis Center for Church Leadership The G. Douglass Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary is dedicated to building actionable knowledge for church leadership. Through research, resource development, and educational initiatives, the Center… ## [3 Questions to Ask Before You Recruit Your Next Volunteer](https://www.churchleadership.com/leading-ideas/three-questions-to-ask-before-you-recruit-your-next-volunteer/) _2026-08-18 · Matt Lyons · Lewis Center for Church Leadership_ Allen T. Stanton says the goal of volunteers in church isn’t more programs—it’s discipleship. He gives three questions to ask to help leaders and their congregations flourish. When I work with pastors, a key concern is how to mobilize their congregants to be more engaged in the life of the church. How do you get \[...\] The post 3 Questions to Ask Before You Recruit Your Next Volunteer appeared… ## [Lewis Center Book Club](https://www.churchleadership.com/events/lewis-center-book-club/) _2026-08-18 · Matt Lyons · Lewis Center for Church Leadership_ The first Book Club virtual gatherings are September 17 at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern. Please register for the time that works best for you. Space is limited. The book is Dream, Dare, Disrupt: How Experiments, Risk, and Embracing Failure Can Build Life-Giving Ministry by Matt Rawle and Rachel Billups, available at Cokesbury, Friendship \[...\] The post Lewis Center Book Club appeared first on Lewis… ## [Leading Your Church Faithfully Through Elections](https://www.churchleadership.com/leading-ideas/leading-church-faithfully-elections/) _2026-08-18 · Matt Lyons · Lewis Center for Church Leadership_ When discipleship extends into public life, what does faithful Christian leadership look like? Kendal McBroom equips leaders with practical resources and practices to build spiritually grounded communities that engage civic life with courage, humility, and a commitment to the common good. There is a persistent temptation within American Christianity to imagine that faith belongs primarily \[...\]… ## [The Rhythms That Sustain Ministry](https://www.churchleadership.com/leading-ideas/the-rhythms-that-sustain-ministry/) _2026-08-11 · Matt Lyons · Lewis Center for Church Leadership_ Sustainable ministry requires more than working harder or managing stress. Drawing on biblical rhythms of Sabbath, joy, friendship, and receiving care, Laura Heikes offers practical ways church leaders can embody the patterns of rest they encourage in others. Self-Care If you’re reading this, I bet you’re very good at caring for others. I also suspect \[...\] The post The Rhythms That Sustain… ## [Empowering the Next Generation: 5 Leadership Frameworks for a Changing World](https://www.churchleadership.com/leading-ideas/empowering-the-next-generation-5-leadership-frameworks-for-a-changing-world/) _2026-08-11 · Matt Lyons · Lewis Center for Church Leadership_ What does it take to prepare the next generation of Christian leaders? Applying insights from an extraordinary gathering of ministry leaders, Elizabeth Tamez Méndez explores how churches can engage with Gen Z leaders. She shares five frameworks that can help experienced leaders build trust, foster collaboration, and intentionally pave the way for the future of \[...\] The post Empowering the Next… ## [“Church Renewal in a Changing World” featuring Lovett H. Weems Jr. and Allen T. Stanton](https://www.churchleadership.com/podcast/church-renewal-in-a-changing-world-featuring-lovett-h-weems-jr-and-allen-t-stanton/) _2026-08-04 · Matt Lyons · Lewis Center for Church Leadership_ Podcast Episode 185 Is the future of the church dependent on institutional growth, or is faithful discipleship the key? In this episode, Jonathan Page is joined by Allen Stanton and Lovett Weems, author of An Aura of Hope: United Methodism’s Next Chapter in the United States, to discuss the future of Methodism, the strengths of small \[...\] The post “Church Renewal in a Changing World” featuring… ## [Practicing Connection](https://www.churchleadership.com/leading-ideas/practicing-connection/) _2026-08-04 · Matt Lyons · Lewis Center for Church Leadership_ Jonathan Page explores how the connectional nature of United Methodism provides a model for leadership rooted in shared purpose, intentional relationships, and collective growth. Through five practical practices, Page invites leaders to consider how gathering around what matters most can strengthen communities and deepen their impact. I consider myself a Christian before any other identifier.… ## [Auto-trade Cross-Exchange Gaps (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/yJUPjxkZuIZM) _2026-08-04 · **Sponsored**_ Find cross-exchange spreads, backtest strategies, and execute automatically with risk controls. ## [Self-Care is an Act of Faith](https://www.churchleadership.com/leading-ideas/self-care-is-an-act-of-faith/) _2026-07-29 · Don Bruns · Lewis Center for Church Leadership_ Dr. Dontá McGilvery argues that self-care is more than a personal wellness practice. For pastors, ministry leaders, and church members alike, making time for rest is an act of faith that reflects trust in God’s provision rather than our own endless striving. Self-care has become something of a buzzword. Depending on who uses the phrase, \[...\] The post Self-Care is an Act of Faith appeared first on… ## [The Myth of the “Stable Church”](https://www.churchleadership.com/leading-ideas/the-myth-of-the-stable-church/) _2026-07-28 · Matt Lyons · Lewis Center for Church Leadership_ Many congregations are asking what faithful ministry looks like in a time of change and uncertainty. Lovett H. Weems Jr. explores recent research on church attendance while challenging the notion that stability should be the church’s primary goal. Instead, he calls congregations to reclaim an outward-focused mission by building relationships with the people God has \[...\] The post The Myth of the… ## [Dramatic Changes Are Ahead. The Small Church Can Guide Us.](https://www.churchleadership.com/leading-ideas/dramatic-changes-are-ahead-the-small-church-can-guide-us/) _2026-07-21 · Matt Lyons · Lewis Center for Church Leadership_ Church leaders are facing huge demographic shifts, leading to smaller denominations, fewer resources, and leaner institutions. Allen T. Stanton gives us three lessons we can learn from small-membership congregations about how to flourish in a shifting landscape. It sounds sensational, but over the next two decades, mainline churches are going to be unrecognizable from how \[...\] The post Dramatic…