My mom and dad have taught me a profound lesson on what faithfulness looks like. They celebrated 65 years of marriage before my dad’s recent passing and those years covered some very hard seasons. When I was younger, I fully expected my parents to get divorced eventually. Part of that stemmed from seeing that they didn’t spend much time together and I could often hear them fighting when they thought my brother and I were sleeping. The other reason I expected it was because most of the kids in my class were from one-parent homes. I can only recall two of my classmates whose parents were still together besides mine. When my parents did fight, I often wondered if this would be the time where they would walk away from each other.
http://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2019/04/ClergyCare-2018-300x100.png00Pauline Doerksenhttp://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2019/04/ClergyCare-2018-300x100.pngPauline Doerksen2021-07-05 22:00:122021-07-05 22:12:53What my parents taught me about faithfulness
“Just beyond the boundaries of our cities is a unique lifestyle of faith and family of those who have a special connection to the land on which they live.”
Tim Beadle knows of what he speaks. He has spent the last 15 years on the road, travelling this beautiful country of Canada, checking in on rural pastors. What started out as a job turned into a burning passion to understand not just rural ministry but the pastors that God has called to minister there.
http://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2019/04/ClergyCare-2018-300x100.png00Marshall Eizengahttp://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2019/04/ClergyCare-2018-300x100.pngMarshall Eizenga2021-05-04 23:52:022021-05-05 00:09:11In praise of rural pastors: Turning Over a New Leaf by Tim Beadle book review
When you spend four and a half years in one church and then 28 years in the next church, it is easy to think one hasn’t faced much transition. As I look back, I have to say, this isn’t the case.
http://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2019/04/ClergyCare-2018-300x100.png00Sam Doerksen and Marshall Eizengahttp://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2019/04/ClergyCare-2018-300x100.pngSam Doerksen and Marshall Eizenga2021-04-01 15:58:452021-04-01 16:05:21Reflections on transition in ministry
As I write this, a snowstorm is swirling outside, but in this time, it is not only the weather that keeps us isolated and, in many ways, disconnected. We know that many in society are suffering increased challenges to their mental health due to the restrictions related to COVID-19 – and clergy and ministry leaders are not immune to trials of the mind and spirit.
http://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2019/04/ClergyCare-2018-300x100.png00Bob Cheatleyhttp://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2019/04/ClergyCare-2018-300x100.pngBob Cheatley2021-03-03 23:13:052021-03-03 23:13:05How to endure in ministry without facing exhaustion
Pastors, we are certain that you are hearing many of the same stories we are hearing: the pandemic has been very hard on stressed marriages. Couples who had a good foundation have done quite well, some even reporting strengthened relationships from increased togetherness over the past 10 months or so, but those whose marriages were already distressed have found life even more challenging.
http://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2019/04/ClergyCare-2018-300x100.png00Wayne Reedhttp://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2019/04/ClergyCare-2018-300x100.pngWayne Reed2021-02-02 17:50:522021-02-02 17:50:52Insights for working with struggling couples
A couple of days ago, on two different occasions, trusted ministry partners shared with me that a significant portion of pastors in North America are discouraged, and even considering leaving pastoral ministry. I woke up this morning with this fact, or observation, on my mind and heart, and during morning devotions wondered if I could speak a word to any of you wrestling along such lines.
http://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2019/04/ClergyCare-2018-300x100.png00Darrell W. Johnsonhttp://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2019/04/ClergyCare-2018-300x100.pngDarrell W. Johnson2021-01-05 18:12:202021-01-05 18:34:25Don’t give up
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:3-6)
“If someone is getting in the way of you becoming the person God created you to be or is frustrating the work God has called you to do, for you that person is toxic.”
This quote is taken from Gary Thomas’ book When to Walk Away: Finding Freedom from Toxic People. He wrote this book to help the reader understand the impact of toxic people in their lives. He underscores this by adding, “This book is about protecting our mission from toxic attacks even more than it’s about protecting ourselves from toxic people.”
http://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2019/04/ClergyCare-2018-300x100.png00Marshall Eizengahttp://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2019/04/ClergyCare-2018-300x100.pngMarshall Eizenga2020-09-09 18:21:572020-09-09 18:21:57Book review: When to Walk Away: Finding Freedom from Toxic People by Gary Thomas
It’s been four years now since we got in our car and drove away from the city we loved and the church we had pastored for over 28 years. We moved to a new province, a new job and pretty much an entirely new life. The opportunities ahead were exciting. The future was bright. Everything on my “to-do” list had been checked off. The house was sold, the boxes were packed, the moving van was booked – I was ready to go. Or at least I thought I was ready.
Labouring to coax a stiff church to lean outward, seek renewal and step up in faith
Woman, pastor, wife and mom
Younger than all the board members and reminded of it, frequently
Life anxiety that just won’t end, even after prayer and a Bible verse
Taking up a pastorate in a congregation that “has history”
Serving, and suffering, under a bullying board or senior leader
It is quite likely that at least one, and perhaps several, of these situations sound familiar to you. Perhaps it was a time of life or ministry that was particularly challenging, stirring up an inner distress that you couldn’t shake. Perhaps it is that unwelcome, uninvited, but constant companion of anxiety that has long been part of your life.
http://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2019/04/ClergyCare-2018-300x100.png00Karin Gregoryhttp://clergycare.ca/app/uploads/2019/04/ClergyCare-2018-300x100.pngKarin Gregory2020-06-30 17:08:472020-06-30 17:08:47Anxiety and the pastor
