There’s a moment most leaders experience sooner or later. You look at your staff. You look at the missed deadlines. The unanswered emails. The half-finished initiatives. The slow follow-through. And you think it. “Why are they so lazy?” But here’s the hard truth (and it’s one that will either mature you or harden you): If you’re leading a team and the common diagnosis is “they’re lazy,” the problem is rarely laziness. More often, it’s the system. And when the system is overloaded, it produces...

There’s a quiet pain many ministry leaders carry—one that rarely gets discussed publicly, and even more rarely gets addressed intentionally. Barna recently published an important piece titled “Inside the Friendship Gap for Pastors” (Jan. 13, 2026), highlighting something many pastors already feel in their bones: the emotional isolation that can come with leadership. THE FRIENDSHIP GAP IS REAL Barna’s research reveals several sobering realities: Many pastors report strong marriages, with 76%...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a growing presence in how people seek emotional and mental health support. From chatbots that promise 24/7 conversation to apps that offer “therapy-like” guidance, AI tools are increasingly positioned as solutions for anxiety, loneliness, and emotional distress. A recent article by the Oak Health Foundation, “Mental Health and AI: Exploring the Dangers and Benefits,” offers a thoughtful examination of this trend and its implications for care and...