The Wounded Shepherd

Grow a Healthy Church website:  Click Here

For more information about John Finkelde or Grow a Healthy Church, Click Here

The intent of The Wounded Shepherd is to provide you with resources that will help you make your way back to a joy-filled, fulfilling ministry.  If you have a question or an idea for future episode, I would love to hear from you.  You can be assured that I will not use your name or embarrass you in any way, but will do everything that I can to provide helpful tools. Send your questions to [email protected].

Your feedback is very important to me and helps me connect with you better.  Please let me know your thoughts on what was discussed today or how this episode has helped you on your journey.  You can leave your comments using any of the ways listed below.

I have no desire to be a voice in a vacuum.  As one who has been where you are, I understand the loneliness that you feel.  For that reason, I encourage you to connect with me.  Let's talk.

Joe Hedrick from New Leaf Audio for editing, mixing, and engineering each episode.  You can contact Joe on Twitter @newleafaudio.

Marta Brown for preparing the show notes. 

These are affiliate links and, when you use the links to make purchases, this podcast is supported. Thank you for your support.

In Her Shoes – Walking in Esther’s shoes for a while with practical application for today.

Email – [email protected]

The intent of The Wounded Shepherd is to provide you with resources that will help you make your way back to a joy-filled, fulfilling ministry.  If you have a question or an idea for future episode, I would love to hear from you.  You can be assured that I will not use your name or embarrass you in any way, but will do everything that I can to provide helpful tools. Send your questions to [email protected].

Your feedback is very important to me and helps me connect with you better.  Please let me know your thoughts on what was discussed today or how this episode has helped you on your journey.  You can leave your comments using any of the ways listed below.

I have no desire to be a voice in a vacuum.  As one who has been where you are, I understand the loneliness that you feel.  For that reason, I encourage you to connect with me.  Let's talk.

Joe Hedrick from New Leaf Audio for editing, mixing, and engineering each episode.  You can contact Joe on Twitter @newleafaudio.

Marta Brown for preparing the show notes. 

These are affiliate links and, when you use the links to make purchases, this podcast is supported. Thank you for your support.

After a difficult time, it is often hard to find your way back to a normal life. In this episode, Pastor MacCuaig shares his very powerful story of redemption and restoration. Through the love of a healthy church, and the constant love of God, Steven helps us find hope in the midst of disaster.

The intent of The Wounded Shepherd is to provide you with resources that will help you make your way back to a joy-filled, fulfilling ministry.  If you have a question or an idea for future episode, I would love to hear from you.  You can be assured that I will not use your name or embarrass you in any way, but will do everything that I can to provide helpful tools. Send your questions to [email protected].

Your feedback is very important to me and helps me connect with you better.  Please let me know your thoughts on what was discussed today or how this episode has helped you on your journey.  You can leave your comments using any of the ways listed below.

I have no desire to be a voice in a vacuum.  As one who has been where you are, I understand the loneliness that you feel.  For that reason, I encourage you to connect with me.  Let's talk.

Joe Hedrick from New Leaf Audio for editing, mixing, and engineering each episode.  You can contact Joe on Twitter @newleafaudio.

Marta Brown for preparing the show notes. 

These are affiliate links and, when you use the links to make purchases, this podcast is supported. Thank you for your support.

Ron and his wife, Rodetta, have been married 40 years. They have actively served the Lord together in ministry during their entire married life and are co-founders of Care for Pastors (CfP). Ron earned his BS degree from Liberty University in 1979. Upon graduation, he pastored two churches in West Virginia from 1980-1988 before returning to Lynchburg, VA, to complete his Masters Degree in Counseling at Liberty. He was also on the pastoral staff at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg from 1989-1997. Ron and Rodetta came to Florida to serve at First Baptist Church of Leesburg, and in April of 2000 he was called to be the Senior Pastor at a new church plant called Southpointe Baptist Fellowship.

Contact Ron Cook at CareforPastors.org.

The intent of The Wounded Shepherd is to provide you with resources that will help you make your way back to a joy-filled, fulfilling ministry.  If you have a question or an idea for future episode, I would love to hear from you.  You can be assured that I will not use your name or embarrass you in any way, but will do everything that I can to provide helpful tools. Send your questions to [email protected].

Your feedback is very important to me and helps me connect with you better.  Please let me know your thoughts on what was discussed today or how this episode has helped you on your journey.  You can leave your comments using any of the ways listed below.

I have no desire to be a voice in a vacuum.  As one who has been where you are, I understand the loneliness that you feel.  For that reason, I encourage you to connect with me.  Let's talk.

Joe Hedrick from New Leaf Audio for editing, mixing, and engineering each episode.  You can contact Joe on Twitter @newleafaudio.

Marta Brown for preparing the show notes. 

These are affiliate links and, when you use the links to make purchases, this podcast is supported. Thank you for your support.

Meditation is structured prayer, an opportunity for a listening Christian to hear the voice of God through the intentional focus on His Word. During this episode, we take some time to dispel the myths of this very biblical practice. Inspired by the book, Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster, Fr. Nathan Hale, Demetrius Hunter, and Pastor Kevin discuss the ways that allowing God’s Word to speak to your soul is a practice that we all will benefit from.

Celebration of Discipline – Hardcover

The intent of The Wounded Shepherd is to provide you with resources that will help you make your way back to a joy-filled, fulfilling ministry.  If you have a question or an idea for future episode, I would love to hear from you.  You can be assured that I will not use your name or embarrass you in any way, but will do everything that I can to provide helpful tools. Send your questions to [email protected].

Your feedback is very important to me and helps me connect with you better.  Please let me know your thoughts on what was discussed today or how this episode has helped you on your journey.  You can leave your comments using any of the ways listed below.

I have no desire to be a voice in a vacuum.  As one who has been where you are, I understand the loneliness that you feel.  For that reason, I encourage you to connect with me.  Let's talk.

Joe Hedrick from New Leaf Audio for editing, mixing, and engineering each episode.  You can contact Joe on Twitter @newleafaudio.

Marta Brown for preparing the show notes. 

These are affiliate links and, when you use the links to make purchases, this podcast is supported. Thank you for your support.

Through a series of events and open doors (and a story that is longer than you’d care to read) God clearly led our family to the small town of Flandreau, South Dakota to plant what is now The RESCUE Church.  In April of 2004, we said goodbye to our friends, family, and the Peoria Fire Department, and relocated our family to Flandreau.  When we arrived in Flandreau all we knew was that we were supposed to plant a Christ-centered, Bible-preaching church.  We did.  And God started to amaze us with His ability to use inadequate people like us to bring others to Himself and grow His church in miraculous ways!  We got a front row seat to watch God grow our church from very humble beginnings into a vibrant and dynamic ministry that is making a huge difference in the lives of many people in our community and beyond!

In 2009, God gave us a very clear vision to reproduce our church in rural communities across South Dakota, the Midwest, and beyond through a multi-site church planting strategy.  Currently, The RESCUE Church has 5 campuses in South Dakota, Illinois, and Jamaica as well as an internet campus.

In 2014, God threw me yet another curve ball when He opened a door of opportunity for me to return to the fire service as a firefighter with Sioux Falls Fire Rescue.  Although the prospect of being both a full-time pastor and a full-time firefighter was a little terrifying at first, God has shown me once again that when we seek and obey His will for our lives, He will give us the desires of our hearts.  It has been an awesome experience to get to be back in the fire stations, bonding with the guys, running fire calls, and living out a God-given passion of my heart.

My life stands as evidence that God does not call the equipped…He equips the called!  I am honored to serve my Creator who has the ability to use common, ordinary, and inadequate vessels to accomplish eternally significant things for His glory!

Jon Sanders’ podcast, “Small Town, Big Church”

Episode 28, Confessions of an adulterous pastor.

The intent of The Wounded Shepherd is to provide you with resources that will help you make your way back to a joy-filled, fulfilling ministry.  If you have a question or an idea for future episode, I would love to hear from you.  You can be assured that I will not use your name or embarrass you in any way, but will do everything that I can to provide helpful tool

Michael and Rachel are small-towners with big dreams. They live in suburban Appalachia with their 3 children and their Labradoodle pup, Barnabas. They are both in love with one another, Jesus, good books, black coffee and their local community. Over the past 2 years, God has walked them through a difficult season in which they saw the death of loved ones and even their owns dreams. Graciously, God allowed them to emerge wounded yet with vision, healing and hope of how He desires to use them both now and in the future. With a heart for discipleship and their local community, Michael and Rachel are the visionaries and founders of The Sparrow Company–a discipleship and mentorship ministry.

The Sparrow Company Website– http://www.thesparrowco.org

Rachel’s Interview with Amy Bennet (The Feathers Podcast) http://abidingministries.net/feathers-season-6-episode-11-with-rachel-ervin-pain-loss-and-a-red-sea-road-to-ministry/

Michael’s letter to Mike and Susan Adams (Known and Loved Podcast episode 56) http://knownandlovedpodcast.com/sometimes-you-just-have-to-get-out-of-dodge-056

Michael- [email protected]

The intent of The Wounded Shepherd is to provide you with resources that will help you make your way back to a joy-filled, fulfilling ministry.  If you have a question or an idea for future episode, I would love to hear from you.  You can be assured that I will not use your name or embarrass you in any way, but will do everything that I can to provide helpful tools. Send your questions to [email protected].

Your feedback is very important to me and helps me connect with you better.  Please let me know your thoughts on what was discussed today or how this episode has helped you on your journey.  You can leave your comments using any of the ways listed below.

I have no desire to be a voice in a vacuum.  As one who has been where you are, I understand the loneliness that you feel.  For that reason, I encourage you to connect with me.  Let's talk.

Joe Hedrick from

Leading people spiritually requires focus and integrity.  This episode was recorded immediately following the tragic shooting that took place at a music festival in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 1st, 2017.  Pastor, how are you going to answer the difficult questions that are being asked?  If we are so consumed with our own issues, we can’t.  My prayer today is that, through the help of God, you will be able to effectively lead the people entrusted to you through these difficult times.

These are some resources that were suggested by listeners.  You may find them helpful.  What is your favorite book, blog, website, or activity that you think would be helpful to someone else?  Let me know by sending an email to [email protected].

My personal recommendations

A Celebration of Discipline book – Richard Foster

A Celebration of Discipline Workbook – Richard Foster

From Cindy Lyon King (Facebook)

The Grasshopper Myth – Karl Vaters

Leading the Small Church – Glenn C. Daman

Rural Home Missionary Association

From Jon Hembree (Facebook)

Ministering to Problem People in Your Church: What to do with well intentioned dragons.  By Marshall Shelley

The intent of The Wounded Shepherd is to provide you with resources that will help you make your way back to a joy-filled, fulfilling ministry.  If you have a question or an idea for future episode, I would love to hear from you.  You can be assured that I will not use your name or embarrass you in any way, but will do everything that I can to provide helpful tools. Send your questions to [email protected].

Your feedback is very important to me and helps me connect with you better.  Please let me know your thoughts on what was discussed today or how this episode has helped you on your journey.  You can leave your comments using any of the ways listed below.

I have no desire to be a voice in a vacuum.  As one who has been where you are, I understand the loneliness that you feel.  For that reason, I encourage you to connect with me.  Let's talk.

Joe Hedrick from New Leaf Audio for editing, mixing, an

Dave was a pastor for twenty eight years before retiring in 2006 and starting Small Church Pastor. Small Church Pastor provides coaching, consulting, resources and encouragement to pastors of small churches. Dave also is the moderator of the Small Church Pastor group page on Facebook and blogs at http://www.davejacobs.net. Dave is a published author with his third book ‘100 IDEAS that work in a small church’ scheduled for release this year.

Naked Man Running by Dave Jacobs

For the past ten years I have been coaching pastors of smaller churches. These leaders are always searching for answers and ideas that will relate to the unique challenges of pastoring a small church. Often times frustrated, they return from conferences led by pastors of larger churches telling them how to grow their church or offering them solutions that simply won’t work in a small church. A few years ago I realized that I had been accumulating ideas for the everyday problems pastors face. I’ve gathered all these ideas into one volume and categorized them so that a pastor can easily find answers to their specific problems. Enjoy.

Mile Wide, Inch Deep by Dave Jacobs

Humorist Artemus Ward, a favorite author of President Abraham Lincoln, estimated the river Platte to be “a mile wide and an inch deep.” Many pastors, if they were honest, would say that Ward could have easily been describing their own spirituality. They are a mile wide, and an inch deep. If you feel like your depth of intimacy with God is an inch deep, while your ministry responsibilities stretch you a mile wide, then this book was written for you. For pastors and the rest of us, Mile Wide, Inch Deep will help you experience God beyond the shallows. It’s possible to go deeper.

Belligerent Believers by Dave Jacobs

The intent of The Wounded Shepherd is to provide you with resources that will help you make your way back to a joy-filled, fulfilling ministry.  If you have a question or an idea for future episode, I would love to hear from you.  You can be assured that I will not use your name or embarrass you in any way, but will do everything that I can to provide helpful tools. Send your questions to [email protected].

Your feedback is very important to me and helps me connect with you better.  Please let me know your thoughts on what was discussed today or how this episode has helped you on your journey.  You can leave your comments using any of the ways listed below.

I have no desire to be a voice in a vacuum.  As one who has been where you are, I understand the loneliness that you feel.  For that reason, I encourage you to connect with me.  Let's talk.

These are affiliate links and, when you use the links to make purchases, this podcast is supported. Thank you for your support.