A.W. Tozer is one of my favorite Christian thinkers. I grew up in the Christian and Missionary Alliance, where he was a key figure. And even though he died before I was born, I was influenced by his powerful, prophetic writing on God and the Christian life. Which is why it was so perplexing to later discover that he was a neglectful husband and father. One quote from his wife, after she remarried following his death, said it all. “I have never been happier in my life,” she wrote, “Aiden [Tozer] loved Jesus Christ, but Leonard Odam loves me.”

Unfortunately, Tozer is not alone in this regard. As pastor Joey Cochran writes, “Great evangelical figures throughout history often had tragic personal and family lives.” Reading a book on early evangelicalism led Cochran to re-evaluate the way he combines family life and ministry. You’ll benefit from his reflections on how Studying Great Evangelicals’ Lives Made Me Less Ambitious. Also, check out our resource on Leaders & Family. These articles will help you strike a work/life balance that is healthier for you, your family, and your ministry.