Rhythms for the Long Haul: Restoring the Soul of Church Leadership
In this episode of The Substance of Faith Podcast, Pastor Rudy Swigart returns with a timely and vulnerable conversation about what’s often hidden behind the pulpit, burnout, exhaustion, and spiritual depletion in ministry. With a deep heart for both church leaders and individuals navigating addiction or mental health battles, Rudy opens the episode with a profound reminder: We bring the shadows where grace can, it’s built upon the substance of faith.
This episode is an honest look at the emotional and spiritual toll ministry can take when leadership is unsupported, overworked, and out of rhythm. Rudy speaks directly to pastors, ministry leaders, and volunteers who carry the unseen weight of shepherding others while trying to manage their own well-being. Drawing from personal experience and Barna research showing that 90% of pastors feel unequipped or overwhelmed, Rudy offers more than statistics, he offers hope.
The solution isn’t more performance. It’s more presence.
Key Takeaways:
Burnout is no longer just a risk, it’s a trend. Leaders must stop spiritual hemorrhaging by returning to healthy rhythms.
Ministry cannot flow from an empty soul. Personal devotion, prayer, and meditation are not optional extras, they’re survival tools.
We lead best when we abide, not when we strive. Sustainable leadership is rooted in spiritual rhythms, not rigid routines.
Soul care builds resilience. Spiritual disciplines help leaders face criticism, crisis, and conflict without becoming cynical or numb.
Whether you’re a pastor navigating small-church complexities, a lay leader wrestling with hidden sin, or a believer seeking emotional restoration, this episode speaks life into the tension between calling and capacity.
If you’ve been running on empty, this is your call to slow down, re-center, and let God restore your soul, one rhythm at a time.
“Ministry cannot flow from an empty soul. We must first be with Jesus before doing for Jesus.”
Learn more about Rudy Swigart by visiting the following links:
