I need to share my heart with you about a ministry God continues to bring to me.
For a couple years I’ve owned the domain name hurtingpastors.org. Right now it points to the online ministry I’ve had for years called Mustard Seed Ministry. The decision to purchase this domain, however, was out of a desire to help those who struggle in the ministry; which from my experience is most of us at some point in our career. Pastors and ministers struggle with burnout, temptations, finances, relationships, conflict, and often just from being in unhealthy church or ministry environments. Sometimes their pain is mild, but many times the struggles are major and at risk is one of God’s servants. The Kingdom suffers because the equippers of the saints are unhealthy. I want to help.
Pastors who are hurting may need financial advice, counseling, rest, accountability, career advice, wisdom, re-energizing and encouragement and sometimes even correction in a loving way. When they receive guidance and strength they are able to better serve the Kingdom of God and God gets the glory.
As with many of the ministries I have been involved with, when you have a passion for something or God places something on your heart, you tend to find opportunities to use the skills God has given you. It seems like every week I run across another hurting pastor. The time to act is now.
Well, with the help of my good friend Tony Hill, who just happens to share my heart in this area of helping pastors, we’ve decided to take another look at this domain name. Over the next few weeks and months we’ll be adding resources to the site and re-launch it. If you have ideas or know of resources, please let me know. You can comment here or email me at [email protected].
Iam very glad to know there is something for pastors.THANK YOU SO MUCH.
By the way Ralph is my brother.
We share the same passion for helping pastors. See http://www.careforpastors.org
Ron Cook
From http://mondaymorninginsight.com/
Beautiful Log House Retreat Offers Rest and Restoration to Pastors and Church Leaders
A couple weeks ago, I got a message from Ralph Cook. Ralph has a unique ministry that allows pastors a time of retreat in a beautiful setting. If you need to get away for a few days, please feel free to contact Ralph:
Lantern Lane Farm, located just 20 minutes from the Nashville International Airport, is a tranquil retreat hideaway exclusively reserved for clergy/full-time Christian workers and their spouses or families. The mission of Lantern Lane Farm, owned and operated by Ralph and Joni Cook, is to offer rest while providing an atmosphere for spiritual, emotional, and physical healing and restoration. A beautiful, fully-furnished 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath log home sits on 17 acres of wooded and open pasture for horseback riding, walking, relaxation, and meditation. And just a short walk from the farm is an area lake and state park. Ralph Cook, who is a marriage and family therapist and the pastor of counseling at a local church, offers counseling services for ministry-related issues, couples, families, and individuals by appointment. Opportunities for horseback riding and catered meals are also available. For pictures and more details, please visit http://www.lanternlanefarmtn.net or call 615-504-8362.
I’ve been reading along for a while now. I just wanted to drop you a comment to say keep up the good work.