Pastoring on Purpose

Dr. Jeff Sargent hosts this episode of Pastoring on Purpose, continuing his discussion with Dr. Tim Maness about topics explored in the book he is writing. This conversation focuses on the behaviors and struggles ministers experience that can make their role feel overwhelming, and ways ministers may better manage their time, emotions, and boundaries.

Dr. Jeffrey Sargent hosts this episode of Pastoring on Purpose, the official podcast of the Center for Ministerial Care. He has an intimate discussion with Dr. Tim Maness about his personal experiences as a child with parents suffering from the death of his brother, as a young minister facing disturbing circumstances, and as a counselor who now helps ministers identify and address the silent strug...

Dr. Tim Maness is joined by Melinda Maness and producer Ryan to talk about stress and anxiety are and how they are not always negative. They look at the difference between them, how they affect us, and what we can do to manage them in a healthy way.

Our booth is packed, the crowds are gone, and the final worship services have begun here at the Church of God General Assembly 2026. As we prepare for the trip home, we're proud to share our last mini-episode recorded here in Orlando. Dr. Tim Maness welcomes Francis Rodriquez to Pastoring on Purpose. Francis is a young man attending Lee University who has a powerful story of sacrificing his own in...

Dennis Laughlin is the lead pastor at Starkville Church of God in Mississippi. Dennis visited Pastoring on Purpose at the Church of God General Assembly 2026 to join Dr. Tim Maness and share his pastoral journey. He talks about his experience pastoring over the last 25 years, and gives insight into how he maintains healthy boundaries to protect his family relationships and his hobbies.

Shea Hughes is the Administrative Bishop for the Pennsylvania Church of God. Shea has written a book, Toy Soldiers, about his childhood trauma caused by his father's abandonment and his path to overcoming that past through God. Dr. Tim Maness and Dr. Jeff Sargent spent some time at the Church of God General Assembly 2026 talking to Shea about his experiences, the book, and how his past has shaped...

Lisia Malcolm Burnett visited the Ministerial Care team this week at the Church of God General Assembly 2026. Lisia is a wife, mother, church planter, and businesswoman serving on the Regional Youth board and the Evangelism and Church Plant board for Ontario/Eastern Canada. Lisia received counseling from Dr. Tim Maness and wanted to share her story of strength and recovery through our pastoral cou...

Dr. Jess Bradley is a psychologist and the wife of Ryan Bradley, student pastor at Lifeline Church of God in Princeton, West Virginia. She spent some time with Dr. Tim Maness at the Church of God General Assembly 2026, joining our podcast to talk about her research on the mental health of ministers and her hopes for utilizing that information to improve the lives of Church of God ministers everywh...

The Evangelist Joseph Richardson joined Dr. Tim Maness and Dr. Jeff Sargent at the Ministerial Care booth in the Church of God General Assembly 2026 exhibitor hall. Joseph is the youngest credentialed minister of all time in the Church of God. Joseph is 15, and joined our podcast to share his fire for the Lord and what it's like to be a young man in ministry.

Eighty-two-year-old author Sarah Glover stopped by the Ministerial Care booth at the Church of God General Assembly 2026 visit with Dr. Tim Maness and Dr. Jeff Sargent. They talk about Sarah's 42 years of youth ministry leadership and the trials and lessons she encountered along the way. Sarah is the author of Building a Youth Ministry and Well, I Declare, God, both available from Pathway Press.

Our next Pastoring on Purpose episode from the Church of God General Assembly 2026 exhibit hall features author Lesa Henderson. Lesa speaks with Dr. Tim Maness and Dr. Jeff Sargent about her son's childhood trauma and resultant addiction and how it affected her family. She shares the journey her family took helping him to recovery and also talks about her book, Armed & Victorious.

Our next mini-episode of Pastoring on Purpose, recorded live at the Church of God General Assembly 2026, featured Dr. Justin Walker. Justin is the new Dean of Theology and Ministry at Lee University. Dr. Tim Maness and Dr. Jeff Sargent get to know Justin, learn how his life as a PK shaped his journey, and gain insight into his perspectives on his role at Lee.

Continuing our podcasts recorded live from the Church of God General Assembly 2026 in Orlando, Dr. Tim Maness is joined by Bill Woodruff, Director of the Flourishing Congregations Project. PTS Flourish is based out of the Pentecostal Theological Seminary and is a grant-funded program offering conferences for church leaders and their congregations to help develop healthier churches through training...

Mitch Maloney was pastor of North Cleveland Church of God for more than two decades, and has been in ministry for over fifty years. He dropped by the Ministerial Care podcast to talk to Dr. Tim Maness and Dr. Jeff Sargent about how his experience raising two autistic children inspired his current project, Real Life Village, a live-in care facility in Cleveland, Tennessee, for individuals with inte...

Recorded live at the Church of God General Assembly 2026, Dr. Tim Maness and Dr. Jeff Sargent speak with Dr. Mark Taylor. Mark is the Ministerial Care Director for the California/Nevada Church of God, and is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. He is also the author of Beauty from the Ashes: Breaking Through the Pain Where Grace Will Sustain, a powerful and hope-filled resource for anyone w...

Dr. Phil Cook, the president of Lee University, visited Dr. Tim Maness and Dr. Jeff Sargent in the exhibit hall at the Church of God General Assembly. They discussed Phil's experience as a student whose life was changed by (then) Lee College and how that influences him today in his current role as president. He also shared the vision Lee has, and how he is leading the university forward.

Dr. Tim Maness and Dr. Jeff Sargent welcome Dr. Giovy Sanders to Pastoring on Purpose, live from the Church of God General Assembly. Inspired by her own experience as a pastor's wife, Giovy's doctoral research was on the mental health referral practices of clergy in the Church of God. Her research revealed a critical gap in how ministry leaders are equipped to recognize emotional and mental health...

Terre Haute Church of God Senior Pastor Bishop Dennis Sanders stopped by the Ministerial Care booth at Church of God General Assembly. On this episode, Dennis tells Dr. Tim Maness his story of dealing with pride, divorce, and remarriage as a visible church leader. From his ex-wife's infidelity to his own decision to not get counseling during difficult times, to the challenges of carrying baggage i...

Recording live from the Center for Ministerial Care booth in the exhibit hall of General Assembly 2026, this episode of our official podcast finds Dr. Tim Maness and Dr. Jeffrey Sargent welcoming David Gosnell. David is the General Director of Church of God Publications. He's brought by a selection of new books that are available on the Pathway Press Bookstore website (and in their store here at G...

In our first episode live from the exhibit hall at the Church of God International General Assembly 2026 in Orlando, Florida, Dr. Tim Maness and Producer Ryan are joined by Biji Abraham. Biji and her two siblings own AVM Enterprises, a hospitality supply service company her father founded. She shares the story of her father's love and his lifelong dedication to the church, as well as how she and h...

Dr. Tim Maness and the Center for Ministerial Care team are heading to the Church of God General Assembly 2026 in Orlando! He's joined by Producer Ryan to talk about what Ministerial Care has in store for the event. We'll be recording live podcasts all week, handing out some fun swag, and sharing information about our professional mental health counseling and our retired minister program, SpiritCa...

Dr. Tim Maness is joined by Producer Ryan and their guest, Tara Sarpe. As church leaders, Tara and her husband Justin are highly-visible parents of a special needs child, and she joins the show to share her story of the challenges and opportunities associated with that role. Through their experiences, Tara and Justin help train churches to effectively minister to families of children with special...

Dr. Tim Maness and Dr. Jeffrey Sargent are joined by Brian and Cathy Yaun to talk about families serving the church, transitioning between various church positions, and the importance of healthy communication amongst families. Brian is the International Youth and Discipleship Director, and Cathy is the International Girls Ministries Coordinator for the Church of God.

Pastoring on Purpose presents a special episode on women's health, specifically focusing on the topic of menopause and its symptoms, effects, and treatments. Producer Ryan is joined by Ministerial Care team members Melinda Maness and Lisa Jones as they welcome family nurse practitioner Stacy Flowers to provide informed clinical insight into the topic. Please note that this episode is a respectful...

Don't wake up on the wrong side of the internet! On episode 2 of our Social Media focus, Dr. Tim Maness continues his look at how social media can affect our lives in this episode of Pastoring on Purpose. Producer Ryan joins him for this discussion and also shares a few ways social media is good for us!