When the Wounds from Ministry Cut Deep
When the Wounds from Ministry Cut Deep By: Michael J. Decker, M.Min. There are wounds that hurt because of what happened, and then there are wounds that hurt because of who they came from. Some of the deepest wounds a person can experience in ministr…
Read Article →When the Calling Isn't Theirs: Raising Children in Ministry
When the Calling Isn't Theirs: Raising Children in Ministry By: Michael J. Decker, M.Min. There is something every Pastor and ministry leader should periodicall…
Passing the Baton: Supporting Healthy Transitions in Ministry
Passing the Baton: Supporting Healthy Transitions in Ministry By: Michael J. Decker, M.Min. There are few moments in the life of a church more significant than …
When Jealousy Enters the Ministry: Walking in Grace When Others Resent You
When Jealousy Enters the Ministry: Walking in Grace When Others Resent You By: Michael J. Decker, M.Min. Ministry is one of the greatest privileges a person can…
When the Season Changes: Knowing When to Step Away
When the Season Changes: Knowing When to Step Away By: Michael J. Decker, M.Min. There are seasons in ministry that we enter with great excitement and anticipat…
Why Continuing Education Is Essential for Every Ministry Leader
Why Continuing Education Is Essential for Every Ministry Leader By: Michael J. Decker, M.Min One of the greatest misconceptions in ministry is the belief that e…
Living a Life of Leaven
Living a Life of Leaven By: Michael J. Decker, M.Min. "Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?" - 1 Corinthians …
Dealing with Criticism: Learning to Stand When the Stones Begin to Fly
Dealing with Criticism: Learning to Stand When the Stones Begin to Fly By: Michael J. Decker, M.Min. There are very few certainties in ministry, but one of them…
Healthy Boundaries in Ministry: Loving People Without Losing Yourself
Healthy Boundaries in Ministry: Loving People Without Losing Yourself By: Michael J. Decker, M.Min. There is perhaps no profession, no calling, and no assignmen…
The Necessity of Mentorship in Ministry: Learning from Those Ahead of You and Investing in Those Behind You
The Necessity of Mentorship in Ministry: Learning from Those Ahead of You and Investing in Those Behind You By: Michael J. Decker, M.Min. One of the greatest gi…
Burnout in Ministry
Burnout in Ministry By: Michael J. Decker, M.Min. There are few callings as rewarding as ministry. There are also few callings as demanding. Ministry has a way …
Leading Well Through Conflict: A Pastor’s Calling to Shepherd in Difficult Seasons
Leading Well Through Conflict: A Pastor’s Calling to Shepherd in Difficult Seasons By: Michael J. Decker, M.Min. Few realities shape a pastor’s ministry more pr…
After the Final Sermon: Preparing for Retirement
After the Final Sermon: Preparing for Retirement By: Michael J. Decker, M.Min. For many ministers, retirement is one of the least discussed seasons of life. It …
The Bi-vocational Minister’s Battle for Balance
The Bi-Vocational Minister’s Battle for Balance By: Michael J. Decker, M.Min. Ministry has a way of consuming every available space in your life if you let it. …
Keeping Romance Alive While in Ministry
Keeping Romance Alive While in Ministry By: Michael J. Decker, M.Min. There are very few callings in life that are more demanding and time consuming than minist…
Don’t Sacrifice Your Family on the Altar of Ministry
Don’t Sacrifice Your Family on the Altar of Ministry By: Michael J. Decker, M.Min. There is a danger from ministry that does not announce itself loudly. It does…
Who You Are Matters More Than How You Shine
Who You Are Matters More Than How You Shine By: Michael J. Decker, M.Min. In a culture captivated by influence, platforms, and personality, it’s easy to confuse…
When Familiarity Erodes Authority
When Familiarity Erodes Authority By: Michael J. Decker, M.Min. Leadership in ministry carries a unique tension: it requires deep relational connection while si…
You’re More Than Your Ministry: Why You Need a Hobby
You’re More Than Your Ministry: Why You Need a Hobby By: Michael J. Decker, M.Min. Ministry has a way of filling every available space in your life. Not always …
Guarding Your Mental Health and Rest in Bi-Vocational Ministry
Guarding Your Mental Health and Rest in Bi-Vocational Ministry By: Michael J. Decker, M.Min. There is a kind of exhaustion that doesn’t always announce itself l…