Staying Power: What Sustains Long-Term Ministry | PT 134

What happens when ministry doesn’t go as planned? In this riveting conversation, Sarah Hinlicky Wilson shares her story of growing up in a third-generation pastoral family, wrestling with her call as a woman, and stepping into a church full of both history and heartbreak. From dollar-priced communion to deep theological reflection, Sarah’s story reminds us that God often works through unexpected twists.Learn more about Sarah's writing at sarahhinlickywilson.com🎙️ In This Episode:Growing up in a healthy Lutheran family and finding her call to ministryWrestling with being a woman pastor—and discovering unlikely mentorsHer first call in Trenton, NJ, and the painful reality of a declining churchNostalgia, culture, and the surprising places God redirects us⏱️ Timestamps:04:00 – Third-generation pastor with a happy church upbringing07:00 – Wrestling with women in ministry through theology and mentors10:00 – From PhD work to ordination13:00 – First call: a struggling Slovak Lutheran church in Trenton17:00 – Communion for a dollar? The odd traditions she inherited20:00 – Facing racism, loss, and resistance in a shrinking congregation24:00 – The deeper challenge of nostalgia and bound wills30:00 – God’s unexpected redirection: Strasbourg, FranceMinistry is rarely a straight line. Sarah’s story reveals how even in broken churches and cultural tensions, God is still at work redirecting us, reshaping us, and surprising us with new callings.

What happens when your call to ministry feels buried, but never really dies? In this special episode, the tables turn as Tara Beth Leach and Mark Quanstrom interview their producer, and now executive pastor, Chaz Robbins. From a childhood shaped by faithful mentors to an RV road trip with his family, Chaz opens up about his winding path through ministry, media, church planting, and finally, back into pastoral leadership.🎙️ In This Episode:How a youth pastor at Taco Bell modeled the love of JesusThe moment Chaz’s grandfather called him into ministry: “You were made for this”Lessons from planting a church—and letting it go in 2020What a year on the road in an RV taught about community and resilienceWhy stepping into executive ministry feels like coming home⏱️ Timestamps:05:00 – Growing up in Missouri, football dreams, and broken bones08:30 – A youth pastor’s presence that changed everything10:00 – Called into ministry at a Nebraska retreat12:00 – From Ozark Christian College to Northern Seminary16:00 – Learning ministry through Next Steps & Rooted at Parkview18:00 – Church planting residency and the dream of a coffeehouse church20:00 – Planting in Colorado… and closing during COVID17:00 – Selling everything and living a year in an RV with two toddlers23:00 – The bittersweet ache of stepping away from pastoral ministry26:00 – The long road of healing and rediscovering call31:00 – A new chapter: becoming Executive Pastor at Osage Hills33:00 – Why Jesus’ promise “I will build my church” matters most🔗 Resources & Mentions:The Great Morning Revolution by Tara Beth Leach → Amazon linkThreaded Bible Study by Tara Beth Leach → Amazon linkEven when ministry dreams fall apart, God wastes nothing. The same call that sparked at a Taco Bell table and a Nebraska retreat still echoes today: you were made for this—to love people with the presence of Jesus.

How do pastors pour themselves out for others without losing their own soul? In Part 2 of this conversation, Ben Cachiaras reflects on the dangers of achievement addiction, the symptoms of ministry at an unsustainable pace, and the practices that helped him and his staff find a healthier rhythm of life and leadership. From numbing emotions to creating a staff-wide REST policy, Ben shares the hard-won lessons of thriving in ministry without losing holy ambition.🎙️ In This Episode:The signs of burnout pastors often minimize or ignoreWhy achievement can become an addiction in ministryCreating a culture of health through the REST policyHolding urgency for the gospel and soul care in tension⏱️ Timestamps:02:00 – Ben’s story of overcommitment and achievement addiction07:00 – Symptoms of burnout: numbness, resentment, escapes13:00 – When staff intervention became a turning point19:00 – False dichotomies of soul care vs. gospel urgency25:00 – How Mountain Church institutionalized rest31:00 – REST policy: relax, exercise, social, time with God35:00 – Final reflections and resourcesThriving in ministry doesn’t mean abandoning holy ambition—it means learning the rhythm of pouring yourself out and allowing God to fill you back up.

What does it look like to serve a 200-year-old church that’s still bursting with life? Pastor Ben Cachiaras of Mountain Christian Church has spent nearly three decades leading with holy ambition, holding together the call to discipleship and evangelism. His story is one of clarity, perseverance, and joy in ministry that truly “fits like a glove."🎙️ In This Episode:Ben’s early call to ministry through his grandfather’s powerful invitationWhy discipleship and evangelism aren’t opposites and how they thrive togetherThe challenge of staying faithful for the long haul in one placeDiscernment in ministry: when to persevere and when it might be time to go⏱️ Timestamps:07:00 – A clear and undeniable call to ministry13:00 – The role of the church in affirming pastoral callings20:00 – Discovering his heart for evangelism and discipleship together28:00 – What sustains 28 years at Mountain Christian Church34:00 – Perseverance, “remaining under,” and knowing when to stay or goPastoral ministry may not always be easy, but when it fits your calling, it can become the most joy-filled way to spend your life.

How do pastors actually “do it all”? In this lively, behind-the-scenes conversation, Mark Quanstrom and Tara Beth Leach pull back the curtain on their rhythms of ministry, family life, writing, and rest. From the myth of busyness to the art of batch working, they share practical ways to sustain pastoral life without burning out—and why mornings might be the most important part of the day.CLICK HERE to Pre-Purchase The Great Morning by Tara Beth LeachCLICK HERE to Purchase Threads by Tara Beth Leach🎙️ In This Episode:The myth of “doing it all” and how pastors can set realistic expectationsHow batch working creates space for ministry, writing, and familyThe heart behind The Great Morning Revolution and starting the day with the LordWhy taking extended time away is essential for long-term ministry health⏱️ Timestamps:02:00 – The myth of “doing it all” in pastoral ministry05:00 – Batch working and protecting focused time08:00 – Inside Tara Beth’s Threaded Bible study09:00 – The story and practices behind The Great Morning Revolution15:00 – Mark’s morning prayer rhythm and sacred spaces18:00 – Ministry health and the necessity of time away24:00 – Building churches that don’t revolve around the pastor27:00 – Final encouragement: mornings with God, time away, and a nourished mindA sustainable ministry life isn’t about hustling harder; it’s about stewarding your mornings, protecting your time, and trusting that the church is Christ’s to hold, not yours.

Ministry can be both deeply rewarding and painfully exhausting. In this conversation, Tara Beth Leach and Mark Quanstrom open up about what keeps them in pastoral ministry after decades of challenges, transitions, and spiritual fatigue. From the support of their spouses to the importance of theological education, they reflect honestly on what sustains them when things get hard.Learn more about The DMin in Pastoral Theology & Practice at Northern Seminary: https://www.seminary.edu/programs/doctor-of-ministry-in-pastoral-theology-practice/ 🎙️ In This Episode:Why presence (not performance) is key to longevity in ministryHow spouses and friendships help pastors endure stormsThe spiritual and vocational value of ongoing theological educationAn exciting announcement about the launch of a new Doctor of Ministry program⏱️ Timestamps:00:30 – Catching up and Mark’s decision to stay another 4 years03:00 – Tara Beth shares about a recent painful leadership season07:00 – The role of their spouses in surviving ministry10:00 – Why community and presence matter more than performance13:00 – Reflections from a missionary couple on staying faithful16:00 – Theological convictions that ground pastoral work18:00 – How ongoing learning has sustained Mark’s ministry25:00 – Why churches should support their pastors’ education27:00 – Tara Beth announces her return to school28:00 – Introducing the new DMin in Theology & Practice of Pastoral Ministry32:00 – How to apply and what’s coming next

What if God’s invitation isn’t to act—but to wait?In this episode, Tara Beth Leach and Mark Quanstrom continue their conversation with pastor and author Faith Eury Cho. Together they explore how a season of uncertainty, silence, and scarcity became fertile ground for trust, surrender, and a deeper experience of God’s presence. From living without a paycheck to planting a church from her living room, Faith shares how waiting can be both painful and profoundly sacred.🎙️ In This Episode:Learning to “do nothing” and adore God during a season of lossHow waiting can reveal God’s provision in unexpected waysThe hidden power of childlike faith and sacred assumptionWhy friendship with God often begins where certainty ends⏱️ Timestamps:02:00 – Adoring God while facing housing insecurity06:00 – A call to seek the Kingdom first08:00 – The house that only God could provide12:00 – Trusting God with the pace of church planting14:00 – The cost and courage of waiting18:00 – Wounds that distort our view of God21:00 – Parenting, presence, and rediscovering joy in the process💡 Takeaway:Waiting on God is not weakness; it’s faith in action. In a culture obsessed with control and productivity, Faith Cho reminds us that the deepest growth often happens when we stop striving and trust God to move.Ask ChatGPT

Author, pastor, and Honor Summit founder Faith Eury Cho shares her remarkable journey from spiritual curiosity as a child to church planting during a global pandemic. With warmth and honesty, Faith reflects on her evolving intimacy with God, how motherhood reshaped her theology of presence, and why pastors must stop chasing “moments” and start building lives centered on God’s presence.🎙️ In This Episode:From mystical childhood wonder to Spirit-filled ministryThe difference between manifest and indwelling presenceWhy church planting in 2020 revealed God’s sufficiencyHow motherhood changed her understanding of holy ground📍 Timestamps:04:00 – Faith’s story of spiritual longing and discovery08:00 – Salvation at 16 and her call to ministry12:30 – Motherhood, presence, and reshaping theology19:00 – Practicing the presence vs. manufacturing moments25:00 – The call to plant Mosaic Covenant Church🔗 Resources & Links:Faith’s book: Experiencing Friendship with GodThe Honor Summit🛠️ Takeaway:You don’t have to manufacture God’s presence; it’s already with you. Ministry is less about chasing sacred moments and more about building a life around a sacred friendship.

What if we stopped fearing lament in church, and started embracing it as holy? In this powerful follow-up conversation, pastor and author Aubrey Sampson joins Tara Beth and Mark to talk about leading while grieving, pastoring through pain, and creating sacred space for sorrow in the church.🎙️ In This Episode:How unprocessed grief distorts our leadership and faithThe courage it takes to bring your honest self to the pulpitWhy lament isn’t faithless, it’s an act of deep spiritual trustWhat churches gain when they normalize grief in worship⏱️ Timestamps:03:00 – Prayers we’re afraid to pray08:00 – The grandkids only God could give12:00 – The gift of lament in public worship17:00 – Creating space for sorrow in Sunday services21:00 – What unprocessed grief does to leaders26:00 – Giving yourself permission to pause30:00 – Big Feeling Days and writing for the littlest grievers💡 Takeaway:Grief doesn’t disqualify us from ministry: it deepens it. Lament is not a detour from discipleship; it is discipleship. Aubrey’s story invites us to become churches that grieve well, love honestly, and make space for the sacred work of tears.

What if your calling was never modeled for you—and your grief hit harder than your training ever prepared you for? In this episode, pastor and author Aubrey Sampson joins Tara Beth and Mark to share the winding, beautiful, and painful road of planting a church while navigating personal loss, theological wrestling, and the loneliness of leadership.🎙️ In This Episode:Why Aubrey never imagined herself as a pastorWhat it means to plant a church with conviction and complexityThe emotional toll of leadership and stepping into grief while servingHow theological clarity became a freeing force⏱️ Timestamps:03:00 – From volunteer to pastor: discovering a hidden call06:00 – Wrestling with guilt, theology, and spiritual authority09:00 – Why church planting was the only path forward12:00 – Honeymoon seasons, heartbreak, and sacred disappointment17:00 – Co-pastoring through sabbatical and spiritual weariness24:00 – Grief, illness, and loss behind the scenes of ministry28:00 – Pastors and the cost of not being allowed to lament💡 Thought to ponder:Ministry doesn’t protect you from pain; it shapes you in it. Aubrey’s story is a reminder that faithful leadership isn’t found in perfection, but in showing up anyway, trusting that God meets us in the dark.