Articles by Sam Rainer

I write with trepidation. Any mention of politics can get you in trouble. Throw politics into the context of the local church, and the mood can quickly turn caustic. Elections are contentious. They have been for most of our nation’s history. The tensions surrounding…

The lockdowns did not shorten the workweek. Many people in a variety of professions are working more hours. I wanted to know how COVID-19 affected the workweek of pastors. At Church Answers, I asked a simple question of our community of pastors and church leaders. How…

The weariness produces physical aches. The weight of stress can smother you. Every week feels like a marathon. Some of my pastor friends have been pushed out of their churches. Others wonder if they are next. The church down the road sold their campus to a developer….

When pastors and deacons work together, the ministry of the church thrives. When they are at odds, ministry struggles. Deacons are called to be unifiers in the church. Pastors should treat deacons positively and with respect. When hostility exists between pastors and…

We had a predictable rhythm to our worship services. It was a good pattern that served our church. Then the pandemic hit, and we had to rethink everything. Overnight, the way we did worship no longer worked. After a brief closure, we reopened in-person services to an…

By now, you’ve heard the call to capture the opportunity of a blank slate. The current pandemic is prompting every church to reconsider approaches to ministry. Practically, how do you start this process? One consideration is a “whiteboard session.” The term refers to…

As a pastor, you are part of the body of Christ. Within the body, friendship is important, even for pastors. Pastors should have friends in the church and model friendship for the church. Friendship takes time, and the expectation of instant friendship in the church…

Every negative word has the power of one hundred positive words. This idea comes from one of my mentors, Brad Waggoner. He challenged me to rethink the way I communicate, both personally and professionally. Think of encouragement and discouragement on different sides…

How deep is too deep for pastoral involvement in social media? In this episode, we discuss how pastors can lead through social media. Twitter and other places can be a cesspool, so dive in with caution. Do not use your children as a platform builder online. Be a…