"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

— Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)


Dear Firefighters For Christ Family,

Our leadership team recently returned from a weeklong retreat in Northern Ireland, titled "Come Away." The purpose of this retreat was to step back from the pace of everyday life and refocus our hearts and minds on God.

Each morning began with a devotional, followed by 90 minutes alone in silence—just us and the Lord. At first, it felt unfamiliar to spend so much time quietly before God. But by the end of the week, many of us found ourselves longing for more. It was a deeply refreshing time that renewed our spirits and helped us gain fresh insight into how to, as J.I. Packer once said, "live slowly enough to be able to think deeply about God."

Not long after returning home, I read a book called I Almost Quit by Shane Idleman. It struck a chord. Ministry often brings both joy and hardship, and Shane's honest reflections on navigating the landmines of leadership were both challenging and encouraging. I'd like to share a few practical takeaways from the book that spoke to me:

1) Prioritize prayer above all else.
People live better when they pray better. If something is hurting your prayer life, it needs to go.

2) Schedule time in God's Word when you're fresh.
Set aside 30 minutes a day to read and reflect. Let it shape your thoughts and direction.

3) End with prayer, asking God to apply what you've learned.
Consider a devotional like Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest to help start the day focused. As A.J. Gordon said, "You can do more than pray after you have prayed; but you can never do more than pray until you have prayed."

4) Repeat the process in the evening.
What you feed your mind with at night is what you'll wake up hungry for in the morning. Fill your heart with truth, not noise.

5) Nurture your marriage and family.
Ministry demands may pull you away at times—but let that be the exception. Your ministry is only as healthy as your home.

6) Fast often—not out of obligation, but desperation.
As Gordon Cove said, "You have not sought the Lord with 'your whole heart' until you have tried a protracted season of prayer and fasting."

I highly recommend reading the rest of I Almost Quit. It offers comfort, wisdom, and a reminder that we're not alone in the challenges we face in ministry.

Thank you for allowing me to serve alongside you. May we continue to walk closely with the Lord, refreshed, focused, and fully surrendered to His leading.

In Christ,

Joe Lindaman
President, Firefighters For Christ International