This week I was talking to pastor and author Karl Vaters about ministry during this pandemic. He said something that stuck with me. “At the beginning of the pandemic, a lot of pastors were sprinting to adapt. But this is lasting a lot longer than we thought it would, so we need to think of this as more like a marathon.” I liked that metaphor. In a sprint, you go all out. In a marathon, you pace yourself. You stop for water. If you don’t take care of yourself, you’ll never cross the finish line.

The resources we’re highlighting this week are designed to help you get that crucial refreshment so you last for the long-haul. Soul Care offers practices and tips for making sure you’re caring for your own spiritual wellbeing so you can continue tending to the souls of others. Speaking of faithfulness over the long haul, J.I. Packer passed away recently. I was blessed by these reflections from church leaders on what the late theologian’s life and writing meant to them.