Kevin Presseault

I'm just finishing the third month of my four-month sabbatical. It has been a great journey of rest and drawing closer to God, my family, and the people around me. I have greatly benefited from this and am excited to complete the journey, seeing how God uses this time to bear more fruit in my life and ministry at Greenbelt Church.  Back in November, I shared my Sabbatical plan here on the blog. While I ended up reading very different books, most of the plan has stuck. I've seen great results in all areas... except one... My Fitness and Weight Loss Goals I've tried multiple workout programs, apps, and routines. None have given me the results that I've seen in the past from 2020 to 2023.  The reality is, the issue isn't the routine; it's me. I need to refocus and get back to some key basics.  If you've struggled with healthy living and exercise, then maybe these are questions you need to answer as well! 1. What is your "Why?" Why do you REALLY want ...

A healthy soul. That sounds great. But what exactly does that mean? The answer you get to that question depends greatly on who you ask. Most Christian leaders, hopefully, will answer based on what the Bible teaches us. After all, the Bible is very clear that we need to be healthy. The Apostle Paul instructed the church in Corinth:  Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. Our body and spirit can be pretty contaminated from everything our toxic culture throws at us. Our soul can also be toxic from the sin that lurks deep within our own hearts. Yes, even us Christian leaders and Pastors. An honest look at our hearts should QUICKLY tell us we all have work to do in this area of our lives. Sadly, most of us give priority to the wrong things and put our own spiritual health as a lower priority in our schedule. Lance Witt's book, Replenish - Leading fr...

  Over the past decade, several sources have commented on the state of pastors and their relationships.  The conclusion they come to is that 70% of pastors do not have a close friend, a confidante, or a mentor. While none of the research directly quotes a 70% number, they still paint a sad reality for pastors and Christian leaders. Lifeway Research has conducted surveys that emphasize pastoral loneliness. In 2021, their survey found that 55% of pastors feel frequent loneliness and report having no one they can confide in about deep personal or ministry struggles. Barna Group studies consistently show that pastors struggle with relational health, especially younger pastors. A 2022 study found that 40% of pastors considered quitting. Isolation was the leading cause for this consideration, significantly higher than dealing with the 2020-2021 pandemic lockdowns. Pastors constantly teach and preach about how spiritual growth and Christ-likeness are developed in the context of meani...

April has, traditionally, been a hectic month for our family. When the kids were little, summer activities would begin and juggling between here, there, and everywhere was a normal routine. Even though our children are all grown, this April still proved to be a hectic month. Both Danielle and I celebrated birthdays. We went out of town for Easter - the first time in 15 years! And I travelled to Istanbul. The trip was such a blessing. I was able to experience firsthand the work that my daughter is doing. I was so encouraged by her passion and love for all the people there.  I'm still processing all that I witnessed there and how that is affecting my view of the local church in Canada and the role we play in our society.  But while I process, let me share a little of what I did during my week. My trip included a 23-hour layover in London, England. I have never been to London before. I've only seen its rich history on television or in pictures at my grandparents' house. Using ...

If you were to attend my church for a few weeks, you would definitely hear me say "What you believe about God will drive how you live your life." I believe this statement to the core of my being.  Finding a book that drives home the exact same thought saves me from having to write it! John Mark Comer's book, God Has a Name, is a deep look at the character and nature of the creator of the universe. In Exodus 34:6-7 we read about Moses' introduction to the God of Israel. Remember, Moses was raised in slavery in Egypt. He doesn't know who this God speaking to him from a burning bush is. God himself explains who he is to Moses: “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” C...

"Your theology drives your methodology." If you've heard me preach, you have heard me say this repeatedly. What we believe about God will drive how we live our lives. When I say belief, I'm not talking about just a superficial acknowledgement of God. The devil "believes" in God! What you believe about him, his character, his nature, his holiness, his will, his plans for humanity - all of those combined will drive how we live. We either live out of our understanding of him, or our lives are dictated by our lack of knowledge. And in some cases, even out of rebellion. Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortund takes the reader on a rich, theological dive through the Bible to unpack the LOVE of Jesus Christ. We can sing Sunday school songs that "Jesus loves me, this I know, cause the Bible tells me so." But do we actually know what the Bible says about Jesus' love for us? Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke up...