From Sifting To Shifting
It was easier not to rock the boat even if we knew the path we were on wasn’t leading anywhere.
Real guidance for pastors navigating the challenges of everyday ministry.
Leading a small or midsize church comes with unique pressures. From burnout and soul care to church strategy and team development, our articles and podcast guides address the issues church leaders face every week.
It was easier not to rock the boat even if we knew the path we were on wasn’t leading anywhere.
No one will see the unrealistic expectations placed on us until we get honest about the unrealistic expectations that we put on ourselves.
Many times, we know we’ve heard clearly from the Lord of His plan for the church we are leading. Then, out of nowhere, He shuts the door.
It can be so reassuring when facing a fork in the road to have someone guide you through the unknown who knows the way forward.
Do you feel in some ways that “life just passed you by” as it relates to your ministry effectiveness? Maybe you advanced 7 years in 7 weeks!
The hardest thing for me as a young leader was having to develop and grow in my faith in front of those that I was entrusted to lead.
Every leader who has ever led anything has times where they need to know what to do when they don’t know what to do. You and I aren’t the exception to this truth.
Truthfully, shutting things down for several weeks in a row has never been an option for me because the majority of my ministry experience has been in the small church.
The Enemy knows that exhausted leaders most likely will want to give up on running their laps in the relay race of our faith.
Here are three criteria I would use to determine if someone is a casual viewer or an engaged attender of your ministry.
Has your church’s income been hit because of COVID-19? Nearly 50% of churches anticipate a reduction in budget in 2021.

Discouraged. It’s how every leader has felt at one point or another when we want to be somewhere we’re not. Dale navigated his own experiences of disappointment in himself and uncovered key truths about leadership in ministry that can anchor and guide us today.
Dale Sellers of 95Network believes this trend is largely due to discouragement among our pastors. Many church leaders begin ministry with dreams of making an eternal impact. But years of striving, stress, and strain have left them feeling defeated, disillusioned, and stalled.
Thankfully, there is hope that ministry can turn around for the discouraged pastor. As a former minister who’s been in the trenches, Dale Sellers reveals that:
In STALLED, you will discover your sweet spot and realize you are closer to being “there” than you know.
All episodes will be posted here on the website, and are also available wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted by Caralee Culpepper and Dale Sellers, our executive director, and a former small church pastor, our 95Network podcast is a wealth of information specifically for small-church pastors—delivered in a candid, kind, and concise way. We cover pressing topics in modern ministry, annual trends, and more.
Most pastors aren’t refusing rest—they’re trapped by systems. Without a plan (and a bench), even a short break can feel impossible.
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Equipping can’t be reduced to a weekly performance; it requires presence, relationship, modeling, and shared life.
“If you got a pulse, he’s got a purpose for you.” Retirement isn’t the end of ministry; it’s a new season with fresh opportunities to serve, mentor, and impact the kingdom.
Self-awareness protects leaders from self-deception. Honest feedback is a guardrail for character and culture.
Build discipleship around practice, not just information. People grow through doing, feedback, and repetition in relationships.
Prayer is the engine, not the accessory. Easter effectiveness is not primarily about production, but about God’s presence.
Less Is More—With Intentionality. Doing less with your whole heart is better than doing more and being worn out. Fewer tactics executed with great intentionality will be more effective than an overwhelming production.
Have the Conversation Before There’s a Problem. You can’t wait for something negative to happen before talking to volunteers. Schedule regular check-ins not just about their area of service but about their lives.
The personal God gets personal with us. Biblical counseling explores the active, desiring heart beneath behavior and connects it to Christ’s finished work and the Spirit’s present ministry.
We regularly share practical insights for pastors leading small and midsize churches. If you’d like our latest articles, podcast episodes, and resources delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for the 95Network newsletter.
