The Story

It was in the heart of the pandemic, 2020-2021, I took on my first pastorate. I have been serving churches since 2004 in a lot of different roles, but, this is my first time to hold the office of pastor. I was beyond excited. The church was excited to have a younger pastor. I jumped in knowing all to well the wisdom behind what you are suppose to do the first year of ministry at a new church. I held back on a lot of ideas, however, there were some ideas that needed to be addressed, those ideas were not received well by some of the leadership. We both made mistakes. My mistake was, I let it get to me. I buried it and kept in. When January 2021 came around my mental health had deteriated so rapidly, I wasn't the man they hired. In less then six months, my mental health depleted so quickly because, I didn't know where to turn. I didn't know what resources were available. I became depressed at work and at home. In May of 2021 and only a year of pastoring, I left that church and began what would begin a two year cycle of healing and hurt. But I eventually got better. I still struggle but not like I was because now I know what I needed to then. OCHA answers those questions of what do pastors need to begin the healing process before they need to leave their position. Through podcasts, coaching, resources, and more, I am working to give you what I wished I had then. I have been there, preaching while hurting, not finishing sermon outlines because of my depression, and I would recluse myself from daily duties, and then take all of that hurt home to my wife and kids. Pastor, minister, elder, I am here for you as a friend and I am here to tell you, we need you. Don't give up, the fight, let this website be a resource, and please reach out if you need some help.