Coaching For Pastors - Daily Coaching, Encouragement, and Support for Pastors

Chuck Fenwick is the lead pastor at the New Haven United Methodist Church in New Haven IN. Chuck has served at this church for 12 years and has a lot of fun and practical ministry stuff to talk about! My favorite topics with him are his approach to sermon prep and delivery, and his philosophy regarding live-streaming versus pre-recorded weekend content. You will enjoy this and your imagination wil...

Are you ready to GO ALL IN??!! Yeah, me neither. I hate the hype of self improvement. I really do think the tortoise beats the hare in the race. In this episode I talk about the way we really live, as pastors. Plus, the context of this episode is that I have lost 65 pounds in the last 5+ months. That sounds like "all in" or "radical", but it's really been one disciplined d...

Jesus talks about how the Father wants us to produce fruit - fruit that will last. I often wonder, How much of what I am doing is going to stand the test of time? When our works are exposed to the test, how much of them will be wood, hay, and stubble, and how much of what we do will last for all eternity? I want to produce fruit that doesn't end up with the eBay people some day. And, spiritua...

We put a lot of importance on family, and often spend a ton of time catering to family needs. As ministry leaders we sometimes speak about that almost apologetically. Yet, when Jesus taught his disciples to talk to God, he insisted they address him as "father" - family. Many church growth experts insist our churches are organizations that need strategy, vision, and structure - and of cou...

Boy oh boy! Pastors like me need to hear this message! Communication is more about listening than speaking. I saw that message in a chapter title recently and this episode was immediately born in my heart. I have been, and need to continue, learning how to listen to my people. I am realizing how much that listening is connecting me to their lives, and connecting me to my messages in a different wa...

President Nixon infamously created an "Enemies" list, whereby he would punish those in the media and Administration that spoke poorly of him or his policies. These were the people he wanted blackballed, held at arm's length, prevented from obtaining interviews, etc. Sometimes we as pastors, with the best of intentions, can lose our way, and create our own pastoral "Enemies&quot...

Jonny Craig and I recorded with Ken Shigematsu, the author of God In My Everything - How An Ancient Rhythm Helps Busy People Enjoy God. As pastors, we are often harried and busy, and serving out of our scarcity of time and energy and passion. Ken talks with us about time he has spent in monasteries, learning from the monks the ancient rhythms of life, and how he has established his own "rule...

Jeff provides a little deeper dive into the best practices he talked about yesterday, also explaining the significance of taking the time and energy to keep yourself healthy, with margin, and a sane approach to your work. A great benefit we have today is that there is a tutorial video on YouTube for almost anything, and especially for ever app that's out there. Utilize that library of teachin...

Jeff shares some really practical ways to keep your sanity in ministry regarding your schedule and communication with, and availability to, people. We must care for ourselves or we won't be healthy enough to care for our people. Enjoy! Support the show For more great content and conversations for pastors, check out the over 400 episodes of the 200churches Podcast !

Nobody warned me about one of the most painful tasks of parenting. It hit me and my wife like a tidal wave! We were crushed. In that moment I had to assess whether or not my parenting had measured up, even to my minimum acceptable requirements. I hoped it had, but I wouldn't be sure for, not positive anyway, for years.  Today I talk about parenting in a pastor's family. Parenting before...

Jesus employed the best kept leadership secret, but he practiced it out in the open. I'm saying it's a secret, but you won't be surprised by it... but, you BETTER be impressed with it! It is quite impressive. Jesus was who he said he was, the Son of God, and God the Son. He led with impeccable precision and unwavering aplomb. His secret is something we can work on in our own leaders...

The spiritual life of a pastor - requires a healthy dose of humility! Humility comes in all shapes and sizes - and Jeff talks about humility today. Humility comes from talking to both the rich and the poor - and noticing the people who are right in front of us... Jeff explains. Enjoy! Register Today for the Coaching For Pastors Live An Extraordinary Life Webinar Masterclass on August 16, 2022 at N...

Understanding how to lead people who, because of past trauma of varying degrees may unexpectedly react badly to our leadership, is an art, not a science.  In this Weekend Edition Jeff talks with Dave Jacobs about dealing with just those types of situations with people. Dave finishes the episode with a great offer for our listeners - don't miss it! Contact Dave through email at scpcoach@gmail....

Jeff gives an update on his second round of weight loss and healthy living in the past less than four years. After losing 80 pounds (2018-19), then gaining 90 pounds back (2020-21) - one could get discouraged! And he did. But listen today to his update on his second go around at it - this time with some wisdom and experience, and more commitment than ever to make it stick! If he can do it, then......

What do you get paid to do? What is a WIN for you at your church and in your ministry? What do you want to be true at the end of a month of work, or a quarter, or a year? Do you get paid to put in hours, or produce outcomes? Jeff asks some of these questions and then gives his thoughts on tracking hours as a pastor. Enjoy! Support the show For more great content and conversations for pastors, chec...

Hi Pastor! My kids are 34, 32, 29, and 24 - that's 119 parenting years my wife and I have shared in together! The other day I started to think about What is true about parenting relationships that stand the test of time? Today we have great relationships with all four of our children, praise God! In this episode I share 9 relationship qualities that have helped us build relationships that hav...

We hear it all the time - What's your why ? If you lose your why you'll lose your way . Begin with the why in mind. Then I was sitting at my desk and looked down and say the book by Simon Sinek, START WITH WHY. And I thought, yeah, I know my why. I know why I am a pastor, and why I think the way I do about church, people, and ministry. Do you? What drives you? What's your why? Jeff...

Jeff talks about the distinction between devotions and message prep. In the past he did not draw a huge distinction, and in fact encouraged combining them - but today he takes a little different direction. Enjoy! Support the show For more great content and conversations for pastors, check out the over 400 episodes of the 200churches Podcast !

Lee is a Pastor to pastors. Retired after more than 40 years of ministry, he is uncharacteristically open and transparent about his ministry years, his strengths and weaknesses, his victories and mistakes. You will find yourself realizing... "I'm not alone, or unusual! Lee has struggles just like I have." You can connect with Lee personally at LeeEclov.com , where you can find all t...

As we end this week's topic of PRIORITIES, Jeff thinks out loud about "How we prioritize the wise input of others into our lives?" Do we tap into the wisdom and knowledge of others, or are we the only ones filling our own tanks?  If we don't access the wisdom and understanding of others, the reservoir of our knowledge is going to dry up rather quickly! We must make it a priorit...

Today Jeff talks about prioritizing investments - not financial investments, but investing in other people. We can accomplish many tasks, build buildings and products, and grow organizations, but it will be our investments in people that will ultimately be our legacy. In episode 100 Jeff talks personally about the investments that he and his Dad made in each other, and a little about how that all...

Time is a non-renewable asset. Like sand through the hourglass, the time of our lives slips inexorably away, never to be seen again. The minute we waste we never get back.  We live in an inordinately time-conscious society - so how can we think about time, wisely, without stressing out over it? Jeff thinks out loud with you about time - do you really want to listen though? After all, it's 8 m...

We've all heard it before... if I don't prioritize my life, everyone else will do it for me - according to their own priorities.  But alas it is true! And it will happen EVERY time. Today Jeff talks about priorities as a pastor, and summertime is a good time to reconsider our schedule, priorities, and disciplines,.  This week is all about priorities - family, church, ministry, relationsh...

In this episode Jeff and Dave Bush wrap up the 7-episode series, Live An Extraordinary Life! Today's sixth commitment is Resolve To Achieve Your Goals . Thinking is not achieving, and the best intentions do absolutely nothing without follow-through. What does it take to actually bring a dream to reality? Jeff announces two important things in this episode: 1. August 16 - Jeff and Dave Bush ar...

In this episode I share a memory of the first time I got ONE of these! I'd never had one before, and I was thrilled to get it. I've since gotten hundreds of them, but you never forget your first one! Commitment #5 that Dave Bush talks to us about is Expand Your Perspective. We can never cease to learn and grow, and development ourselves as people, pastors, and leaders. If we are to ever...