The Visitor: Dealing with Depression as a Pastor's Wife
The Visitor: Dealing with Depression as a Pastor's Wife

It has come to call upon me yet again. The old, familiar visitor who decides to drop in for a visit. It would be nice if she would call to see if she is welcome before she shows up at the door, but she doesn’t. Then again, depression has never been a kind visitor, never thoughtful, never asking if this may be a good time for me to have her visit. How long will she stay this time? Just today? A week, a whole month? What if she never leaves? That is always the fear. That she is going to permanently move in, and yet history tells me that she will eventually leave.

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The Pastor's Family, The Pastor's Wife, Soul CareSean CorserDepression, Anxiety Comment
Seven years later…remembering my dear friend and pastoral mentor
Seven years later…remembering my dear friend and pastoral mentor

In light of this seven year anniversary, it has been helpful to revisit several of these posts I wrote to honor Jackson and in doing so, honor the Savior he so faithfully served while here. I re-read them with the hopes to strive to be as faithful as he was. I have been freshly reminded of the sovereign God Jackson preached so tirelessly that continues to give me hope as I still feel this loss.

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The Pastor's Soul, Preaching, Oversight of SoulsBrian CroftOversight of Souls, Preaching, Training for MinistryComment
Five Reasons you Should Want a Declining Church
Five Reasons you Should Want a Declining Church

As I have watched our church through the cycle of growth, plateau, and decline several times in the last 15 years, I have learned there are some good, healthy, and exciting ways God shows to be at work in a church even through decline.  I want to challenge this common way to evaluate local churches with 5 reasons we want a church decline that demonstrates health and life, not dysfunction and death.

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The Pastor's Ministry, Church RevitalizationBrian CroftDeclining church, Church RevitalizationComment
Why should a pastor listen to the criticisms of older members about his preaching?
Why should a pastor listen to the criticisms of older members about his preaching?

In the tough, early years of my ministry, I thought I was the patient one. I was enduring through the criticisms, judgments, and actions to remove me. As the years have passed, I have realized that it was the other way around. These faithful saints, wounded by previous pastors for decades, were being patient with me.

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Preaching, The Pastor's Ministry, The Pastor's SoulSean CorserPreaching, Church Revitalization, Pastoral Ministry, Older membersComment
Lessons from the Broken Road
Lessons from the Broken Road

I started along a broken and bumpy road on January 28. Frankly, I knew this road was on the horizon but never wanted to travel there. It came with a phone call. The voice was calm but the words came like an avalanche, throwing me into a state of shock and despair. My oldest daughter was dead. Her struggle with drug addiction, that had robbed her of so much, had taken her life. The news took my breath away.

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The Pastor's Soul, Home and FamilySean CorserComment
How does a pastor know when to make changes in his church?
How does a pastor know when to make changes in his church?

What is wise counsel before making changes in your church?“Preach the Word, sacrificially love those people, and do not change anything for a while.” That is the foundation, building form that I ask 3 questions for you to ask yourself as you move to bring the change that is needed and how to do so with discernment and wisdom.

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Church Revitalization, The Pastor's MinistrySean CorserTiming, Wisdom, Leadership Comment
How long should I preach?
How long should I preach?

I find many pastors, especially younger ones, are regularly wrestling with the question “how long should I preach?”. The pressure to answer this can be self-imposed, or forced by those in your church who complain your sermons are too long. Think like a shepherd as you determine the length of your sermons.  Push them to grow.  Nurture them where they are now.  Then, trust that God will use his word and your efforts to find that balance every pastor should seek.

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Preaching, The Pastor's MinistryBrian CroftComment
What are 10 things that might help a pastor and his wife stay married and in ministry?
What are 10 things that might help a pastor and his wife stay married and in ministry?

Marriage is hard enough, but add ministry into the mix and you have a recipe for a potential mess.  My work with pastors and their families cause me to see a lot of the messiness that exists in pastors’ homes.  There’s plenty of the same mess in my own home.  The combined stress of marriage in ministry is a unique situation that demands an intentionality to keep a marriage or ministry from imploding.

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Home and Family, The Pastor's Family, The Pastor's WifeSean CorserHome and Family, The Pastor's Family, Marriage Comment
How do you respond to encouraging words about your sermon?
How do you respond to encouraging words about your sermon?

“Great job…good sermon…that really spoke to me.”  The list of phrases a pastor may hear as church members exit the church goes on.  Inevitably, whether the sermon was good or not, these quick comments will be spoken to us with varying levels of sincerity and it is important that we know how to respond in a God-honoring way. Here are 4 suggestions.

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Preaching, The Pastor's MinistrySean CorserThank You Comments
Why did I take the whole month of July off from all ministry?
Why did I take the whole month of July off from all ministry?

The rigors of tri-vocational ministry had left me deeply weary with a fatigue that I realized would not be remedied by a few days off. I needed to step away completely for the purpose of rest and a needed “gut check” in several areas of my life. I took the entire month of July off.  Unplugged from all ministry, including all social media.

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Home and Family, Soul Care, The Pastor's Soul, The Pastor's MinistrySean CorserComment