The Morning After Ministry Show

Summer ministry is in full swing, and apparently so is summer travel. Andrew got back from celebrating his parents' 50th anniversary on a cruise, where he managed to lose his wedding ring, just in time to officiate a funeral, preach on Sunday, and help examine and ordain Tim later that evening. No easing back into the schedule around here. Congratulations are in order for Tim, who was official...

It’s a week of transitions as both Lakeview and Safety Harbor are saying goodbye to staff members. We talk about the often-overlooked art of offboarding well, celebrating people for their service, blessing them on their way out, and remembering that healthy ministry includes healthy endings. Tim had one of those marathon ministry Sundays that remind you why pastors sleep on Mondays. Three services...

After a few weeks off, we’re finally back behind the microphones and there’s plenty to catch up on. Tim can officially talk about Lakeview hiring a new associate pastor, including what the search process was like and the surprisingly difficult reality of calling candidates to tell them they finished second. Pastoral ministry apparently now includes HR, recruiting, and emotionally complicated phone...

Andrew hit a major setback in his fitness journey this week… his Xbox died. Which means treadmill time now involves actual exercise instead of casually walking through a video game storyline. Prayers are appreciated during this difficult season. Tim followed his new sermon pregame schedule this Sunday and felt like a new man, which apparently means hydration, pacing, and not sprinting emotionally...

Tim was back in the saddle preaching all three services for the first time in almost a month… and felt every minute of it. Exhaustion set in, but Chat came through with some practical tips to help keep the energy up from first service to last. Turns out preaching stamina might be a spiritual gift, but it also helps to pace yourself. Andrew officially wrapped up a 32-week journey through the Gospel...

Last night we went on a triple date with another ministry family. Nothing says “healthy pastors” like coordinated schedules and someone actually making the reservation. Tim didn’t preach this Sunday (thanks, Frank), but still showed up for all three services and handled baptisms after the third. So technically a lighter load, but also not really. Andrew took a unique turn in his John series, backt...

Lakeview had a huge Sunday, their biggest non-holiday attendance ever, which is the kind of problem every pastor is happy to have. They are also heading into Holy Week meeting under a giant tent so more people can be together, because apparently regular church logistics were just not challenging enough. At Safety Harbor, we welcomed new members, including one person who had only been to church one...

It’s spring break in Central Florida, which usually means smaller crowds at church. That was the prediction anyway. Turns out the prediction was very wrong. Andrew had a missions presentation from a ministry he really respects and supports. The only problem was the presenters themselves might be the most boring missionaries ever assembled. Faithful? Yes. Compelling communicators? Debatable. Tim sk...

Spring Forward Sunday showed no mercy this year. Losing that hour hit everyone a little harder than expected. Andrew bumbled his way through week 26 of preaching through the Gospel of John and somehow made it to the closing prayer. Twenty six weeks in and still going strong… or at least still going. Frank had a big week on the church planting front. Cross & Crown officially has a storage unit...

This week, Andrew got a great question from a newer attendee who grew up Episcopalian and wanted to understand the difference between what they were used to and what they’re hearing now. So we talk preaching styles, liturgy, structure, and why some sermons feel like a written prayer while others feel like a guided tour through the text with a few side roads along the way. Tim is deep in the middle...

It’s just Andrew and Tim this week. Andrew spent the last several days at a denominational conference in Chicago. It was cold, a little discouraging, and spiritually character building in the way only winter and long meetings can be. Thankfully, church on Sunday reminded him why we do this in the first place. Back at Safety Harbor, it was too cold for anyone to sit outside, which somehow led to a...

Andrew is recording from Chicago this week, in town for a denominational conference and surviving winter one session at a time. Frank hosted a Cross & Crown launch party at a local coffee shop, proving once again that church planting runs just as much on caffeine as it does on faith. Back at Lakeview, Tim officially unveiled the new site plan to the congregation, complete with vision, anticipa...

Tim is grieving. The Jags lost, and we are all choosing to respect the process. Andrew is still faithfully preaching through the Gospel of John, now 20 weeks in and only 10 chapters down. At this rate, we’ll finish sometime around the second coming, but no one is rushing perfection. Frank, on the other hand, had a big week. Cross and Crown hosted an official event and over 400 people showed up, wh...

It’s just Andrew and Frank to kick off the new year, which means fewer voices and even less structure. Andrew spent the break in Arkansas, proving once again that Christmas travel builds character… or at least patience. Frank preached at a local church in that strange, timeless week between Christmas and New Year’s, then jumped right back in yesterday by launching a brand-new vision series at Lake...

It was a busy week all around! Frank took the pulpit at Lakeview, proving once again that he can preach and keep everyone awake. Tim decided to skip church altogether (don’t worry, he calls it “Sabbath”), and Andrew crashed Lakeview’s staff meeting like the uninvited intern he never was. Over at Safety Harbor, there’s a new interim worship leader holding things down for a couple of weeks—because n...

Thanksgiving week came and went, and Advent is officially underway! Lakeview kicked things off with their annual Advent Social, where the Larsen family lit the first candle of the season—hope, joy, and maybe just a little chaos. Speaking of chaos, Tim managed to literally take out his brother-in-law at the annual Turkey Bowl, proving that family football is still a full-contact sport. Meanwhile, A...

It was a global week for the Morning After crew! Tim and Frank headed west to Arizona for a ministry conference, while Andrew crossed the Atlantic for a class in Belfast and even snuck in a Sunday visit to a church in London. Back home, Lakeview literally had turkeys at church, while Safety Harbor hosted their annual Dinner of Thanks and ate turkey instead. So whether you were flying over the pond...

All three of us are packing our bags this week! Andrew is heading across the pond to the UKfor a class through Dallas Seminary, while Tim and Frank are jetting off to Arizona for a ministry leaders’ conference; nothing says “rest for the weary” like hotel coffee and breakout sessions. This past weekend, Frank was preaching at Lakeview while Tim was in Jacksonville serving as best man at a wedding...

It was another wild weekend in ministry. Tim had a 10 a.m. wedding followed by a brunch reception, because nothing says “I do” like French toast and mimosas before noon. Frank hosted the very first launch meeting for Cross & Crown , and yes, both Andrew and Tim were there to cheer him on (and to eat the snacks, obviously). Meanwhile, Andrew’s family got stuck in a classic Disney downpour, prov...

We were off last week, Tim took a trip up to Jacksonville, Frank hit Disney, and Andrew apparently got “caught” visiting someone in a nursing home. Frank preached at Lakeview this Sunday and is somehow taking half the church with him to plant Cross & Crown . It’s not a split, it’s a strategic expansion. It’s Episode 306 of The Morning After Ministry Show , where we unpack Sundays, laugh at Mon...

Well, the cops showed up. Not because of Frank’s two-week fundraising road trip, though that could’ve been a possibility. Not because Andrew said something odd from the pulpit (though, again, possible). No, this week we’re navigating Florida’s brand-new open carry law as churches, and it turns out that sometimes ministry intersects with law enforcement in ways you don’t expect. Frank is back from...

Frank is still out on his grand road trip adventure, racing funds for the new church plant. Meanwhile, Tim has been running full throttle without him in Lakeview Land. This week was packed full of architect meetings, pre-marital counseling, and baby dedications—pretty much the pastoral trifecta. Andrew’s office is a whole lot brighter these days, and at Safety Harbor, the kids are leading a mini r...

What happens when Lakeview schedules a night of worship during the most anticipated football game of the early season? Let’s just say there was more prayer than passing yards.  Meanwhile, Andrew took a post-church field trip straight to the hospital last Sunday. Still no idea what’s wrong with him, but the doctors are ruling out “too many donuts at fellowship hour.” Our churches handled the events...

It was a wild week in ministry life! Andrew recapped Safety Harbor’s Back to School Pool Party —because nothing says “fall kickoff” like sunscreen and cannonballs. Over at Lakeview, Frank somehow worked “man nipples” into his sermon (yep, you read that right) and also got the unique experience of playing campus pastor for the day. We laughed, we cringed, and we reminded ourselves that God’s grace...

This week on the Morning After Ministry Show , Lakeview is knee-deep in their Misquoted Passages series, unpacking verses we’ve all heard taken out of context. Over at Safety Harbor, we’re two weeks into our fall series that will carry us all the way to Advent. We’re also in the thick of new members classes, mapping out some big events on the calendar, and feeling the full weight (and excitement)...