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The Contemplative Pastor

The Contemplative Pastor

By: Practicing the Way
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For the pastor who longs to embody a less hurried, less overwhelmed, less CEO-like form of leadership, and to recover the ancient path of pastoring in the way of Jesus.

The Contemplative Pastor invites you into illuminating conversations with guides and sages on spiritual and pastoral formation, and offers guided prayers and reflections to help you sit with the rich wisdom of each episode.

Our aim? To shape a new, yet ancient, kind of pastor—more unhurried, more prayerful, more peaceful—and to see the formational role of the local church flourish once again.

Welcome to The Contemplative Pastor.

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To find more resources and experiences tailored just for you—the pastor—visit practicingtheway.org/pastor.

This podcast and its episodes are free, thanks to the generosity of The Circle and other givers. You can learn more about The Circle or contribute toward future resources like this podcast at practicingtheway.org/give.

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Spirituality
Episodes
  • Loosening the Grip of Ambition (Featuring Drew Hyun)
    Oct 29 2026

    What does it look like when spiritual maturity, emotional health, and holy ambition exist together?

    In this episode, join Jay Kim and Drew Hyun for a conversation about living “the mixed life” modeled by Jesus—one of contemplation in the inner life and mission in the outer world. Drew traces his path from an early ministry marked by arrogance and conflict to an ongoing pursuit of emotional health as a leader, pastor, and person. Drew and Jay work through a series of helpful questions for assessing both personal formation and the culture forming in our churches. They also explore the thin line separating holy ambition from selfish ambition, influence as the latest measure of pastoral success, and what it looks like to pursue the “progress and joy” of the gospel while protecting our inner lives.

    Drew Hyun is a pastor, founder, and author in New York City. He currently pastors at Hope Church Midtown. He is also the President of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship. He and his wife Tina have two children, David and Avery.

    To find more resources and experiences tailored just for you—the pastor—visit practicingtheway.org/pastor.

    John Mark’s newest book Into The Quiet is now available for order at your book provider of choice. You can join John Mark in person for the Into the Quiet Experience, coming to a city near you between now and November 12. Purchase your ticket at intothequietexperience.com.

    This podcast and its episodes are free, thanks to the generosity of The Circle and other givers. You can learn more about The Circle or contribute toward future resources like this podcast at practicingtheway.org/generous.

    Mentioned in this conversation:

    • Emotionally Healthy Discipleship by Pete Scazzero
    • Emotionally Healthy Success by Pete Scazzero
    • The School of Emotionally Healthy Leadership
    • In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen
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    50 mins
  • The Pain You Don’t Want to Name (Featuring Jeff Hyun)
    Oct 15 2026

    What does it mean to be a person who is attended to?

    In this episode, join Bryan Rouanzoin and Jeff Hyun for a conversation about the potential for pain to become the place of our deepest formation. Jeff shares the story of being left by his mom when he was five years old and how their long-awaited reunion led to a “beautiful unraveling” in his adulthood, one that invited him to receive care after years of giving care to others through his pastoral ministry. Bryan and Jeff reflect on what it means to be attended to, how God’s provision often comes through people, and who pastors need beside them in the most precarious seasons of life.

    Jeff Hyun is the senior pastor of Living Hope Community Church in Brea, California, and the founder of Barnabas & Co., a soul-care ministry for Asian American pastors and faith leaders. He and his wife Stella have three beautiful children.

    To find more resources and experiences tailored just for you—the pastor—visit practicingtheway.org/pastor.

    John Mark’s newest book Into The Quiet is now available for order at your book provider of choice. You can join John Mark in person for the Into the Quiet Experience, coming to a city near you between now and November 12. Purchase your ticket at intothequietexperience.com.

    This podcast and its episodes are free, thanks to the generosity of The Circle and other givers. You can learn more about The Circle or contribute toward future resources like this podcast at practicingtheway.org/generous.

    Mentioned in this conversation:

    • David Brooks
    • Glenn Packiam
    • 1 Kings 19
    • Luke 22:31–32
    Show more Show less
    42 mins
  • Getting Free from the Weight of Secrets (Featuring Gavin Bennett)
    Oct 8 2026

    What if confession could be a place of healing, not just pardon?

    In this episode, join Bryan Rouanzoin and Gavin Bennett for a conversation about the practice of confession—why we're afraid to embrace it, and the belonging that waits for us when we do. Gavin shares how his years-long practice of confession has freed him from the burden of image management and given the people closest to him the chance to stay. Together, Gavin and Bryan explore a simple but perspective-shifting framework (sin belongs to God, shame belongs to our community, and secrets belong to us) and offer an approachable starting place for pastors who want to enter into confessional relationships of their own.

    Gavin Bennett serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Formation at Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon. He deeply cares about helping people hear and experience God in the ordinary parts of their lives as they learn to consent to the Spirit’s beautifully slow transformational desire.

    To find more resources and experiences tailored just for you—the pastor—visit practicingtheway.org/pastor.

    John Mark’s newest book Into The Quiet is now available for order at your book provider of choice. You can join John Mark in person for the Into the Quiet Experience, coming to a city near you between now and November 12. Purchase your ticket at intothequietexperience.com.

    This podcast and its episodes are free, thanks to the generosity of The Circle and other givers. You can learn more about The Circle or contribute toward future resources like this podcast at practicingtheway.org/generous.

    Show more Show less
    44 mins
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