The Hardest Part of Pastoring
I have a confession; I play a lot of golf. Too much really. I’m not a doctor, but I’m convinced the reason I play so much is that I can keep score. 18 holes, 18 scores, add them up, and when I get in my car and pull out of… Read More...
About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
Afraid to Lose
When I found out my daughter’s youth soccer league didn’t keep score for their games, I was frustrated. Why play? The reason is innocent enough; they don’t want kids to experience losing. I get it. No one likes to lose. The rule didn’t fix the problem, though. Instead…
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About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
5 Mistakes I made as a young pastor that I WOULD change
1. I didn’t talk about money enough
I had the same fear most young pastors have, “if I talk about money people will get mad and leave” but it’s not true. The truth is, if people leave when I talk about money I’m better off because It allows me to… Read More...
About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
Why I’m a terrible painter and feel like a terrible pastor
I forget sometimes how much I hate painting. Once I start, I remember I don’t actually like painting; I like rolling a big empty wall with the trim work already done… for like 5 minutes. My disdain for details sends me to Lowes to buy white paint and touch up… Read More...
About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
Do you know your congregation?
Like most pastor’s if you asked me the demographics of my church I would spit off a confident answer, not backed up by any data, but instead my gut and experiences. For ten years I have served at Hope City Church (formerly River City Worship Center) and would repeatedly say… Read More...
About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
Why Easter Attendance Numbers Matter But They Don’t
If Easter Sunday was a big day for your church you are most likely still riding a high right now. It's common to break attendance, salvation, and baptism records on Easter, and there’s no substitute for the feeling of a full room. I pastor a church with an average attendance… Read More...
About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
Don’t Have A Class When Coffee Will Do
13 years ago I was sitting in Fellowship Church at the C3 conference when I heard Ed Young say, “Pastor your church like it is twice the size it currently is.” His point was you have to get ahead in leadership and if you structure and pastor like a church… Read More...
About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
How Long Does It Take To Change Your Church’s Culture?
I once heard Matt Chandler say after you’ve been at a church five years the things you don’t like about your church are the things you don’t like about yourself. His point was the senior pastor is the chief culture officer. In his example, his churches lack of spiritual sensitivity was… Read More...
About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
The Power of “For Now”
When I started in ministry, I was sure of exactly what I didn’t want my church to be. Like most young ministers, I was certain my idealistic ministry philosophy was the best way to grow a church. The problem was I had no ministry or life experience, leading me to… Read More...
About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
Every Pastor Needs a Coach
2 Samuel 18:8
The battle raged all across the countryside, and more men died because of the forest than were killed by the sword.
Pastoring has its challenges but probably none greater than feeling alone. For most pastors, replenishing relationships don’t exist within their church, and rarely within their… Read More...
About the Author
Bill Isaacs is the executive director of the Center for Pastoral Excellence, with over 30 years of ministry experience in pastoring, administrative leadership, and coaching.
The Weight and The Wait
I’ve been asked dozens of times, “What is the hardest part in pastoring?” Now, for most Pastors reading this, your brain, like mine, probably defaults to the obvious answer: MONEY! However, it certainly goes much deeper than that.
I was sitting at a conference this past May listening to the… Read More...
About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
The Power of Roots
2 Kings 19:29-30
“This year you will eat only what grows up by itself, and next year you will eat what springs up from that. But in the third year you will plant crops and harvest them; you will tend vineyards and eat their fruit. And you who are…
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About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
The “Great” Myth
It has taken me 15 years to learn a valuable ministry lesson. I noticed something at every great church I’ve ever visited. Whether it’s the parking lot attendant, the greeter at the front door, or the volunteer who teaches my kids, they all have as much passion and feel as… Read More...
About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
How to be a staff pastor your senior pastor values: Interview with Jeremy Isaacs
Jeremy serves as a campus pastor at Mount Paran North Church of God, and he shares with us wisdom from being in both positions of leadership as a senior pastor and associate pastor. How can we better serve our senior pastor, and how can… Read More...
About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
The Speed of A Seed
I've been told ministry is a marathon not a sprint, but honestly most of the time it feels like running on a treadmill. A few years back, after a group of people left the church, I told my wife, "I don't mind if God's plan is for me to pastor… Read More...
About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
God’s Promise vs. My Present
Genesis 13:15-17
I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession. And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted! Go and walk through the land in…
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About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
Detours, Humility, and God’s Grace
I'm convinced there are two roadmaps God uses when He decides to do something great with a life. There's the direct path that sees results quickly, and there is the detour. We love the direct path, but God usually likes to take us on the detour, because that's where He… Read More...
About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
Are You Pastoring A Church or Leading a Pep Rally?
Jesus said leave the 99 to go after the 1 lost sheep. I used to think anyone who walked away was lost, I guess that’s why I spent so much of my time trying to convince half-hearted believers to be more committed. But I’ve learned lost and leaving are not… Read More...
About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
When Church Growth Happens Slower Than You Want: Interview with Marty Baker
Marty Baker is the Senior Pastor of Stevens Creek Church in Augusta GA. We asked him about the joys and struggles of growing a church slowly, over the last 28 years.
Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes by clicking here
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About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
Don’t Be Afraid To Obey
2 Chronicles 25:8-9
God will overthrow you, for he has the power to help you or to trip you up.” Amaziah asked the man of God, “But what about all that silver I paid to hire the army of Israel?”The man of God replied, “The Lord is able to…
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About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
Pastoring with Financial Challenges: Interview with Kevin Harris
Pastor Kevin Harris from Lawrenceville Church of God talks about pastoring with financial challenges. How do you lead well with low offerings, high expenses, building projects, ministry budgets, staff costs, and more.
Subscribe on iTunes by clicking here
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About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
When People Walk Away
2 Samuel 16:3
“And where is Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson?” the king asked him.“He stayed in Jerusalem,” Ziba replied. “He said, ‘Today I will get back the kingdom of my grandfather Saul.’”
David is dealing with the emotions of being betrayed by his son, and running for his life. In… Read More...
About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
Preaching Better Sermons: Interview with Kevin Wallace
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About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
Ignore the Scoundrels
1 Samuel 10:26-27
When Saul returned to his home at Gibeah, a group of men whose hearts God had touched went with him. 27But there were some scoundrels who complained, “How can this man save us?” And they scorned him and refused to bring him gifts. But Saul ignored…
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About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
It’s not the crisis that kill you
2 Samuel 18:8
The battle raged all across the countryside, and more men died because of the forest than were killed by the sword.
Only 1 out of every 10 pastors will finish their career as a pastor. Go back and read that again.
Maybe it's… Read More...
About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
The Ripple Effect of Leadership
My great-great grandfather was a man named Orville Hanks from Abingdon, Virginia. He and his wife, Della were itinerant evangelists holding tent meetings around the areas of Virginia and North Carolina. Two guys who worked together decided they would drive over to the tent services to meet the… Read More...
About the Author
Bill Isaacs is the executive director of the Center for Pastoral Excellence, with over 30 years of ministry experience in pastoring, administrative leadership, and coaching.
Some people aren’t ready to obey, and that’s ok
Matthew 19:21-22
"21 Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he…
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About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
It’s Not As Bad As You Think It Is
2 Samuel 15:13
“A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David, “All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you."
It’s taken me 13 years in ministry, but I’ve finally learned by the time bad news reaches me the news is worse than the reality. David experienced… Read More...
About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
Our Trophies Can Trap Us
Judges 9:23-27
23But Gideon replied, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son. The lord will rule over you!24However, I do have one request—that each of you give me an earring from the plunder you collected from your fallen enemies.” (The enemies, being Ishmaelites, all wore gold…
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About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
We’ve been here before
Genesis 13:3-4
From the Negev, they continued traveling by stages toward Bethel, and they pitched their tents between Bethel and Ai, where they had camped before. This was the same place where Abram had built the altar, and there he worshiped the Lord again.
Abraham is on a journey.… Read More...
About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
The Leader and the Wilderness
2 Samuel 17:16
“Quick!” he told them. “Find David and urge him not to stay at the shallows of the Jordan River tonight. He must go across at once into the wilderness..."
Sometimes the wilderness is for our own good.
David was a mighty warrior. He had seen God defeat his… Read More...
About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
The People Don’t Know What You Know
Exodus 14:1-5
Then the lord gave these instructions to Moses: 2“Order the Israelites to turn back and camp by Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore, across from Baal-zephon. 3Then Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are confused. They are trapped in the wilderness!’ 4And once again I will…
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About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
7 takeaways from your incredible Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday has come and gone, and you probably had your best attendance of the year. Usually full rooms make the service "feel" better, so I'm betting you left church on an emotional high. If you're like me, you leave on Easter Sunday filled with hope and dreams of what… Read More...
About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
Leaders Don’t Get To React Like Everyone Else
Leviticus 10:1-2
Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over them. In this way, they disobeyed the lord by burning before him the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded. 2So fire blazed forth from the lord’s presence and burned them up,…
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About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
Scapegoat
When was the last time you confessed you were a sinner? The weight of that confession should rest on us with a heaviness, but unfortunately it doesn’t seem to feel very heavy most of the time.
Romans 3:23 tells us that we are a part of a big fraternity. “All have… Read More...
About the Author
Jeremy is married to his best friend, Corrie. Together they are raising sons Cooper, Branson, and Tucker and their daughter, Kinley. They serve as Campus Pastors in Canton, GA for Mount Paran North Church.
The Words Hurt More Than The Rocks
2 Samuel 16:5-8
As King David came to Bahurim, a man came out of the village cursing them. It was Shimei son of Gera, from the same clan as Saul’s family. 6 He threw stones at the king and the king’s officers and all the mighty warriors who surrounded…
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About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
Grieving, Change, and the Past
Have you ever heard anyone say that they are going through change or that they do not like change? The truth is change is real and has effects on people in many different ways. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, “Change does not roll in on the… Read More...
About the Author
Jordan Wilson has been preaching and doing ministry since he was 13 years old. Jordan is finishing his doctorate degree in Organizational Leadership and Christian Ministry. Jordan's ministry is married to Jessica and has two children Joshua Isaac and Josiah Jordan.
It’s Not Why but What?
I sat with one of our brothers in the Lord this morning and listened to him share with me how his brother in law may be facing colon cancer. He shared how they sat and wept at what could be devastating news for this man and his family. No one… Read More...
About the Author
Tim and his wife Kim pastor Calvary Hill Church of God in Lancaster, Ohio.
Appropriate Expectations
As a pastor, there are few things more frustrating than having fewer people show up than you expected. We know attendance numbers don’t tell the whole story, but if we’re being honest, it’s feels better to communicate with a full room. The danger for all of us is… Read More...
About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
Submission, Trust and Faith
I was going through some paper work this morning looking for a receipt and came across some notes I scratched out on an offering envelope. I can’t remember where I took the notes and there is no name on the offering envelope. I have had these three points on my… Read More...
About the Author
Tim and his wife Kim pastor Calvary Hill Church of God in Lancaster, Ohio.
Why I Love Stop Signs
Yes, I am going to say it. I love stop signs. Stop signs provide for the safe, maintainable, and effective movement of traffic and goods. Safety is the primary factor of consideration in placing stop signs. Generally, stop signs are placed to prevent crashes where there might be a question… Read More...
About the Author
Jordan Wilson has been preaching and doing ministry since he was 13 years old. Jordan is finishing his doctorate degree in Organizational Leadership and Christian Ministry. Jordan's ministry is married to Jessica and has two children Joshua Isaac and Josiah Jordan.
3 Ways to be Life-Giving, While Responding to Criticism
Recently, I received an email from an attender at our church that was to say the least hurtful. It was a personal attack and was aimed not only at me, but also at someone else on our staff. As an intense leader, I was ready to respond in a reactive… Read More...
About the Author
Processing The Missing Link
The Book of Acts is probably better known for its foundation for our Pentecostal/Charismatic doctrine than it is for a leadership model. Several years ago I discovered a powerful principle for my personal leadership in Acts chapter one in the most unusual passage of scripture. Acts chapter one deals with… Read More...
About the Author
Tim and his wife Kim pastor Calvary Hill Church of God in Lancaster, Ohio.
Why Not Disconnect…To Reconnect?
A couple of years ago, I took a night away to be with my family since our children were out of school on Monday. Since we lived in Ohio, we drove into Amish country and stayed a night at a beautiful hotel with an indoor pool (a definite…
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About the Author
Dr. Kirk Walters currently serves as Senior Pastor of Metropolitan Church of God in Birmingham, AL. He has been married to Laura since 1993 and together they have two wonderful children, Bradley and Lauren.
The Realization of Being Wrong
What do you do when it seems that everything you believed in is wrong?
There are moments in life when we come face to face with reality—a truth that we did not know, or once knew but disregarded, or that we misunderstood. Suddenly it seems that everything we… Read More...
About the Author
Patrick Ballington is lead pastor of The Bridge in Cleveland, GA.
Give Extravagantly
One of the God-honoring acts of Solomon’s initial days as King of Israel was his worship at Gibeon. Solomon offered 1,000 burnt offerings on the bronze altar there. It was after this sacrificial worship that God asked Solomon what he wanted? Of course we know that Solomon asked for wisdom.
… Read More...About the Author
Measuring Spiritual Growth
One of my frustrations as a pastor comes in trying to find an objective way to measure spiritual growth and maturity, both personally and in the lives of the people of the congregation I serve. If part of my job is to make disciples – to foster spiritual growth –… Read More...
About the Author
John is the senior pastor of Regency Church in Jacksonville, FL. He is the author of Standing at the Edge of the Water, Life Will Never Be the Same.
The Heart of a Shepherd
I have been privileged in my life to work with some great staff pastors. I have been blessed as I have observed team members work with dedication and passion to care for the church family. In my estimation, there is nothing more beautiful and awe-inspiring as a team of gifted… Read More...
About the Author
Blaine serves Dexter Lake Church, in Battle Creek Michigan, as lead pastor. He has been involved in ministry and leadership training for 30 years. He is married to Julie and they have two children and five grandchildren.
Tripped Breakers
My furnace went out a few weeks ago. The bad news is that it was just getting cold here in the Atlanta area, so a friend let us borrow several space heaters until the HVAC guy could get the part in that we needed to fix the unit.
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About the Author
Jeremy is married to his best friend, Corrie. Together they are raising sons Cooper, Branson, and Tucker and their daughter, Kinley. They serve as Campus Pastors in Canton, GA for Mount Paran North Church.
Preaching Through the Struggle
Some time back, I went through one of the most difficult mental and emotional struggles, not only of my ministry, but of my life. For a period of almost three months, I wrestled with some of the worst anxiety and fear I have ever experienced. I don’t recall being overwhelmed… Read More...
About the Author
Travis Gore is presently serving as the Senior Pastor of Rocky Mount Church of God in Virginia. Pastor Gore has been actively involved in ministry for 18 years. Twelve of those years he has served as a Senior Pastor. He has also served the church as a State Evangelist and also as Youth Pastor.
Young pastors, slow down
Frustration is just unmet expectation, and most of my frustration in pastoring has come from numbers, money, or buy-in not happening fast enough. I put insane amounts of pressure on myself to hit 6-month goals or maximize momentum and attendance bumps. If I have learned one thing about myself and… Read More...
About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
When You Lose Focus
I visited one of my all-time favorite delis last night. I was on a daddy-daughter date and I was so excited when she chose this particular place because I had not eaten there in a long time. When we arrived I was surprised that it was not busy at all,… Read More...
About the Author
Dr. Kirk Walters currently serves as Senior Pastor of Metropolitan Church of God in Birmingham, AL. He has been married to Laura since 1993 and together they have two wonderful children, Bradley and Lauren.
How Would Jesus Vote?
Electing our national and local leaders is more than a choice between conservatism and liberalism. It is also a choice of economic models and social responsibility.
- Capitalism says that what we earn belongs to us individually, and we can do with it what we want. Freedom and… Read More...
About the Author
Patrick Ballington is lead pastor of The Bridge in Cleveland, GA.
When A Pastor is Most Vulnerable
I have been blessed to have been a pastor for almost 20 years. During those 20 years, I have walked through difficult challenges, horrible tragedies, natural disasters, as well as wonderful victories.
I love pastors! I don't think there is a more selfless calling than that to serve others in… Read More...
About the Author
David Smith serves as pastor of Monroe Church of God in Monroe, GA. Husband to Kim, Father of Ashley, Austin & Andrea. In love with Jesus!
Addicted to Busy (Book Review)
In Addicted to Busy Brady Boyd has writes a timely reminder that being defined by productivity is a dead end street; he would know. After a national scandal, Brady followed Ted Haggard as the senior pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Though not the main point of… Read More...
About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
It’s Hard To Be A Pastor
It’s a bit like spiritual schizophrenia. You love to teach, preach, disciple, lead people to Jesus and so much so that you would do all that for free, if you could! However, it's the other stuff that is driving you crazy, putting your marriage in jeopardy and making you reconsider… Read More...
About the Author
Bill Isaacs is the executive director of the Center for Pastoral Excellence, with over 30 years of ministry experience in pastoring, administrative leadership, and coaching.
4 Secret Weapons of Great Pastors
Ok, they might not be secrets but they are counter intuitive. I’ve been privileged enough to meet, and get to know, many great pastors, and what separates them from the rest is probably not what you think. Sometimes we are guilty of judging a pastor or leader based solely on… Read More...
About the Author
Jason Isaacs is the lead pastor of River City Worship Center in Louisville KY. He has served as the lead pastor for 6 years, after serving as a staff pastor for 4 years.
We exist to provide environments where pastors are valued, loved, accepted
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