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Mike McKinley is the Lead Pastor at Sterling Park Baptist Church, near Washington, DC. In addition to his pastoral duties, Miked has authored roughly a dozen books.
lonely church pew, symbolizing the pressures of pastoral ministry
Faith & Evangelism

Cultivating a Thick Skin and a Tender Heart as a Pastor

Pastors must resist the temptation to respond to the emotional and psychological stress of the ministry by being thin-skinned or hard-hearted. We can have thick skin and tender hearts by
Michael McKinley
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Man resting after exhausting hike, showing how to rest
Faith & Evangelism

How to Establish Rest After Easter

The ministry marathon Recently, I ran my first marathon. And by “first marathon”, I mean “the one and only marathon I will ever run.” From my observation, some people seemed
Michael McKinley
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landscape image of pine trees laced with fog, symbolic of the spiritual fog of doubt
Faith & Evangelism

Pastoring Those with Doubts

It should come as no surprise when pastoral ministry requires us to minister to people who experience doubt. Evangelical churches, however, have not always been the most helpful and welcoming
Michael McKinley
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Red candles burning in front of a lit Christmas tree in celebration of Advent.
Engaging the Culture

Advent Devotional Week 4: Three Responses We Should Have to the Birth of Christ

Christmas is a wonderful time to praise the Lord and give him glory for sending a Savior! We who have so much more information than Mary or the shepherds about
Michael McKinley
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A church where key Christmas truths will be emphasized sits quaintly in the snow.
Uncategorized

Key Truths to Emphasize During Christmastime

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom
Michael McKinley
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a family with foster and adopted kids walking outside together
Advocacy for Children

Four Ways Churches and Pastors Can Support Adoptive Families

"Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his
Michael McKinley
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the sun sets over a golden field, alluding to the warmth created when encouraging church leadership
Faith & Evangelism

How Ministry Leaders Can Encourage Other Ministers in Their Church

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing" (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Michael McKinley
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an elderly woman bows her head to pray in the church pews with fellow elderly congregants doing the same in the background
Engaging the Culture

Loving and Caring for the Elderly in Your Congregation

God means for the church to be a counter-cultural community in the way that it cares for and honors older members in their body. With that in mind, here are
Michael McKinley
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A father encourages his daughter to cross a tree bridge that has fallen over a stream. There are things that pastors can do to encourage a multi-generational dynamic in their congregations.
Faith & Evangelism

Building a Multigenerational Church Community

There are things that pastors can do to encourage a multi-generational dynamic in their congregations. Here are a few suggestions.
Michael McKinley
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A man sits at a desk wearily in front of a laptop computer, stressed out and rubbing his eyes. A bit of rest can help a pastor return to work with fresh energy and delight. If you find it difficult to stop and rest in the midst of ministry, here are seven issues that you might need to address.
Faith & Evangelism

Taking a Rest from Ministry: Seven Issues to Address

A bit of rest can help a pastor return to work with fresh energy and delight. If you find it difficult to stop and rest in the midst of ministry,
Michael McKinley
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Pride flag hanging from window
Engaging the Culture

The Gospel of Christ vs. the Gospel of the World

As pastors, we need to ensure that we have equipped our people well enough to know, believe, and explain what and why the Bible says. Here are four things the
Michael McKinley
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encourage_foster_care_shutterstock_1696670203-med
Advocacy for Children

Four Ways to Encourage Foster Parents in the Church

May is Foster Care Awareness Month. I’m not sure precisely who determines which months are set aside to celebrate which causes, but as someone who has been a foster parent,
Michael McKinley
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