Pastors can’t sustain ministry on drive alone. Dan Reiland shares practical soul-care rhythms—prayer, Sabbath, margin, and healthy boundaries—to lead from a healthy soul, resist overwork, and stay present with family and people.

Dan has served the local church for more than forty years including at 12Stone Church in Lawrenceville, Georgia where he partnered with Kevin Myers for 24 years as the Executive Pastor. He previously partnered with John Maxwell for 20 years, first as Executive Pastor at Skyline Wesleyan Church in San Diego, then as Vice President of Leadership and Church Development at Maxwell Leadership (Previously INJOY).

Key Points In Brief

• Why prayer remains the “real” secret behind sustainable ministry and leadership
• Building a consistent, personal prayer rhythm (space, worship, Scripture, quieting distractions)
• The importance of Sabbath: “do different” rather than “do nothing”
• Soul care is costly, not carefree—learning to say no, prioritizing, and guarding calling
• Navigating the tension of availability vs. family health and personal limits
• Developing courage for honest conversations and saying no without guilt
• Building margin for think time, pray time, and play time
• Equipping others: shifting from being a “doer” to an “equipper” who develops leaders

Key Takeaways

1. Prayer isn’t the warm-up—it’s the engine. Ministry strength doesn’t come from personal drive; it comes from dependence on Jesus and consistent prayer.
2. Create a “set-aside” place that cues your soul. A dedicated space helps form a habit of presence, quiet, and listening.
3. Quiet the mental swirl before you try to pray. Capturing distractions (notes/cards) can move you from scattered to present.
4. Start prayer big, then move closer to home. A helpful pattern is global → national → church → family → personal.
5. Sabbath is changing rhythm, not disappearing. Rest includes doing something different—rest, play, and a break from normal work pressure.
6. Soul care requires saying no. It’s not escape; it’s intentional priorities and boundaries that protect calling.
7. You’ll never regret time with family, but you must be present. Being home isn’t the same as being engaged.
8. Healthy rhythms require honest conversations. Clarify expectations and calmly communicate limits.
9. If nothing changes after healthy communication, take a wise risk. Sometimes the next step is simply not doing the unreasonable thing you already discussed.
10. Margin fuels longevity. Protect margin for think time, pray time, and play time—especially when ministry pressure rises.

Notable Quotes

“People ask all the time, ‘What’s the secret?’ … honestly, prayer.”

“That is the real thing.”

“Soul care isn’t carefree; it’s costly.”

“Sabbath… doesn’t mean do nothing; it means do different.”

“You’ll never regret time with your family. You just won’t.”

“Saying no doesn’t mean do nothing. Saying no means saying yes to the right things.”

Next Steps

For pastors and church leaders

1. Choose one daily anchor rhythm (example: prayer + a short walk) and protect it for 30 days.
2. Create (or reclaim) a dedicated prayer space—even a chair, corner, or desk that becomes your “set-apart place.”
3. Add a weekly Sabbath plan that answers two questions:
   • What am I stopping?
   • What am I doing that’s different (rest/play/relationships)?
4. Schedule margin for the “big three”:
   • Think time: problem-solving, vision, planning
   • Pray time: presence, listening, gratitude
   • Play time: joy, recreation, friendships
5. Have one honest conversation with a leader or team member about expectations that are pushing you beyond healthy rhythms.
6. Identify one task to hand off this month and equip someone to own it (responsibility + authority).

For teams and churches

1. Normalize healthy boundaries as a discipleship and leadership standard.
2. Build a culture of equipping—train and release leaders instead of centralizing ministry on one person.

Link: The 3-Point Process For Leadership Development

Link To Podcast Audio: 95Podcast 334

 

Link To Podcast YouTube:

Q & A Transcript (Selected)

Q: Was there a moment that “woke you up” to soul care?

Dan: It was more gradual—over time, the longer Dan led, the more dependent Dan became upon Jesus, recognizing prayer as the real source of power.

Q: What does your time alone with God look like?

Dan: A dedicated prayer/study space; beginning with gratitude and worship; then Scripture; then writing distracting thoughts down (on cards) to quiet the mind; then praying from global needs down to personal.

Q: Why do leaders sometimes doubt prayer is the key?

Dan: Strategy and systems can begin to feel like the “secret,” but the Spirit is what brings power; prayer should never fall out of style.

Q: How do you define Sabbath?

Dan: Sabbath doesn’t mean doing nothing; it means doing different—changing rhythm with rest and play, stepping away from normal work busyness.

Q: How do pastors balance being available with protecting family and health?

Dan: You won’t regret time with family; be intentional and present; have honest conversations about expectations and build life rhythms that return to center.

Q: What if leaders have already talked about boundaries but nothing changes?

Dan: If the conversation was clear and mature and nothing changes, take a risk—stop doing the unreasonable thing; saying no is saying yes to healthier priorities.

Q: What’s one of the most important practices for long-term health?

Dan: Create margin for think time, pray time, and play time.