Dr. Curt Dodd reflects on more than five decades of ministry, sharing lessons about calling, faithfulness, personal evangelism, theological preparation, ministry disappointment, suffering, marriage, leadership, and standing on the Word of God.

This presentation was recorded at SUTL’s Monthly Leadership Huddle, a place where pastors and ministry leaders gather to learn, encourage one another, and talk honestly about ministry and evangelism. If you’d like to join us, or know a pastor or ministry leader who would benefit from being part of the conversation, email Nick@StepUpToLife.com and ask where and when we meet.

In this episode:

• 23:43 | What it takes to make it for the long haul
• 29:29 | Why personal evangelism still matters
• 37:00 | Preparing yourself theologically for ministry
• 46:48 | Loving your wife more than your ministry
• 54:28 | Standing on the Word when culture pushes back
• 1:07:08 | What pastors need to survive in ministry
• 1:14:49 | When God says no, and learning to wait on His timing

A conversation about staying faithful to Jesus through the highs, lows, disappointments, pressures, and unexpected turns of ministry.

Higher Aim with Dr. Curt Dodd: www.HigherAim.org
Higher Aim Media: https://higheraim.org/media/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Westside Church: https://www.wchurch.tv/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Support the show

www.StepUpToLife.com

What happens when you love Jesus, love ministry, love the people you're serving, and still find yourself praying that your board will fire you?

Justin Hoehner has been there.

On this episode of Ministry Minded, Dr. Nick Bank and Lincoln Murdoch sit down with Justin, the director of Camp Comeca near Cozad, Nebraska, for a candid conversation about pastoral burnout, false guilt, rest, resilience, and finishing well.

Justin opens up about some of the darkest seasons of his ministry, while Lincoln shares lessons from more than four decades of ministry about pacing yourself, knowing when to step back, and resisting the temptation to believe that being needed means being faithful.

They talk about why pastors can become "addicted to being needed," why rest can trigger false guilt, and why sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is stop and simply be with Jesus.

Justin also talks about Camp Comeca's Pastor Stay program, Mission Impact Camps, and the upcoming Rooted and Resilient retreat for pastors and their spouses.

You don't have to burn out to be faithful.

Sometimes finishing well means learning how to rest.

Dr. Bank's Book: Down Like Jesus: Navigating Pastoral Pain in the Footsteps of Christ
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FPQT4S2W

Lincoln's Book: See You at the Finish
https://www.stepuptolife.com/store/p/palm-r39wy

Pastoral Retreats at Camp Comeca:
https://comeca.camp/mission-impact/#pml_mic

Support the show:
https://www.stepuptolife.com/give

Support the show

www.StepUpToLife.com

Pastor Bart Wilkins has faithfully served the same church for more than 30 years. In this conversation, he shares the lessons, challenges, and convictions that have shaped his ministry—and what every pastor and ministry leader can learn from them.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why church planting is harder—and more rewarding—than most people expect.
• What Bart would tell his younger self if he could start ministry over.
• How to stay faithful through three decades of pastoral leadership.
• Building a discipleship pathway that actually produces disciple-makers.
• Why Flatland Church launched the Omaha School of Ministry.
• Developing future pastors and ministry leaders through theological training.
• Why Step Up to Life is becoming central to Flatland's discipleship strategy.
• Using Step Up to Life in baptism and membership classes to help people understand the gospel, evaluate their spiritual journey, and learn to share their faith.

Whether you're planting a church, leading an established congregation, or investing in the next generation of leaders, this conversation offers practical wisdom for the long game of ministry.

Flatland Church Website: https://www.flatlandchurch.com/

Flatland's Discipleship Pathway: https://www.flatlandchurch.com/discipleship-pathway

Omaha School of Ministry: The Omaha School of Ministry (OSM), located at Flatland Church, partners with Southwestern Assemblies of God University to offer hands-on leadership training combined with accredited online degree programs.

Support the show

www.StepUpToLife.com