Practical conversations for church leaders behind the scenes.
Every great leader is a learner — and in ministry, that means more than mastering gear or building systems. It’s about growing in character, clarity, and compassion.
In this solo episode, David shares his Top 10 (plus one bonus) books that have shaped how he leads teams, develops people, and stays healthy in the grind of church production and worship ministry.
You’ll hear insights from:
📘 Lead Like Jesus — Leadership starts with posture, not position.
📖 The Divine Mentor — You can’t pour out what you haven’t received.
🔥 Fired Up — Energy and motivation begin with the leader.
🍽 Leaders Eat Last — Build safety and trust before you build skills.
💡 How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge — Influence isn’t about title, it’s about responsibility.
❤️ The Four Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership — Healthy leaders build healthy teams.
💬 Crucial Conversations — Conflict isn’t bad; avoidance is.
🙌 The Volunteer Project — Stop recruiting, start retaining.
⚓ Extreme Ownership — Take responsibility, simplify, and lead with discipline.
🧾 The Checklist Manifesto — Systems protect excellence.
🌍 Bonus: Make the World More Awesome — Leadership development is intentional.
Whether you’re a seasoned director, a volunteer, or a church leader trying to grow your team, these lessons will help you lead better, serve smarter, and stay inspired week after week.
👉 Brought to you by ChurchAVpro — helping churches simplify production and amplify the message.
Check out ourWorship Devotional : Volume 1that is written to help leaders spend intentional time in devotion with their team and realigning their hearts with the WHY in why they serve.
If you’ve been in ministry for any length of time, you know how heavy leadership can feel. I’ve been in ministry at some level for over 20 years, 13 of those now being full-time staff. You love what you do, you know you’re called to it, but some days it feels like you’re running on empty. Sermon prep, pastoral care, counseling, staff meetings, vision casting… add in the needs of your own family and suddenly you’re stretched in every direction.
The truth is, you can’t pour into others if your own cup is bone dry. Ministry leaders often forget that staying spiritually and emotionally healthy is just as important as preparing a message or organizing a service. If you want to last in ministry, you need habits that anchor your soul.
Here are five that have made the biggest difference in my own walk and in the lives of other leaders I’ve walked with.
1. Engage in Spiritual Disciplines
“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” – Luke 5:16
Think about that: even Jesus, the Son of God, withdrew often to spend time with the Father. If He needed it, how much more do we?
Spiritual disciplines like prayer, reading Scripture, fasting, or simply being still before God are not “extra credit” for leaders — they’re the foundation. Without them, everything else starts to crack.
I once talked with a pastor who realized his Bible reading had turned into “sermon research” rather than devotion. He wasn’t sitting at Jesus’ feet, he was just digging for material. So he made a change: he set aside 15–20 minutes every morning where he read Scripture with no pen, no notebook, no preaching agenda. Just him and God. He told me, “Those moments brought me back to the reason I ever got into ministry — because I love Jesus.”
That shift gave him fresh fire in his preaching, but more importantly, it renewed his own soul.
2. Cultivate Community
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together…but encouraging one another.” – Hebrews 10:24–25
Ministry can be incredibly isolating. You spend your days listening to everyone else’s struggles, but when it comes to your own, you feel like you have nowhere to go. That’s dangerous ground — because the enemy loves to attack leaders in isolation.
Community doesn’t just happen; you have to build it intentionally. Whether it’s a small group, a mentor, a friend you can be brutally honest with, or even a network of other pastors in your city — you need safe people who know the real you.
A volunteer I lead was drowning in pressure he felt at his job and issues at home. He felt like nobody understood. Then he got connected to a small group at church. Once a month, they’d grab coffee, share their wins and struggles, and pray over each other. He told me, “That circle saved my life. For the first time, I didn’t feel like I was carrying it all alone.”
Leaders who isolate themselves burn out. Leaders who stay in community stay steady.
3. Practice Gratitude and Reflection
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Gratitude doesn’t mean ignoring problems — it means refusing to let them define your perspective. When you pause long enough to thank God for His faithfulness, your focus shifts from what’s wrong to what’s still right.
Just this past weekend, our worship pastor took some time in worship to focus our attention on being grateful. He shared about teaching his kids how to pray, and how innocent their prayers are thanking God for things like “oatmeal and blueberries”. Sometimes we get so burdened by life, we forget to be grateful for the many blessings in our lives. (Shoot, some of those “burdens” we carry are actually things we prayed for once upon a time.) We transitioned to a time of prayer while we sang “Goodness of God”. It was such a powerful moment in our service.
Reflection works hand in hand with gratitude. It helps you notice the ways God is at work in your life and ministry that you might otherwise rush past. Journaling is a simple tool here — jotting down answered prayers, lessons learned, or blessings you don’t want to forget.
4. Serve Others
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” – 1 Peter 4:10
You might be thinking, “I already serve all the time — that’s my whole job!” And you’re right. But there’s a difference between serving in your role and serving out of pure love, with no title or responsibility attached.
Something powerful happens when leaders step outside their “official” ministry duties and just serve. It reminds you that the heart of leadership isn’t managing, it’s loving.
I know a senior pastor who quietly mowed the lawn of an elderly widow in his church every Saturday morning. He didn’t make an announcement, didn’t post it on social media — he just did it. He told me it was one of the most grounding things in his week. It reminded him that ministry wasn’t about numbers or budgets or staff meetings — it was about people.
That kind of service keeps your heart soft. It strips away the pressure and brings you back to the simplicity of Jesus’ command: love your neighbor.
5. Seek Meaning and Purpose
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” – Colossians 3:17
When you forget your “why,” ministry quickly feels like a grind. You start going through the motions, carrying weight without joy. But when you reconnect with your God-given purpose, even the hard parts of leadership take on new meaning.
Sometimes this comes through rest, hobbies, or simply stepping back to see the bigger picture. It doesn’t mean ignoring responsibilities — it means remembering that your life is more than tasks and titles.
A friend of mine who’s a worship pastor started hiking once a week. At first it was just for exercise, but soon he realized those hikes gave him a chance to breathe, pray, and process stress. Being in creation reminded him that God is bigger than his to-do list. He came back to his team more present, less irritable, and with fresh perspective.
For him, meaning wasn’t about adding more to his plate — it was about carving out space to reconnect with God and his calling.
My family and I bought a small farm a couple years ago. We raise a lot of our own food (chickens, turkeys, hogs, and gardening). We don’t have a lot of property, about 6 acres, but I still get an opportunity almost weekly to spend 4-6 hours on a mower. It’s some of the best time of my week. I’m able to mindlessly do a task that is very rewarding when I’m done, plus I get to decompress my brain and think through the week, the conversations that took place, the things I want to accomplish. All of those things bring me back to meaning a purpose.
Final Encouragement
The reality is, ministry will always be demanding. There will always be another meeting, another sermon, another person who needs you. But you’ll never be able to give your best if you’re running on empty.
These five habits — engaging in spiritual disciplines, cultivating community, practicing gratitude, serving others, and seeking meaning — aren’t quick fixes. They’re daily choices that slowly shape you into a healthier leader.
If you want to last in ministry, don’t just invest in your work. Invest in your soul.
What’s one habit you can put into practice this week?
Start small, stay consistent, and watch how God meets you there.
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