Pastors can do “good hard” ministry without destroying their soul or family. In this episode, Lance Witt shares his story of leaving Saddleback Church after hitting a breaking point when an unsustainable pace and growing tension at home revealed that working harder could no longer produce health. What followed was a renewed calling: to help leaders pursue a different way of life—one marked by health, humility, and deeper dependence on Jesus.

Lance unpacks the hidden drivers of burnout, including approval addiction, people-pleasing, and a faulty theology of availability that keeps leaders overextended. He offers a clear distinction between “good hard” ministry and the kind that quietly depletes your soul, along with practical rhythms that restore health like Sabbath, boundaries, daily time with Jesus, and honest feedback. The conversation will challenge leaders to embrace limits as a gift, cultivate a healthy ambition, and build a culture where both they and their teams can grow without burning out.

About Lance: Lance Witt has been leading churches and organizations for 40+ years.  He was the lead pastor for 3 different churches and then spent 7 years as an executive and teaching pastor at Saddleback Church in Southern California. In 2007, Lance launched a ministry called Replenish, which is dedicated to “Helping people live and lead from a healthy soul.”  Over the last 15 years Lance has encouraged, challenged and equipped thousands of leaders through speaking, personal coaching, LifePlanning, and writing books. Lance’s books include…

Lance and his best friend, Connie, have been married for 45 years.  They have two grown children and 4 beautiful granddaughters. Their entire family lives in Castle Rock, Colorado.