The Weight of Nostalgia: Sarah Hinlicky Wilson on Ethnic Churches and the Struggle to Be the Church (Part 1) | PT 139
What happens when ministry doesn’t go as planned? In this riveting conversation, Sarah Hinlicky Wilson shares her story of growing up in a third-generation pastoral family, wrestling with her call as a woman, and stepping into a church full of both history and heartbreak. From dollar-priced communion to deep theological reflection, Sarah’s story reminds us that God often works through unexpected twists.Learn more about Sarah's writing at sarahhinlickywilson.com🎙️ In This Episode:Growing up in a healthy Lutheran family and finding her call to ministryWrestling with being a woman pastor—and discovering unlikely mentorsHer first call in Trenton, NJ, and the painful reality of a declining churchNostalgia, culture, and the surprising places God redirects us⏱️ Timestamps:04:00 – Third-generation pastor with a happy church upbringing07:00 – Wrestling with women in ministry through theology and mentors10:00 – From PhD work to ordination13:00 – First call: a struggling Slovak Lutheran church in Trenton17:00 – Communion for a dollar? The odd traditions she inherited20:00 – Facing racism, loss, and resistance in a shrinking congregation24:00 – The deeper challenge of nostalgia and bound wills30:00 – God’s unexpected redirection: Strasbourg, FranceMinistry is rarely a straight line. Sarah’s story reveals how even in broken churches and cultural tensions, God is still at work redirecting us, reshaping us, and surprising us with new callings.
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When the Dream Dies: Chaz Robbins on Church Planting, Closure, and God’s Faithfulness | PT 138
What happens when your call to ministry feels buried, but never really dies? In this special episode, the tables turn as Tara Beth Leach and Mark Quanstrom interview their producer, and now executive pastor, Chaz Robbins. From a childhood shaped by faithful mentors to an RV road trip with his family, Chaz opens up about his winding path through ministry, media, church planting, and finally, back into pastoral leadership.🎙️ In This Episode:How a youth pastor at Taco Bell modeled the love of JesusThe moment Chaz’s grandfather called him into ministry: “You were made for this”Lessons from planting a church—and letting it go in 2020What a year on the road in an RV taught about community and resilienceWhy stepping into executive ministry feels like coming home⏱️ Timestamps:05:00 – Growing up in Missouri, football dreams, and broken bones08:30 – A youth pastor’s presence that changed everything10:00 – Called into ministry at a Nebraska retreat12:00 – From Ozark Christian College to Northern Seminary16:00 – Learning ministry through Next Steps & Rooted at Parkview18:00 – Church planting residency and the dream of a coffeehouse church20:00 – Planting in Colorado… and closing during COVID17:00 – Selling everything and living a year in an RV with two toddlers23:00 – The bittersweet ache of stepping away from pastoral ministry26:00 – The long road of healing and rediscovering call31:00 – A new chapter: becoming Executive Pastor at Osage Hills33:00 – Why Jesus’ promise “I will build my church” matters most🔗 Resources & Mentions:The Great Morning Revolution by Tara Beth Leach → Amazon linkThreaded Bible Study by Tara Beth Leach → Amazon linkEven when ministry dreams fall apart, God wastes nothing. The same call that sparked at a Taco Bell table and a Nebraska retreat still echoes today: you were made for this—to love people with the presence of Jesus.
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Pour Out and Fill Up: Ben Cachiaras on Rest, Boundaries, and Holy Ambition (Part 2) | PT 137
How do pastors pour themselves out for others without losing their own soul? In Part 2 of this conversation, Ben Cachiaras reflects on the dangers of achievement addiction, the symptoms of ministry at an unsustainable pace, and the practices that helped him and his staff find a healthier rhythm of life and leadership. From numbing emotions to creating a staff-wide REST policy, Ben shares the hard-won lessons of thriving in ministry without losing holy ambition.🎙️ In This Episode:The signs of burnout pastors often minimize or ignoreWhy achievement can become an addiction in ministryCreating a culture of health through the REST policyHolding urgency for the gospel and soul care in tension⏱️ Timestamps:02:00 – Ben’s story of overcommitment and achievement addiction07:00 – Symptoms of burnout: numbness, resentment, escapes13:00 – When staff intervention became a turning point19:00 – False dichotomies of soul care vs. gospel urgency25:00 – How Mountain Church institutionalized rest31:00 – REST policy: relax, exercise, social, time with God35:00 – Final reflections and resourcesThriving in ministry doesn’t mean abandoning holy ambition—it means learning the rhythm of pouring yourself out and allowing God to fill you back up.
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Made for This: Ben Cachiaras on Calling, Longevity, and Evangelism That Sticks (Part 1) | PT 136
What does it look like to serve a 200-year-old church that’s still bursting with life? Pastor Ben Cachiaras of Mountain Christian Church has spent nearly three decades leading with holy ambition, holding together the call to discipleship and evangelism. His story is one of clarity, perseverance, and joy in ministry that truly “fits like a glove."🎙️ In This Episode:Ben’s early call to ministry through his grandfather’s powerful invitationWhy discipleship and evangelism aren’t opposites and how they thrive togetherThe challenge of staying faithful for the long haul in one placeDiscernment in ministry: when to persevere and when it might be time to go⏱️ Timestamps:07:00 – A clear and undeniable call to ministry13:00 – The role of the church in affirming pastoral callings20:00 – Discovering his heart for evangelism and discipleship together28:00 – What sustains 28 years at Mountain Christian Church34:00 – Perseverance, “remaining under,” and knowing when to stay or goPastoral ministry may not always be easy, but when it fits your calling, it can become the most joy-filled way to spend your life.
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Sacred Starts: Why Mornings and Boundaries Matter in Ministry | PT 135
How do pastors actually “do it all”? In this lively, behind-the-scenes conversation, Mark Quanstrom and Tara Beth Leach pull back the curtain on their rhythms of ministry, family life, writing, and rest. From the myth of busyness to the art of batch working, they share practical ways to sustain pastoral life without burning out—and why mornings might be the most important part of the day.CLICK HERE to Pre-Purchase The Great Morning by Tara Beth LeachCLICK HERE to Purchase Threads by Tara Beth Leach🎙️ In This Episode:The myth of “doing it all” and how pastors can set realistic expectationsHow batch working creates space for ministry, writing, and familyThe heart behind The Great Morning Revolution and starting the day with the LordWhy taking extended time away is essential for long-term ministry health⏱️ Timestamps:02:00 – The myth of “doing it all” in pastoral ministry05:00 – Batch working and protecting focused time08:00 – Inside Tara Beth’s Threaded Bible study09:00 – The story and practices behind The Great Morning Revolution15:00 – Mark’s morning prayer rhythm and sacred spaces18:00 – Ministry health and the necessity of time away24:00 – Building churches that don’t revolve around the pastor27:00 – Final encouragement: mornings with God, time away, and a nourished mindA sustainable ministry life isn’t about hustling harder; it’s about stewarding your mornings, protecting your time, and trusting that the church is Christ’s to hold, not yours.
Corporate leadership systems focused on vanity metrics have left today’s church leaders weary and burnt out. The Pastor’s Table Podcast brings you conversations with local pastors working out deep theological convictions in their churches.
Listen to the Pastor’s Table today to get a renewed perspective on how to integrate a robust theological vision with your ministry practices. Embrace the gift of serving in God’s Kingdom with Join Dr. Mark Quanstrom & Rev. Tara Beth Leach on The Pastor’s Table.
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