Blog Health of a Christian Leader Psychological Wellbeing Implements a Plan for Well-Being
Implements a Plan for Well-Being
A written personal-development plan, and intentional routines for body, mind and spirit.
Vitality in Christian Leaders
Our vision at Verve Lead is to create thriving Christian leaders and flourishing communities. But why is the vitality of a leader so important? If the community itself is strong, it may thrive or at least survive even with a struggling leader. However in the long term, a community will only be as strong as its leader. In the book … Read More ... Read More
14 Apr 2026
Thank You to the (previously 425) 520 Clergy Who Have Contributed to Vital Research!
A heartfelt thank you to the 425 participants who have already taken part in Biola University’s groundbreaking research into the health and well-being of Christian leaders. Your insights are helping shape a more effective way to identify early warning signs of unhealth in clergy—and empower timely, transformative action… ... Read More
5 Oct 2025
Depletion and Replenishment: The Value of Self-Care
Years ago my mentor asked me, “How would the devil stop you from doing what God is asking you to do?” I wasn’t sure. He began asking this question every time we had our monthly session, and after pondering it for three months, I finally knew the answer! It was emotional depletion. This was a bit of a “duh” moment for me. My emotional depletion had stopped me several times in my years in ministry, once leading to a full burnout where I lost six months of time at work to rest and to get back on my feet. However, during this time of recovery, I discovered how important self-care is for my work. Engaging routinely in self-care practices is an essential competency for all leaders...
7 Aug 2025
Why Does Health Matter?
As leaders in the spiritual community, often our first (and sometimes only) priority is our own spiritual well-being. Because the foundation of our work revolves around relationships with God and each other, and the transformation of our own souls, it’s only natural that our spiritual health is at the forefront of our minds. However, this can lead to neglecting other aspects of our lives, like our emotional and physical wellness...
31 July 2025
Join Rosemead School of Psychology’s Research on Improving the Lives of Clergy
Improving the Lives of Clergy A team of researchers from Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University invites you to participate in their research to improve the lives of clergy. Their study is testing a new measure of health for Christian leaders, and they hope that this tool will become a faster and more effective way of identifying warning signs of poor health to empower clergy to intervene before disaster strikes...
13 Feb 2025
We Have a Big Announcement!
I am so excited to share this news… My new book, Creating a Vision for Health, is published! I’ve spent the last several years reflecting on well-being and exploring what health (mental, physical, emotional and spiritual) can look like for Christian leaders. My thoughts have finally come together in this book as I explore the five competencies essential to leadership: Vital Spirituality, Thriving Relationships, Emotional Intelligence, Sustainable Life and Reduced Risk, and the behaviours associated with each competency. I have also provided access to useful tools such as Verve Lead’s Well-Being Gauges, Well-Being Q Health Profile and the Mentor Q 360 Assessment.
3 May 2024
Join this Research Project and Make a Meaningful Impact on Christian Leaders' Health.
My Message Some wonderful news: a research project on Christian Leaders Health is underway. It’s an empirical validation of the health of a Christian Leader assessment tool I developed with Dr Bob Logan and Prof Chuck Riddley. It’s based on Dr Keith Farmers’ 5 core questions. If you are interested in being healthy, take the survey. Also, pass this survey ... Read More
13 Feb 2024
An Opportunity for Christian Leaders
Do you want to increase resilience, become the best version of yourself and create a more sustainable lifestyle? Follow the link and take the free well-being quiz with the code COVIDFREE to receive a snapshot of your health and a complimentary feedback session from the Verve Lead team! Click through to find out more.
8 June 2023
Vision for health
What does it mean to be healthy? Discover your vision for health.
11 Mar 2023
Restorative Niche - Final Chapter
Choosing Restorative Niche Activities 4 Here are my last two tips to help in choosing activities that really do replenish your soul. Choose to balance the tensions There’s tension between desiring to attain certain goals and the need to feel in control of an activity. On one hand attaining set goals can bring satisfaction that builds our health. But on ... Read More
23 Sept 2021
Restorative Niche - Chapter 2
Choosing Restorative Niche Activities 2 As well as finding refreshment in the presence of Jesus, and in activities which you find enjoyable, here is a further thought on choosing something that restores your soul. Choose something in which you become absorbed. Choose something in which you lose yourself, become so absorbed by, that you forget to look at the time ... Read More
9 Sept 2021
Restorative Niche - Chapter 1
Choosing Restorative Niche Activities 1 We know that it is important to do some things for ourselves to restore a balance of energy and health—emotionally, physically, spiritually, mentally. How do we decide those niche activities that suit just us and our life circumstances? Here are first two of six criteria to help you choose. Jesus said, “Come to me.” Firstly, ... Read More
2 Sept 2021
Strategizing for Life Post-Covid-19
Growing Through the Uncertainty This past year when COVID-19 hit, you likely implemented some strategies to survive the uncertainty of how long it would last, the claustrophobia and loneliness of lockdown, and the fear of ourselves and our loved ones getting sick. Maybe you decided to get your groceries delivered instead of going to the store, you probably bought some ... Read More
15 July 2021
Self-Value is a Strategy for Work/Life Balance
A Healthy Balance Begins with Valuing Yourself Why is it that work seems to overwhelm other areas of our lives? Many of us have had a job—or even still do—that seemed to require too much of us, or maybe we were even requiring too much of ourselves. After I went through burnout, I spent a lot of time reflecting on ... Read More
8 July 2021
Make New Year’s resolutions you can achieve
Happy New Year! Here at the start of a fresh new season, we can’t help but look towards our future. What will this new year hold for us? What changes are in store? Where will be we a year from now? This tends to be the time of year when we make resolutions and goals. We optimistically resolve to throw ... Read More
14 Jan 2021
3 Key Strategies for Personal Wellbeing - Guest Blog: Dr. Chris Adams
Guest Blogger: Dr. Chris Adams Executive Director Center for Vocational Ministry Azusa Pacific University Senior Research Associate: The Flourishing in Ministry Project University of Notre Dame Keep perspective. God is with us, no matter what happens. The hope of Easter resurrection is alive! The Christian Church is the most resilient movement in history, having survived and even thrived during wars, ... Read More
14 July 2020
Planning for being well, requires a plan for well-being.
Myth: If they are doing God’s will the staff will not get physically or emotionally sick. Myth: We don’t need to look after them, that’s God’s job. Debunked: Paul the apostle stated that his ministry to the Galatian church commenced when he was sick, and he was looked after by them. “Surely you remember that I was sick when I ... Read More
24 Oct 2019
Growing where I didn't want to grow - my waistline
Heading into to burnout, most areas of life were getting smaller. The emotional tank was emptying, effectiveness declining and connections were diminishing as I increasingly withdrew. But I was growing where I didn’t want to grow. I constantly felt hungry even after eating. Now I understand it was to do with emotional depletion. My body craved food because it made ... Read More
27 May 2019