Category: Podcast

Podcast Ep 6: The Call of God, Recovered and Strengthened in Grief

13Oct

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS

What happens when someone close to you, who you committed to serve with, and together dedicated your life to follow Jesus, is no longer with you. Being a pastor, or being in any kind of ministry vocation is different than any other job, in that, it really takes both you and your spouse to do it well. This is why we often say that when a pastor is called into ministry, his wife is called too. A little personal disclosure here… When I was dating Elaine she knew I had committed my life to serve Jesus overseas, and she understood that a commitment to me would also mean a commitment to that. So do you know what she did? She broke up with me. Pretty mean, huh? But I am glad she did, because she needed to make sure this was a journey she could also travel. So two weeks later she concluded, “I know I can live with that guy, but I also know I can go with him anywhere and do what he does.” We got back together, and have been serving  together for 34 years. 

I’m excited to sit down today with Mark and Viviane Shady who will share how the call of God on their lives to serve him was not only recaptured in loss, but also strengthened as the gospel pushed its way past the grief and dominated their lives again. Mark and Viviane have been married for 14 years and together have five children. They currently serve as International Workers with the Christian and Missionary Alliance  in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and I was blessed to meet with them just one day before their return. They share with us what happens to that call in loss, and in grief.

Podcast Ep 5: Serving At The Top of Your Game by Not Going it Alone

07Oct

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS

All of us, whether in ministry or not, will find ourselves at times running out of steam. Fatigue, discouragement, lack of fruit and criticism can take any faithful servant and turn him into an ineffective slave to self-doubt and even quiet rebellion. We all need at times that preverbal kick in the pants to be reminded of who we are and who has called us to live the gospel of Jesus in a world that so desperately needs hope. Through a form of discipleship called Coaching, Dr. Reginald (Reggie) Screen loves seeing pastors fall out of their malaise and rush back in the field with vigor and passion. In this podcast we address how the gospel doesn’t just form us, but drive us to keep serving no matter how difficult it gets. Again, we want to bring courage and persecutive when serving gets hard. 

Reginald Screen shares his burden with the following statement:

My take is the culture has changed and pastors don’t know it. Most pastors are not missional. Don’t understand emotional intelligence, cultural intelligence and don’t understand their own “personal gospel. Mainly, my big issue is most pastors don’t understand what Jesus is measuring: disciples. There’s not a consensus of a definition of disciple, and the way that Jesus made a disciple has been for the most part lost. So, I train towards these realities and Coach towards theirs realities. It really is a big deal! 

Podcast Ep.3: Jesus Graciously Holds The Last Thread (part 2/3)

24Sep

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS

What happens when the gospel impacts a hurting marriage? Restoration happens.
Two people, committed to each other for over 28 years, now face the real prospect of shattered dreams. Yet, especially for Cheryl, the wedding vows meant something. And for Phil, the gospel, this sheer determination to make sure this life is lived for Jesus, at home and outside of the home, brought hope, and invited Jesus to come and bring the broken pieces back together again.

Podcast Ep 2: Can Your Ministry Be Healthy When Your Marriage is Not? (part 1/3)

22Sep

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS

The impulse is to say, no way! Your ministry can only be as strong as the pastor, or as strong as his family. Yet, over and over we see pastors struggle at home while leading seemingly healthy ministries.

Phil and Cheryl Hagar peel away the layers to reveal how at the core, the pastor will not get away by ignoring his family for a good ministry.

It will catch up with him as it did for Phil. Yet, God intervened and used the tragedy of a son’s diagnosis of cancer to bring about a revival in both in the home and in ministry.
READ MORE