If your calendar is full but your soul feels undernourished, it may be time to ask an uncomfortable question: is personal growth actually on your pastoral calendar? Many pastors are faithful planners when it comes to sermon series, staff meetings, and ministry events, yet their own formation is often left to chance. Personal growth rarely happens by accident. Like everything else in ministry, it requires intention, time, and prayerful commitment.
Scripture reminds us that leadership flows from inner life. Paul urged Timothy to “watch your life and doctrine closely” (1 Timothy 4:16), placing character and formation alongside teaching. When personal growth is ignored, ministry eventually runs on fumes. When it is prioritized, pastors lead with greater clarity, humility, and endurance.
Why Personal Growth Matters for Pastors
Ministry Flows From Who You Are
Pastoral leadership is not just about what you do but who you are becoming. Congregations often sense when a leader is spiritually depleted, emotionally brittle, or intellectually stagnant. Personal growth strengthens your capacity to lead wisely, love patiently, and respond thoughtfully in seasons of pressure.
Growth also guards against quiet drift. Without intentional attention, habits calcify, curiosity fades, and spiritual practices become functional rather than formative.
Growth Is a Matter of Stewardship
God entrusts pastors with people, vision, and influence. Neglecting personal growth is not humility; it is poor stewardship. Jesus himself withdrew regularly for prayer and rest, modeling rhythms that sustained his public ministry (Luke 5:16).
When pastors tend their own formation, they honor the calling God has given them and the people they serve.
RELATED: Carve Out “Solitary Time”
Putting Personal Growth on the Calendar
Schedule It Like Any Other Priority
If personal growth only happens “when things slow down,” it likely will not happen at all. Treat it as you would sermon preparation or leadership meetings. Block time on your calendar for activities that nourish your spiritual, emotional, and intellectual life.
This might include:
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Weekly solitude or prayer blocks
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Monthly reading days
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Quarterly retreats
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Annual conferences or continuing education
What gets scheduled gets protected.
Choose Growth Areas Intentionally
Not all growth seasons look the same. Some years call for deeper spiritual formation, others for leadership development or emotional health. Ask yourself:
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Where do I feel stretched thin?
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What patterns am I noticing in my reactions and decisions?
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What feedback have trusted leaders offered me recently?
Personal growth is most effective when it responds to real needs rather than vague intentions.
