"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement
and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word."
- II Thess. 2:16-17 |
Don't miss these upcoming events:
- Focus on Marriage simulcast conference
- Feb 27, 2010
- Building Faith at Home conference with Mark Holmen (for church leaders) - March 2010
See our Upcoming Events page for details.
We are so glad you found our website! If you are a pastor or a family member of a pastor or missionary family, you will find all kinds of practical information and encouragement here.
Ministry is a high calling, but it’s not for the faint of heart! Inherent in this line of work can be long hours, expectations of others, self-sacrifice and incredible times of joy. The Clergy Care Network and Focus on the Family Canada are here to help provide guidance when life is challenging – and to rejoice with you when things are going well.
Please call us toll-free at 1.888.5.CLERGY or email us at info@clergycare.ca. Our phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. PST. Let us know if we can serve you through complimentary phone counselling, consultation, resource or retreat suggestions or counselling referrals. Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter for pastors and check out our website for upcoming clergy events across Canada!
Blessings to you and your family
as you serve the Lord and His people!
Clergy Care Network
Addicted to Approval? by Jerry Ritskes
When we begin to look to people for affirmation as a sign of "God's blessing" or "God's calling," then we are on a slippery slope toward a direction which actually blunts our ministry and passion.
The Pastor’s Need to Rest and Retreat by Jerry Ritskes
When you get asked how you are, do you find yourself proudly (but with some frustration) answering that you are “busy”? There is a world to win, programs to organize, people to train and a church to maintain.
The Really Ugly Truth by Wendy Kittlitz *NEW
By shining a light on pornography addiction, you will remind those in bondage that there is hope and that they're not alone. God's power is stronger than this addiction!
Skimming by Pete Scazzero*
Pete Scazzero, author of The Emotionally Healthy Church, talks about the perils of avoiding aspects of ministry. If you're "skimming," it may be time to stop trying to look good and do the dirty work beneath the surface.
*Note: Links to external sites or articles do not constitute endorsement or complete agreement by Focus on the Family Canada with information or resources offered at or through those sites.
| Current Thoughts & Issues |
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Clergy Well-Being
Clergy well-being is not an oxymoron. Although it seems to be supremely challenging for clergy to give to themselves as fully as they give to others, it is not impossible. Clergy must step up to the plate of well-being and learn to hit home runs time and time again. You can’t keep hitting fouls, striking out, sitting on the bench, or arguing with the umpire. This is it; this is the game. There may be a few “swings and a miss,” you may walk a base or two, but you need to keep aiming for a home run. You gotta get home. And home is in Christ.
Clergy are men and women who love Jesus and feel called to bring Christ’s message of love and forgiveness to everyone. All very admirable, very commendable and very scriptural, but Jesus himself took regular time apart with our Father.
Spiritual disciplines can be set in place to help in time apart, but in a pastor’s busy schedule the disciplines can sometimes become “one more thing to do.” Clergy don’t need one more thing to do, they need time to be. Maybe simply being with God quietly every day, drinking at the well, quenching a dry thirstiness, listening with an open heart, is all that is required. After all, God wants us to know him.
Martin Luther is recognized as saying, “I have so much to do (today) that I should spend the first three hours in prayer.” Okay, maybe we can’t set aside three hours, but certainly we can set aside 30 minutes a day to be renewed, refreshed and re-energized by our Lord. After all, God doesn’t expect or want us to go it alone.
| What is the Clergy Care Network? |
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The
Clergy Care Network is a ministry based out of Focus on the Family Canada. With the support
of Canadian denominations, we exist to provide
confidential support and encouragement to Canadian
pastors, their spouses and their children. Our toll-free
line (1.888.5.CLERGY) provides information, consultation,
counselling, resources and referrals.
We welcome your calls and look forward to hearing from you!
You may also reach us via email at info@clergycare.ca. Please see our FAQ page for more information on CCN.
If you are from the United States, please contact The Parsonage. This is the Focus on the Family ministry for American pastors. Please call their toll-free pastoral care line (1.877.233.4455) or visit their website at www.parsonage.org
| Focus on Pastors (Formerly The Signpost) |
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Our monthly e-newsletter, Focus on Pastors, is filled with encouraging articles and resources that are practical and relevant to the needs and ministry of Canadian pastors. It is a collaboration between Focus on the Family Canada's Church Relations, Clergy Care Network and Kerith Creek (Kerithcreek.com).
If you are not a current subscriber and would like to receive this free resource, please sign up below.
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