Healthy Rhythms in Ministry | pastor, missionary, burnout, wellness, work-life balance
Do you feel exhausted and burned out? Are you limping to the end of the day and wondering if you’ve made any difference? Or maybe leadership feels lonely? You help so many people carry their heavy burdens, but who is there to carry you?
You are not alone. This podcast will help you build resilience in ministry through real stories and holistic practices Every episode you will join us for conversations with pastors, missionaries, and other Christian leaders to learn what kept them going through some of their hardest seasons. And you will have a chance to try some of the things that have helped them stay well over the long haul. It’s our hope that this podcast feels like a breath of fresh air and maybe a life-preserver if you feel like you’re drowning today.
We are Josh and Kelly Hallahan- we have served in local churches, lived on the mission field, worked for two non-profits, oh and we’ve been married for more than 20 years and we have four kids. Some days it feels like we’ve been in ministry forever and other days it feels like we are just as clueless as when we started. It’s amazing how many opportunities God has given us and we know that without His help we would have quit a long time ago.
We had all the missionary training and had walked with Jesus for a long time; we had lots of head knowledge about burnout and knew all the right things to do, but raising small kids while you’re in ministry is exhausting. And we didn’t always navigate team dynamics in the healthiest ways. We neglected our bodies and had no idea how to care for our mental health.
We finally realized that you can’t think your way to wellness. We are whole people and you can’t ignore your spiritual, physical or mental needs without doing damage.
Our calling is to create space where you can be refreshed and equipped as you connect with God and others. Through retreats, events, and mentoring we minister to the whole person- body, mind and spirit.
If you are ready to…
link arms with a community of other pastors and missionaries
create a work-life balance that feels sustainable instead of impossible…
And tend to your own well-being so that you are able to do what God has created you to do…
This podcast is for you!
Join our Facebook Group: Resilient Christian Leaders Collective
Or email us at director@resilientclc.com
Episodes
19 minutes ago
19 minutes ago
14 min
Are you overwhelmed by the needs all around you? Do you fall into bed every night wondering when it will all stop? As a pastor or missionary, it can be hard to find time to recover from burnout.
In this episode, Kelly offers you a gentle invitation as she looks at how Jesus managed the crushing needs all around Him in Mark 3. We hope that you can pause for 11 minutes, take a deep breath, and be encouraged to make (and use) a ministry survival plan.
This week (Nov 11) we are sending out our Small Boat Plan PDF- to help you build a sustainable ministry life: click the subscribe button on our website.
Join our Facebook group to find other like-minded Resilient Christian Leaders.
Need someone to walk you through the small boat plan? We have some mentoring sessions available. E-mail director@resilientclc.com
Nov 3, 2026
Nov 3, 2026
37 min
Have a heart to serve but don't quite know where you fit in the body of Christ anymore? Wonder if there are other options for ministry than just pastor or missionary?
Zach Stevenson (and his dad, Rich Stevenson) host a podcast called Join Me in the Ruins. Zach also serves with an organization called 150 Cherry Street in Burlington, Vermont. He is a pastor's kid who is still walking with Jesus and building His kingdom in a very unique way and we love that!
Listen to his podcast: Join Me in the Ruins
Hear his episode where we were guests: Josh and Kelly Hallahan
Find out more about the ministry Zach is a part of: 150 Cherry Street
Get weekly rhythms in your inbox: click the subscribe button on our website.
Join our Facebook group to find other like-minded Resilient Christian Leaders
Oct 27, 2026
Oct 27, 2026
39 min
Does the monotony of ministry feel like it's dragging you down? Are you struggling with burnout symptoms in ministry? Perhaps you need encouragement in keeping first things first?
Winfield Bevins is an artist, author, theologian, and pastor. He is also the Founder and Executive Director of Creo Arts. He and his wife Kay have been in ministry together for over three decades and this conversation was like chatting with wise mentors. Together they have raised three daughters, planted a church, and begun several non-profits.
Learn more about Creo Arts here
Learn more about Winfield Bevins here.
Get weekly rhythms in your inbox: click the subscribe button on our website.
Join our Facebook group to find other like-minded Resilient Christian Leaders
Feeling lonely in ministry and want to connect with other Christian leaders to have these conversations in-person? Join us in Wilmore, Kentucky for our first micro-retreat on November 7. Register here.
Oct 20, 2026
Oct 20, 2026
36 min
Not everyone is given a full-time ministry assignment. Maybe you've been listening to our podcast and you are not a pastor or missionary (and even if you are, this is a helpful episode!), but you wonder how you can serve the Lord, work your job, and still have healthy rhythms.
Brian Walker is Executive Director of Reach Mission-Ware balancing a full-time job, a family, and a business that supports missions around the world. He has gotten creative in how he builds the kingdom and we love his heart.
SHOP NOW: reachmissionware.com GET 10% OFF by using the code HRM1558 and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Resilient Christian Leaders Collective!
Get weekly rhythms in your inbox: click the subscribe button on our website.
Join our Facebook group to find other like-minded Resilient Christian Leaders
Feeling lonely in ministry and want to connect with other Christian leaders to have these conversations in-person? Join us in Wilmore, Kentucky for our first micro-retreat on November 7. Register here.
Oct 13, 2026
Oct 13, 2026
25 min
Have you ever stepped away from ministry and struggled with issues of identity? Are you so busy serving Jesus that you don't have time just to be with Him? Ever wonder who you really are apart from the work you do?
In this episode we explore the concepts of calling and vocation with Jo Lisa McKenzie- a wife, mother, priest, prayer warrior and spiritual director. Her insight might bring you a bit of freedom today.
Jesus and the Soul by Patrick Holley
Get weekly rhythms in your inbox: click the subscribe button on our website.
Join our Facebook group to find other like-minded Resilient Christian Leaders
Feeling lonely in ministry and want to connect with other Christian leaders to have these conversations in-person? Join us in Wilmore, Kentucky for our first micro-retreat on November 7. Register here.
Oct 6, 2026
Oct 6, 2026
30 min
Are you facing an unexpected loss or scary diagnosis? Do you wonder where God is in the the midst of pain? Are you feeling lonely or facing burnout?
In this episode we are gently, but firmly, guided back to the love of God by Jo Lisa McKenzie- a wife, mother, priest, prayer warrior and spiritual director. Her story of God’s faithfulness is powerful.
Get weekly rhythms in your inbox: click the subscribe button on our website.
Join our Facebook group to find other like-minded Resilient Christian Leaders
Sep 29, 2026
Sep 29, 2026
31 min
Are you tired of carrying everyone else's burdens? Do you feel stuck trying to figure out how to recover from burnout on your own? Do you wish someone could just hand you a map that shows you where you are on the pathway of burnout?
Dr. Scott Ream has walked the ministry pathway through burnout himself, done the research, and created a complete framework for ministry health! In this episode you will hear Scott's story of burnout and also learn how his assessments and resources could benefit you. You don't have to reinvent the wheel- he's done the hard part for you.
Take the Total Ministry Health and Vulnerability Signature Assessments here
Find Scott's books here
Email Scott: sream@totalministryhealth.com
Get weekly rhythms in your inbox: click the subscribe button on our website.
Join our Facebook group to find other like-minded Resilient Christian Leaders
Sep 22, 2026
Sep 22, 2026
39 min
Struggling with burnout? Feeling depressed and wondering if therapy would be helpful? Ever hear someone talk about taking a sabbatical and wonder how you could make that a reality in your life?
Today we were joined by Dr. Jonathan Powers, who is recently back from a sabbatical. We know that taking 6 months off isn't always possible for everyone, but we want to help you brainstorm how you could build sabbatical rhythms into your normal life!
Hear Dr. Jonathan Powers preach at Wilmore Anglican Church
Get weekly rhythms in your inbox: click the subscribe button on our website.
Join our Facebook group to find other like-minded Resilient Christian Leaders
Sep 15, 2026
Sep 15, 2026
32 min
Do you find yourself in a really difficult season of ministry? Are you wondering if it's time for a ministry transition? Have you had a messy exit from a church or mission field and are wondering if it's even possible to leave well?
This conversation was such a delight! There was so much goodness we had to split it into two parts. Today we are joined by two of our lead pastors at Wilmore Anglican Church: Hule Goddard and Rick Durrance. They have successfully navigated pastoral transition twice from Hule to Rick and they are here to share the wisdom they have gleaned during those seasons and other seasons of transition.
Before we met them we didn't think it was possible or even wise for a pastor or leader to step down from leadership and stay within the ministry context. Now we know there can be exceptions to that rule!
Don’t miss Part 1 of this Conversation! It's Episode 20
Hear more goodness from Hule and Rick (and others) on the Wilmore Anglican Church sermon podcast
Get weekly rhythms in your inbox: click the subscribe button on our website.
Join our Facebook group to find other like-minded Resilient Christian Leaders
Sep 8, 2026
Sep 8, 2026
26 min
Do you find yourself in a really difficult season of ministry? Are you wondering if it's time for a ministry transition? Have you had a messy exit from a church or mission field and are wondering if it's even possible to leave well?
This conversation was such a delight! There was so much goodness we had to split it into two parts. Today we are joined by two of our lead pastors at Wilmore Anglican Church: Hule Goddard and Rick Durrance. They have successfully navigated pastoral transition twice from Hule to Rick and they are here to share the wisdom they have gleaned during those seasons and other seasons of transition.
Before we met them we didn't think it was possible or even wise for a pastor or leader to step down from leadership and stay within the ministry context. Now we know there can be exceptions to that rule!
Hear more goodness from Hule and Rick (and others) on the Wilmore Anglican Church sermon podcast
Get weekly rhythms in your inbox: click the subscribe button on our website.
Join our Facebook group to find other like-minded Resilient Christian Leaders