Ministry is one of the most rewarding callings in the world — and one of the most emotionally demanding. In this training, Sam Marin (Campus Pastor, Life.Church) and Kay Gackle (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) have an honest conversation about what it really looks like to protect your mental health while leading in ministry.

3 VIDEOS
What No One Tells Pastors About Mental Health
What if the most important person you need to lead through mental health struggles is yourself?
Ministry is one of the most rewarding callings in the world — and one of the most emotionally demanding. In this training, Sam Marin (Campus Pastor, Life.Church) and Kay Gackle (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) have an honest conversation about what it really looks like to protect your mental health while leading in ministry.
IN THIS VIDEO, YOU'LL LEARN:
✅ The most common mental health struggles pastors face — and why they stay hidden
✅ How to recognize the warning signs before you hit a breaking point
✅ When to seek professional help (and why proactive care beats reactive care)
✅ Why community is the antidote to ministry burnout
Whether you're a lead pastor, campus pastor, or ministry leader, this training will help you lead from a healthy mind — because you can't pour from an empty cup.
00:00 Intro
01:35 Mental Health Red Flags
02:36 Why Depression Stays Hidden
04:48 Pastor Anxiety Story
07:31 Whole Person Approach
08:52 Getting Help Early
12:08 Community and Check Ins
14:28 Lead Yourself First
14:48 You Are Not Alone
📥 DOWNLOAD FREE RESOURCES:
Mental Health Resources: https://open.life.church
All Training Resources: https://open.life.church/training
ABOUT LIFE.CHURCH OPEN NETWORK: We equip, encourage, and challenge churches to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ. We offer thousands of resources and training videos for free!
🌐 Explore resources: https://open.life.church
📧 Subscribe for updates: https://open.life.church/signup
#PastorMentalHealth #ChurchLeadership #MinistryLife #PastorTraining #LifeChurch
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The Leadership Skill Most Pastors Were Never Taught
Your team is watching how you respond — and that response will determine whether they ever open up to you.
Leading a ministry team through mental health challenges is one of the hardest parts of pastoral leadership. In this training, Sam Marin (Campus Pastor, Life.Church) and Kay Gackle (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) break down what it actually looks like to create a team culture where people feel safe, seen, and supported.
IN THIS VIDEO, YOU'LL LEARN:
✅ How to become a safe leader your team will actually open up to
✅ The clinical warning signs of burnout to watch for on your team
✅ How to balance empathy and accountability when someone is struggling
✅ When to walk with someone yourself — and when to refer them to professional help
Whether you're a lead pastor, campus pastor, or team leader, this training will help you build a culture where struggle doesn't disqualify — it just makes you human.
00:00 Leading Through Mental Health
00:27 Be a Safe Person
01:39 Trusted Listening Skills
02:25 Regulating as a Leader
04:50 Spotting Burnout Signs
07:42 Pastoring Your Team
08:36 Leading Through Team Struggles
11:58 When to Refer Out
16:10 Permission to Share
18:32 Not an Interruption
21:10 Balancing Care and Work
22:47 Struggle Does Not Disqualify
23:40 Next Steps and Resources
📥 DOWNLOAD FREE RESOURCES:
Mental Health Resources: https://open.life.church
All Training Resources: https://open.life.church/training
ABOUT LIFE.CHURCH OPEN NETWORK: We equip, encourage, and challenge churches to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ. We offer thousands of resources and training videos for free!
🌐 Explore resources: https://open.life.church
📧 Subscribe for updates: https://open.life.church/signup
#PastorMentalHealth #ChurchLeadership #MinistryLeadership #PastorTraining #LifeChurch
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How to Break the Mental Health Stigma in Your Church
Your congregation is waiting for you to go first — and when you do, everything changes.
Half of your church will experience a mental health struggle at some point in their lifetime. The question isn't whether mental health will show up in your church. It's whether your church will be a safe place to talk about it. In this training, Sam Marin (Campus Pastor, Life.Church) and Kay Gackle (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) share how to open up the mental health conversation in your church — and keep it going.
IN THIS VIDEO, YOU'LL LEARN:
✅ How to normalize mental health conversations from the stage and in small groups
✅ How to break the faith stigma around depression, anxiety, and burnout
✅ The difference between pastoral care and professional help — and when to refer out
✅ How to build a church culture where no one has to struggle alone
Whether you're a lead pastor, campus pastor, or ministry leader, this training will help you create a church where people feel safe enough to be honest — and find the help they actually need.
00:00 Leading Church Conversations
01:11 Why Mental Health Matters
01:55 Breaking Stigma in Church
02:57 Modeling Openness as Pastor
04:07 Faith and Mental Health Together
05:03 Using Outside Resources
06:00 Lobby Talks and Discernment
08:12 When to Refer for Help
08:57 Healing Through Community
09:37 Pastor Encouragement and Hope
10:57 Free Resources and Next Steps
📥 DOWNLOAD FREE RESOURCES:
Mental Health Resources: https://open.life.church
All Training Resources: https://open.life.church/training
ABOUT LIFE.CHURCH OPEN NETWORK: We equip, encourage, and challenge churches to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ. We offer thousands of resources and training videos for free!
🌐 Explore resources: https://open.life.church
📧 Subscribe for updates: https://open.life.church/signup
#PastorMentalHealth #ChurchLeadership #ChurchCulture #PastorTraining #LifeChurch
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