Pastor Greg stood in the empty sanctuary the week before Thanksgiving, taking in the quiet before the holiday rush. The last few months had been tough. The church has experienced unexpected insurance claims, difficult decisions, and long conversations about budgets, buildings, and risks. But as he looked around, he realized something important: every challenge his church faced this year had taught them something important. Throughout it all, they weren’t just surviving, but were growing wiser because of the hardships they had conquered together. The insurance surprises, the uncovered gaps and the stressful what-ifs all pushed their team to think more clearly about how to protect the ministry God had entrusted to them.

That realization brought Greg a deep sense of gratitude. He was grateful for the lessons and clarity that the past year had brought to their tiny West Texas church ministry staff and volunteers. He was also feeling hopeful for the chance to do things better in the coming year. Pastor Greg knew his church wasn’t perfect, but they were learning how to steward their mission with open eyes and thankful hearts.

To him, Thanksgiving week wasn’t just a holiday this year, it was a reminder that faithful stewardship grows stronger through the blessings and the burdens. This week, our podcast episodes focused on this kind of thankfulness. We are thankful for Texas churches and their ministry staff, what they have learned from the challenges and ways to prepare ministries for the future.

Week 9 Podcast Episodes