What happens when your theology of calling collides with your understanding of ownership in the church?

In this episode, Pastor Benji Van Fleet joins Tara Beth Leach and Mark Quanstrom from Abilene, Texas, to talk about his journey from architecture student to Methodist pastor, how cancer and heartbreak became catalysts for his call, and why he describes himself not as a shepherd—but a sheepdog.

🎙️ In This Episode:

• How a broken engagement and a tumor redirected Benji’s life toward ministry
• The moment God spoke when everything else fell apart
• What it means to be a “sent” pastor in the Methodist itinerant system
• Why Benji refuses to call St. Paul “his” church—and what that means for pastoral health

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – The world of Abilene and Texas-sized hospitality

04:00 – The story of St. Paul UMC and its 100-year legacy

07:00 – Benji’s faith upbringing and the “zebra” of denominations

10:00 – Losing everything—and hearing God’s voice for the first time

13:00 – “Exactly. Now we can start again.” A calling moment

15:00 – Sharing the gospel in Russia and being called as God’s diplomat

20:00 – Seminary, marriage, and the Methodist call system

23:00 – Going where you’re sent: the theology of itinerancy

26:00 – Why Benji says, “I’m not the shepherd—I’m the sheepdog.”

29:00 – The cult of personality and pointing people to Jesus

Pastors are not owners of the church; they’re guides pointing the flock toward the Good Shepherd. Benji’s story reminds us that calling often begins in surrender, and ministry flourishes when we lead with open hands.