Presbyterian Mission Agency alcoholics anonymous Archives

Walking the path of recovery with the psalms

Posted March 17th, 2021

On his first sober day, Jeff Dafler committed to reading the psalms, focusing on one each day to allow his mind time to turn over interesting phrases and words. As part of this process, he prayed for his Higher Power’s guidance and illumination. He savored the psalmists’ bracing honestly and identified with their feelings of fear, shame, loss, and regret.

What pastors ought to know beyond seminary

Posted September 16th, 2019

I graduated from seminary over 46 years ago and I have served in very large urban congregations, suburban large churches, campus ministry, hospital chaplaincy, congregations with schools and nursing homes — and in Miami, where about 70 percent of the folks are Latino. So, I have learned a great deal over my career that was never brought up in seminary. My thesis, therefore, is that all effective pastors need to be prepared to know and be aware of resources that the folks we minister to need to survive.

What pastors ought to know beyond seminary

Posted July 1st, 2019

I graduated from seminary over 46 years ago and I have served in very large urban congregations, suburban large churches, campus ministry, hospital chaplaincy, congregations with schools and nursing homes — and in Miami, where about 70 percent of the folks are Latino. So I have learned a great deal over my career that was never brought up in seminary. My thesis therefore is that all effective pastors need to be prepared to know and be aware of resources that the folks we minister to need to survive.