Ministry Without Hating It

"Ministry is never done, and I will disappoint people." In this candid conversation, Pastor and Leadership Coach Trey Abney, unpacks what it means and looks like practically to live and lead with an inner peace that is not influenced or effected by the uncertainty, the expectations or the drama that exists outside of you.

Guest Bio:
Trey Abney serves as the Senior Pastor of EQUIP Church. Trey is energized through life-coaching, teaching leadership, encouraging hurting pastors, and enabling church teams to regain ministry vision. He utilizes the Emotionally Healthy Leadership material to promote both personal and spiritual health. In addition, Trey is an adjunct professor at Life Pacific University.

Trey is married to Gretchen Abney and they have three young-adult children, Christian, Colin, and Caroline. Trey has served in ministry for over 25 years as a Church Planter, Inner-City Missionary, District Council member, District Elder and Regional leader in the Foursquare Church. His passion is for people to continually grow in their revelation of God’s grace, while understanding their God-given design and purpose. Trey graduated from Lee University with a B.A. in Bible and Theology and from Pentecostal Theological Seminary with a M.Div. His hobbies include fishing, cycling, watching Duke Basketball and University of Georgia Football.

You can connect with Trey further at www.equipchurch.online

Resources Highlighted in this Interview: 

• Lion of War Series by Cliff Graham
• Lead Yourself First by Raymond M. Kethledge & Michael S. Erwin 

Episode Credits:
Audio Engineer & Editing by Brenton Hill
Produced by Chad Garrison

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Ministry is tough, but it can be even tougher on the ministry leader's kids. In our Season Two Premiere, we sit down for a candid conversation with three PK's (Pastor's Kids), two of them adults, one still a "kid", and unpack the highs, lows and burdens the children of ministry leaders experience that most people aren't aware of.

Guest Bios:
Jeniffer Burch graduated from Capri Cosmetology College in 1999 with a degree in Cosmetology Arts and Sciences, she was a Master Stylist and a Color Specialist. Jen has been the Hospitality Coordinator since 2010. Also has served in NextGen Ministries since 1998. For the past two years she has been the Church Administrator at Springs of Life.   She has been married to Brian Burch since 2001, they have  three wonderful children together.   

Jeniffer has a passion for people to see and use their God given gifts, talents and use them for His glory. She has a deep understanding of  how we need the whole body of Christ to come together to serve the church and the community.

TJ Burget currently resides in Rochester, MN serving as the worship and youth director of Word of Grace Church. TJ is married to Amanda, and has 41 years of being a pastor kid where he has developed a heart for kids whose parents are involved in some type of ministry. Between his time as a husband, pastor and being out on the golf course, TJ runs a non-profit organization that helps facilitate the building of schools in third world countries. He has a passion to see young adults, teenagers, and kids become everything that God has created and designed them to be.

Addi Garrison is 13 years old, is daughter of Pastors Chad & Lindsay, loves Jesus, creative arts, serving kids ministry, and lives in Cedar Rapids, IA. 

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For our Season One Finale, we join forces with Fred Schmitt and Drew Dodd, ministry leaders and also hosts of The Next Forty Podcast, for a crossover interview about creating community in the digital space, chicken sandwiches, Britney Spears and coming to a place of owning your story--the good, the bad and also the ridiculous.

As they say on their podcast, “it’s sometimes funny, sometimes serious, but always good”. We think you'll walk away from this one entertained and encouraged in your own ministry story.

Check Out The Next Forty Podcast and Connect Further Here!
We’ll see you for Season Two in January 2023!

Guest Bios:
Fred Schmitt has spent the last 18 years doing Youth Ministry in a local church. Fred has recruited and equipped teams of volunteers to be on the front lines of student ministry. Fred has led initiatives to resource parents to actively participate in the spiritual growth of their students, and collaborated with other staff members and elders on projects that impact the entire ministry of the church. He now serves as Pastoral Care Minister in a role where he is working to create a culture of care in his community and congregation.

Fred graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biblical Studies/Youth Ministry from Cincinnati Christian University and a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Leadership. He is also a Certified Youth Ministry Coach through the National Association of Youth Ministry. Fred is married to Erin for 17 years and has two children: Eliana and Everett.

Drew Dodd has been in ministry for the last 19 years. 15 of those were spent in student ministry with a couple of stints as a worship minister as well. Currently he is a Discipleship Minister who oversees Small Groups, Growth Class, and Micro Groups. He's been married to Emily for 18 years and has two daughters, Chloe and Samantha.

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Why do we do what we do? When the challenges of ministry come, and they will, remembering the answer to this question is crucial to being able to walk through the challenges well.

Our guest for this episode is Pastor Jim McGuire, who has served as a Hospice Chaplain for over 22 years. In our discussion Jim shares the "pillars" of living well he has learned that were taught to him by those who were dying. It's a candid and practical conversation on how we can love the ministry we serve by keeping our perspective properly focused. 

Click Here to get Jim's book  referenced in this episode, STAY: Four Pillars for Living Life and Finishing Well

Guest Bio:
Rev. Jim McGuire serves as a hospice chaplain at Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care in Joliet, Illinois. Jim graduated from Mt. Vernon Bible College (Ohio) in 1987 with a B.A. in Theology and from Lincoln Christian University (Illinois) in 1998 with a M.A. in New Testament. During his 22 years of hospice chaplaincy, he has visited and ministered to well over 5,000 individuals who have faced a terminal diagnosis. Through compassionate and competent care, he has helped each individual and their loved ones navigate one of life’s most stressful and emotional experiences. 

In 2019 Jim released his book, STAY: Four Pillars for Living Life and Finishing Well, in which he offers four practical life-lessons we can learn about living as taught by those who are dying. In 2021 he released the same book in the Spanish language under the title, Permanecer: Cuatro Pilares para Vivir la Vida Y Finalizar Bien, with the hope of reaching an often, under-resourced population. As an extension of his chaplaincy work Jim has officiated at hundreds of funeral services always with the goal of providing comfort and hope.

Throughout his 35 years as a licensed and ordained Foursquare minister he has served several congregations in a variety of responsibilities including youth pastor, associate pastor, senior interim, and church planter. Additionally, Jim has previously served as the national Hospice Coordinator for Foursquare Chaplains International (FCI) as well as numerous state and regional ministry assignments. Jim has chaplain ecclesiastical endorsement through FCI. He continues to speak to civic groups and churches.

Feel free to contact Jim as he is a resource of encouragement, education, and support. You can reach Jim at [email protected].

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Most ministry leaders will say have some sense of "calling" they can point to for being in the ministry they are serving. But in pursuing wholeness, leaders need to go beyond, or beneath their call and consider less holy reasons for going into ministry.

In this episode pastor and licensed therapist, Lindsay Garrison, addresses the root of many insecurities that ministry leaders wrestle with, and shares how she has learned to move beyond self-loathing and embrace her true calling.

Guest Bio:
Lindsay Garrison graduated from the University of Nevada Las Vegas in 2006 with a M.S. degree in Counseling and is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Lindsay also serves as a Pastor at Springs of Life in Cedar Rapids, IA as a Pastoral Counselor & in Leader Care capacities. Lindsay has been married to her husband, Chad, since 2004 and shares three amazing kids.

Lindsay's passion is working with individuals and couples in ministry leadership, helping them to overcome many of life’s challenges and discovering truth as it pertains to their singleness or partnership, their identities and calling.

If you'd like to connect further with Lindsay, you can visit odysseyhaven.com or email her at [email protected]. 

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If there was ever a word that accurately sums up what is needed to be a ministry leader, "Grit" does it well. 

Ministry is not something for the thin-skinned or weak of heart. It requires courage, resolve and strength of character in the face of adversity--otherwise known as, Grit. In this episode, seasoned Pastor and Leader, Loren Houltberg, shares key practices that have helped him foster resiliency in his 40+ years of pastoral ministry.

Guest Bio:
Loren and Erie Houltberg were pastors of Emmanuel Foursquare Church from 1980-2020. Loren has Masters degree from Friends University in Wichita Kansas and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological seminary in Pasadena, California. The Houltbergs have four children and seven grandchildren. Loren is a regional pastor for the Foursquare church and a college professor.

Click Here to get Loren's book referenced in the episode, Pastoral Grit: Key Practices for Resiliency in Ministry

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Taking the reins of leadership in ministry, especially when it's for the first time, can be quite a challenge. Is it possible in the midst of the messiness of starting a new ministry leadership assignment to stay sane?

In this episode, we sit down with Pastor Gary Roca to debrief with him on completing his first year of leading as a Senior Pastor, for the first time for him in ministry. Through the highs, lows and navigating church cultural changes, Gary has learned some profound lessons, in a short amount of time, that ministry leaders of all types will find applicable.

Guest Bio:
Gary Roca grew up in Las Vegas and pursued the call of ministry the Lord placed on his heart while attending a summer camp. He has been leading in the local church for over 10 years as a worship leader, NextGen pastor, associate pastor, and campus pastor. Gary and his wife, Bethany, have been leading NextGen camps for the past 5 years. He recently became the senior pastor of the Genoa Foursquare Church in northern Illinois. Gary and Bethany have 3 wonderful little girls who love knowing and serving people!

If you'd like to connect further with Gary, you can do so by clicking here.

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In ministry, you will inevitably encounter conflict, and ultimately your ministry will be evaluated by how you deal with conflict.

In this episode, Dr. Daniel Mundt, National Coach for the Foursquare Church, shares the leadership lessons and wisdom he's gained through conflict, confrontation and criticism within ministry. Using practical examples from his own ministry journey, Dan shares what it actually looks like to be a peacemaker--even with jerks.

Guest Bio:
Daniel Mundt serves as a National Coach for The Foursquare Church. Before accepting the role of coach in 2021, Daniel served as the Heartland District Supervisor. The Heartland District is made up of six Midwest states. Those states include Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana. Daniel’s main responsibilities in the Heartland District, is to develop leaders and multiply and transform churches. Likewise, Daniel has served as on boards and committees, as a lead pastor, church planter, and support roles within the Foursquare Church. 

Daniel graduated from Mt. Vernon Bible College (Ohio) in 1986 with a B.A. in Theology and completed a master’s degree in Strategic Leadership in 2015 (California). Daniel received a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership (DSL) from Regent University (Virginia) in May 2020. 

Daniel & Cindy have been married for 40 years and have been in Ministry Leadership together for 34 of those years. They are the proud parents of Joshua  and Rebecca. In December 2020, their daughter and son-in-law Erick gave them their first grandchild – Indie June Recinos.

If you'd like to connect further with Dan, you can email him at [email protected] or [email protected] or via Instagram: @danmundt

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The only thing that's constant, is change. Yet most people don't like (or possibly HATE?) it at all. This holds true especially in ministry, and more often then we want to admit, our leadership within our ministries.

In this episode, Billy Holden, Lead Pastor of Innovation Church in Lafayette, IN discusses how he has learned to be fueled by change, whether it be expected or unexpected, and seeing these moments as opportunities to innovate.

Guest Bio:
Billy has has served in ministry leadership for 20 years. Billy and his wife Mandy planted Innovation Church in Lafayette, IN in 2010. They have a total of 5 kids, 2 (twins) of which they adopted out of foster care. They have a huge heart for their community and serve local foster families through fostering, hosting foster agencies and through a foster closet ministry!

If you'd like to connect further with Billy, you can visit their church's website at innovationchurch.cc, or via email at: [email protected]

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Ministry is not meant to be done apart from your relationships. When agreement between ministry couples is missing, the shared ministry will suffer and the relationship is headed for trouble.

In this episode, Pastors and Church Planters, Justin & Janae Klatt, unpack the unique dynamic of Co-leading in ministry. Through sharing about their church planting journey, the Klatt's discuss how they've learned to lead together, and still like each other at the end of the day.

Guest Bio:
Justin & Janae live in Gilbert, AZ with their 2 daughters ZoëJane (13) and MacCallum Hope (9). After 20+ years of serving and pastoring within the local church, Justin and Janae began the journey of lead pastoring. Over 4 years ago they co-founded Imagine Church Global, a collective of digital communities from around the globe. In their free time, you can find Justin off roading in his Jeep and Janae sipping an iced cortado while shopping at target.

If you'd like to connect further with them, you can visit their church's website at imagine.church, or via email at [email protected], or [email protected]

Connect With Ministry w/o Hating It:
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Thanks for listening! If this podcast is a helpful resource to you, please consider subscribing, leaving a review and sharing it with others.