Pastoring on Purpose

This episode welcomes Joel Barron back to Pastoring on Purpose! Joel is the associate/worship pastor at Starkville Church of God in Starkville, Mississippi. He is the Director of Choral Activities at Choctaw County High School, and serves as a missionary with the Church of God World Missions. Joel shares his experience as a missionary in Germany dealing with the stress and anxiety that missionaries face, and his success receiving counseling from the Center for Ministerial Care.

Dr. Jerry Devane joins Dr. Tim Maness and Dr. Jeffrey Sargent to talk about vicarious trauma and its effects on early and first responders, such as emergency personel and ministers. Dr. Devane has served in emergency response his entire career, from performing CPR on Elvis Presley while in medical school to developing EMS processes for Bradley County Tennessee. He shares stories of his time in pre-hospital emergency care and discusses the self-care that can help individuals better cope with vicarious trauma.

The women of the Ministerial Care team – Lisa, Donna, and Melinda – join Producer Ryan to talk about their personal experiences regarding mental health. They also share some of the common myths and misconceptions that can pose a challenge to women struggling with stress, anxiety, and other mental health concerns.

Anxiety is a part of life we all share, but leaders experience anxiety in a variety of different ways. Dr. Tim Maness discusses anxiety and leadership in this episode, examining causes, effects, and management methods can help church leaders and those around them.

Have you ever found yourself unable to make a simple decision due to anxiety, exhaustion, or burnout? Decision fatigue is a real problem that many people experience when they are overworked or over-burdened with responsibilities. The Ministerial Care staff sits down to talk about this phenomenon and explore how you may be able to minimalize the causes and avoid or alleviate this stressful challenge!

Lee University senior Mary Steffy joins Dr. Tim Maness and Dr. Jeff Sargent on this episode of Pastoring on Purpose. Mary shares her experiences growing up as a pastor's kid (PK) and the challenges and benefits of being raised in the church. They discuss dealing with the expectations and pressures a PK faces as well as the opportunities and fun a pastor's kid enjoys.

Dr. Tim Maness is joined by Drs. Raymond and Lorna Burch to talk about the importance of healthy marriage and share insight and motivation to help others achieve success in their relationships. Raymond currently serves as an administrative bishop in New Jersey for the Church of God, and Lorna is an ordained minister serving as Women's Ministries Director for the New Jersey Church of God state executive office. Together, they have authored the book, Momentum in Marriage.

Pastoring on Purpose welcomes back Macey Jones. Macey is a junior at Lee University pursuing her degree in Theological and professional studies, with two minors – Christian Ministries and Psychology. Dr. Tim Maness and Dr. Jeff Sargent sit down with Macey to talk about the struggles and opportunities being navigated by young people in our churches today.

Dr. Tim Maness and Dr. Jeff Sargent are joined by Bishop T. Wayne Dority, D.D., who serves as the second assistant general overseer for the Church of God. Bishop Dority pastored for twenty-two years, giving him a special burden for clergy and churches, which he has used to encourage healthy behaviors and a focus on pastors' well-being. He shares his wisdom and experience, focusing on the dangers of feeling alone and the importance of Sabbaticals.