This week we are talking about loneliness in ministry. As a pastor, you need to learn how to have friends and how to be ministered to by others. Joining me on the podcast this week is Pastor Craig Groeschel, Senior Pastor at LifeChurch.TV. Craig wrote the book Confessions of a Pastor and has some great advice on the podcast for pastors to get real with God.
I hope you will listen right now and tune for the next several weeks as we take some time to reconnect with God as pastors. As you will hear in the podcast, it always starts with personal renewal.
As always, after you listen to the podcast be sure to come back here and post a comment to keep the conversation going.
Thanks friend,
Rick
12 responses so far ↓
Sue // May 15, 2007 at 8:00 am
Given that there are more men in the Pastorate than women, it is a challenge to find the “older mentor,” “coworker”, and “friends” who are women Pastors.
What would you suggest?
Ludmil Arsov // May 15, 2007 at 9:49 am
Yet another timely and very needed topic. Thanks for sharing and helping. I have been wrestling with that for some time and found the podcast extremely helpful. Keep up the good work. I need it ;)
Vlad // May 15, 2007 at 10:55 am
it was great message. about loneliness. rick thanks for ministering to pastors. i am youth pastor, and i can relate with everything you’re saying and it gives me great strength to know that someone went through it…it also, prepares me for the future – of what to do and not to do. thanks again.
Renato // May 16, 2007 at 10:46 am
Dear Rick,
My name is Renato, I live in Brazil, and I am being blessed by this podcast. Thank you for this creative way of sharing the load with us pastors. I love this conversation way. The message today came in such a time of need. It was so relevant to me. It really helped. Thank you and also Craig for the words of encoraugement. God bless, Renato.
Jacquie // May 17, 2007 at 7:51 pm
Pastor Rick,
The Lord has once again encouraged me. I can’t wait to share this with my husband. We are both ministers and parents of a 3 & 4 year old. My husband is part of a pastors small group. I’m interested in knowing if Kay has ever been part of a small group made of up of pastor’s wives? Would you have guidelines for starting one? God Bless.
Mike // May 18, 2007 at 8:54 am
Rick:
I just listened to your Podcast on “How to overcome Loneliness in Ministry”. This is my first pastorate since graduating seminary in 2005. I feel at times I have been in a boxing match with Mike Tyson. Your Podcast spoke volumes to me and I just wanted to say Thank you for ministering to a Brother in Christ who you have never met. I look forward to hearing more of your Podcasts.
Anthony // May 18, 2007 at 9:41 am
Hi Rick,
I recently subscribed to your podcast, and I have to say that I really get a lot out of these conversations. I am not a Pastor, I actually work in the microbiology section of a lab in Phoenix, AZ. I listen to these podcasts at night (between 7pm-3:30am). Then I come home and tell my wife about them during the day.
You mentioned on this podcast (jokingly, I think) that you should talk sometime about how to raise a family while you build your church. I would really like to here about how to effectively raise kids when one or more of the parents are staff at a local church. For example, what are some strategies to keep ministry problems out of the home, or how did you deal with the negatives of ministry in your home while working full time in the ministry?
Anyway, your podcast is awesome and very helpful, even to us who are not Pastors. Thanks!
Anthony
Zohoun François // May 19, 2007 at 4:37 am
Rick
Iam very happy for your Podcast when I readed.I receive many blessings in it.And I pray Good to use you every time.Today I know many things around your messages.Thank you for your ministering to a Brother in christ who you have never met.I look forward to hearing more from you.
Thanks may Good bless you.
dave sturdy // May 22, 2007 at 3:19 am
Thanks for last weeks podcast on loneliness in the Ministry. It is so true that been a pastor can be so lonely, also the pastors wife can be the loneliest person in the church. It was the first time I have listened to the podcast, and I found that this came at just the right time as I was about to speak on Hebrews13:5 on Sundat “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”
dave sturdy // May 22, 2007 at 4:36 am
Just listened to this weeks podcast “How To Maintain Your Joy”. What you are providing is extremely beneficial for the encouragement and sanity of God’s ministers. I recently received the most savage personal criticism of myself and ministry, that left me feeling an utter failure, on the Sunday after this I broke down towards the end of my message along with my wife and daugther.
The reason we carry on as you say is because we believe we are called and chosen to be God’s messengers at this time in this place. Thanks to you Rick and to Bob and Mark. I love to know more about How to take a proper Sabbath rest, because there is so much none church stuff to get done we have to do this on our day off, if we don’t then we feel guilty for doing this none church stuff when we should be doing what we get paid to do. Part of the criticism that I spoke of earlier was that “You are not committed enough” and should be available 24×7 x365.
Rev. wycliffe Mboya // May 29, 2007 at 4:48 am
Dear Rick and Partners,
I have to confess that I cannot do it alone. Here in Kisumu-Kenya we need friends and colleagues who have the same burden like me to come for the plenty is many and more laborers needed urgently here in this city. How can one connect with me?,be my friend who can stand with me in the Ministry and who can come for crusades, teaching church leaders in Nyanza province and a partners in the gospel. please contact with me and I remain praying over the issue.
your in the Lords Vine yard,
rev. wycliffe mboya
kisumu hallelujah church
kisumu-Kenya
Ben Wilkins // June 6, 2007 at 9:06 am
I can’t say how much I needed to hear the one with Craig from Lifechurch.tv. I have been in a very lonely time in ministry through circumstances that I never thought would happen to me in the ministry (not immorality, etc). You have renewed my hope that i can fnd joy in the ministry again. Thanks again. I can’t remember all the times that Pastors.com has come through for me. You are a gift of God’s grace.