Today’s conversation was previously aired on June 24, 2025.
John Finkelde joins the 95Podcast for a practical conversation about the often-overlooked connection between physical health, emotional well-being, and long-term ministry effectiveness. Together, they explore why rest isn’t simply recovery from work and how Jesus modeled rhythms of margin, presence, and renewal that many leaders struggle to embrace today.
The conversation offers practical insight into building healthier rhythms, from creating weekly buffers and protecting time away from ministry to taking meaningful vacations that truly allow the body and mind to reset. John also addresses the realities facing small and bivocational church leaders, challenging churches to align expectations with actual capacity rather than expecting “big church ministry” on limited resources.
Finally, John highlights an area many pastors avoid until it becomes urgent: financial health. He shares why retirement planning and financial stewardship are essential parts of pastoral well-being, and offers encouragement for leaders who feel overwhelmed.
About John Finkelde: John has over 40 years of ministry experience. As lead pastor at C3 Church Hepburn Heights, Perth, Australia, John led the church through a generational renewal that saw it grow, while also planting a new church every three years and moving to a purpose-built, multi-million-dollar worship centre. In 2012, John founded Grow a Healthy Church and has conducted over 170 on-site and online church consultations in Australia, the UK, Europe, and New Zealand to glowing reviews.
Links to Resources Mentioned or Related
- Website: GrowAHealthyChurch.com
- Book: Financial Intelligence For Church Leaders: Building Strong Foundations
- Email John
- Link to NEW! Soul Care Essentials Online: 3-Session Video Series
- Link to NEW! Soul Care Essentials Cohort: 6 Weeks of Guided Conversations for Post-Conference Groups
- 95Network – Soul Care Essentials
- 95Network – Healthy Church Assessment
- Read Stalled: Hope and Help for Pastors Who Thought They’d Be There By Now
- Watch the Podcast on YouTube
Key Takeaways
1) God instituted a day of rest in creation.
2) We usually have it backward. Most of us rest from work. However, God’s desire for us is that we work from a place of rest.
3) My wife and I were not trained on how to handle money while growing up in our respective homes. It took a lot of love, patience, and prayer to develop a healthy plan of stewardship through budgeting in the early years.
4) The most important thing to do today is to obtain an honest assessment (from a professional) of your current financial situation. You need the hard facts in order to develop a solid plan.
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