💥 My Top 5 Ministry Mistakes (and What They Taught Me) Hey friends — Gabe here. I thought I’d kick things off here in Pastor Skool with something real. After almost 3 decades in ministry, I’ve made more than a few mistakes… and honestly, most of what I’ve learned has come through those mistakes, not around them. So here's my first crack at my Top 5 Ministry Mistakes — the ones that shaped me the most — and maybe they’ll help you avoid some unnecessary pain (or at least remind you you’re not alone). 1️⃣ Measuring Success by Size Instead of Health Early in ministry, I thought growth was the win — bigger numbers, fuller rooms, faster expansion. But what I’ve learned is this: growth without health eventually collapses. 👉 Healthy things grow naturally. Focus on spiritual depth before numerical breadth. 2️⃣ Running Too Fast for My Soul There was a season where I tried to outwork my weariness — and it caught up to me. Rest isn’t a reward for finishing the work; it’s fuel to keep doing it. Your soul can’t run on fumes forever. 3️⃣ Avoiding Hard Conversations Too Long This one hurt to learn. I used to avoid tension in the name of “grace.” But delayed truth breeds dysfunction. If you love people, tell them the truth — sooner, not later. You’ll lose less sleep and build more trust. 4️⃣ Trying to Do Everything Myself Classic achiever move. I thought leading meant doing. Turns out it means developing. When I stopped doing all the ministry and started building leaders, our church and my health both grew stronger. 5️⃣ Underestimating the Power of Clarity I’ve always had vision, but I didn’t always communicate it clearly or consistently. People can’t follow what they can’t see. Say it simply. Say it often. Then show it lived out. 💬 Your Turn These five mistakes taught me more than my successes ever did. If you’ve been leading for a while, I’d love to know — What’s one ministry mistake that shaped you the most? Let’s make Pastor Skool a place where leaders grow through what we’ve been through. 🙏