Sent, Not Stationed: Benji Van Fleet on Itinerancy, Humility, and the Beauty of Being Placed (Part 2) | PT 144
What if you didn’t get to choose where you served, but trusted the Spirit and the Church to send you? In Part 2 of this conversation, Pastor Benji Van Fleet joins Tara Beth Leach and Mark Quanstrom to unpack the Methodist system of itinerancy and what it teaches us about obedience, humility, and trust. From matchmaker bishops to Methodist “March Madness,” Benji shares a vision of ministry rooted in submission rather than self-promotion, and a faith that follows wherever God leads.🎙️ In This Episode:What the Methodist itinerant system teaches about calling and surrenderHow being sent shapes a pastor’s humility and courageThe dangers of “pastor as CEO” and the freedom of not owning your churchHow diversity flourishes through a Spirit-led appointment processWhy obedience to the Church’s discernment can deepen faith⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – The theology behind being sent rather than hired03:00 – Contextualizing mission: unity without uniformity07:00 – The “matchmaker” role of bishops and discernment in appointments11:00 – Fresh eyes and prophetic courage in short tenures15:00 – Undermining the “pastor as CEO” model20:00 – Methodist March Madness and the beauty of discernment24:00 – Diversity and the Kingdom of God in appointment systems32:00 – A phone call on Holy Week that changed everything36:00 – Saying yes when it could’ve only been six months38:00 – Submission, humility, and the Spirit’s surprising workMinistry is not a career we climb; it’s a call we receive. Benji’s story reminds us that when we live as sent ones rather than stationed ones, we find the freedom to trust God’s wisdom over our own plans.
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The Sheepdog and the Shepherd: Benji Van Fleet on Calling, Conviction, and the Church That Belongs to God (Part 1) | PT 143
What happens when your theology of calling collides with your understanding of ownership in the church? In this episode, Pastor Benji Van Fleet joins Tara Beth Leach and Mark Quanstrom from Abilene, Texas, to talk about his journey from architecture student to Methodist pastor, how cancer and heartbreak became catalysts for his call, and why he describes himself not as a shepherd—but a sheepdog.🎙️ In This Episode:How a broken engagement and a tumor redirected Benji’s life toward ministryThe moment God spoke when everything else fell apartWhat it means to be a “sent” pastor in the Methodist itinerant systemWhy Benji refuses to call St. Paul “his” church—and what that means for pastoral health⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – The world of Abilene and Texas-sized hospitality04:00 – The story of St. Paul UMC and its 100-year legacy07:00 – Benji’s faith upbringing and the “zebra” of denominations10:00 – Losing everything—and hearing God’s voice for the first time13:00 – “Exactly. Now we can start again.” A calling moment15:00 – Sharing the gospel in Russia and being called as God’s diplomat20:00 – Seminary, marriage, and the Methodist call system23:00 – Going where you’re sent: the theology of itinerancy26:00 – Why Benji says, “I’m not the shepherd—I’m the sheepdog.”29:00 – The cult of personality and pointing people to JesusPastors are not owners of the church; they’re guides pointing the flock toward the Good Shepherd. Benji’s story reminds us that calling often begins in surrender, and ministry flourishes when we lead with open hands.
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When the Wounded Take the Mic: Tara Beth & Mark on Pain, Platforms, and Pastoral Discernment | PT 142
What happens when personal pain becomes public platform? In this candid conversation, Tara Beth Leach and Mark Quanstrom reflect on Tara Beth’s widely shared Substack essay, When the Wounded Take the Mic. They explore the rise of “wounded influencers,” the temptation for pastors to preach from fresh wounds rather than healed scars, and how leaders can discern the difference between prophetic truth-telling and reactive venting.Read the article here: https://tarabethleach.substack.com/p/when-the-wounded-take-the-mic 🎙️ In This Episode:Why woundedness has become a new form of credibility in the churchThe danger of confusing deconstruction with discipleshipLessons Tara Beth learned from preaching with fresh woundsHow pastors can lead from scars instead of unhealed painWhy the church—flawed and fallen—remains God’s chosen place of healing⏱️ Timestamps:02:00 – The rise of wounded influencers and the pull of platform06:00 – When honesty and rawness aren’t the same as holiness and wisdom10:00 – Tara Beth’s personal reflections on preaching while wounded15:00 – How the church itself became a place of healing20:00 – The danger of binary thinking: victim vs. villain24:00 – Family systems theory and the culture of shared anger27:00 – Mark’s reflection: preaching while angry and what changed28:00 – Pastors will always lead while wounded—the question is howEvery pastor carries wounds, but not every wound should be amplified. Ministry rooted in healing scars—rather than raw pain—creates space for true discipleship, renewal, and hope in the body of Christ.
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From Anger to Mercy: Sarah Hinlicky Wilson on Healing, Ecclesiology, and the Cross (Part 3) | PT 141
What happens when ministry wounds you so deeply that you wonder if you’ll ever serve again? In this conversation, Sarah Hinlicky Wilson joins Tara Beth Leach and Mark Quanstrom to share how a decade away from the pastorate became a season of theological reflection, healing, and rediscovery of God’s mercy. From the theology of the cross to the false lure of utopian church ideals, Sarah offers hard-won wisdom for pastors whose hearts are broken.🎙️ In This Episode:Why stepping away from the pastorate was necessary for recoveryThe dangers of chasing validation in ministryHow churches confuse the theology of the cross with gloryFacing sin in the church without losing hopeReturning to your first love as a pastor⏱️ Timestamps:01:05 Sarah’s season away from ministry05:00 Wrestling with anger and recovery09:30 Lessons from failure and immaturity13:50 Roots vs. fruits: pursuing word and sacrament16:20 Cross and resurrection held together20:00 The church’s sins and the call to confession28:00 American utopianism in church life30:30 A word for pastors with broken heartsHealing after ministry wounds is slow, but it is holy work. By returning to our first love in Christ and trusting God’s mercy, pastors can find hope beyond anger and rediscover the joy of serving God’s people.
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Called Back by Surprise: Sarah Hinlicky Wilson on Healing and Pastoring in Tokyo (Part 2) | PT 140
What happens when God calls you back into ministry after deep wounds? In Part 2 of her story, Sarah Hinlicky Wilson reflects on moving from disillusionment in New Jersey to surprising renewal in Tokyo. With honesty and humor, she describes serving a fragile, English-speaking congregation during COVID, watching people show up because Jesus himself drew them, and discovering her pastoral heart restored.🎙️ In This Episode:Recovering from disillusionment and learning to be a parishioner againMoving to Tokyo and reluctantly stepping back into pastoral ministryThe loneliness of Japan—and the surprising ways God calls people to churchHow catechesis shaped new believers and renewed her pastoral heart⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – Leaving Trenton and healing in Strasbourg03:00 – Becoming a supportive parishioner before pastoring again06:00 – Moving to Tokyo and reluctantly accepting a call09:00 – Serving in a city of 40 million isolated people11:00 – COVID, reopening, and an unexpected growth in the church13:00 – “Jesus told me to come to church”: new believers in Tokyo17:00 – Using the Small Catechism as an evangelism tool20:00 – Formation vs. just getting people in the door24:00 – A renewed pastoral heart and the gift of a faithful congregationGod doesn’t waste seasons of pain. In Tokyo, Sarah discovered that even when she felt unqualified, God was faithful to bring people, heal her wounds, and give her back a pastoral heart.
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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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