-
Continue reading →: 2025 Year in ReviewHow much attention do you pay to your church stats? Do you track worship attendance? New visitors? Giving trends? Budget spending? As a pastor of a mid-sized church, I made it a point to notice visitors and greet them. I learned later from one young couple that one of the…
-
Continue reading →: From Gratitude to PraiseThanksgiving Day in both Canada and the United States has come and gone, but as we all know, giving thanks is not about a single day or weekend. Churches around the world give thanks every Sunday as part of their regular worship. Some of us give thanks every day when…
-
Continue reading →: A New Cooperative Game for Groups of Any SizeIf you’re looking for a fun, easy, no-equipment-necessary cooperative game to play, you might want to try “What’s in Your Fridge?” I dreamed this up last Friday when I was making lunch (inspired by the contents of my fridge!), shared the idea with a friend that afternoon, then tried it…
-
Continue reading →: Suicide and the Communion of SaintsTheological and practical resources to help individuals and communities deal with suicide and its aftermath. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call, chat or text 988, a national, 24-hour service. Rhonda Mawhood Lee’s life has been marked by suicide. Her mother…
-
Continue reading →: More Lessons in Community BuildingAfter leading our church team in last year’s Ride for Refuge fundraiser for Inner Hope Youth Ministries, I was eager for us to participate again this year. After all, what was not to like? As part of last year’s event: What a wonderful time of community building for us as…
When You Work for the Church
Hello,
I’m April Yamasaki
Welcome to When You Work for the Church. I’ve been a church volunteer and a full-time pastor. I’ve led small groups and served on denominational committees. When I resigned from pastoral ministry to focus on my writing, I knew that I wanted to be—needed to be—grounded in a local congregation. I love the church!
But I also know that churches and church organizations have not always lived up to their calling, have brought harm instead of healing. So I started this website to share resources for doing ministry better, and pray that together we might serve more faithfully and effectively.
For a healthy rhythm of work and rest, I’d love to send you my ebook.
When You Work for the Church 