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Continue reading →: The #MeToo Reckoning: Facing the Church’s Complicity in Sexual Abuse and MisconductThis book is essentially a lament that sexual abuse is prevalent, and a call to action. I hope to inspire churches to stand passionately with survivors, pursue justice by prosecuting abusers, and make our faith communities safer and braver. —Ruth Everhart, The #MeToo Reckoning: Facing the Church’s Complicity in Sexual Abuse…
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Continue reading →: How to Respond When Worship Materials are Implicated in AbuseDeveloping a new hymnal is a huge undertaking, and it’s been my privilege to have a very small part in the new Mennonite hymnal that’s launching this fall. Mine was a very limited role: serving as one of the writers for the funeral resources, reviewing some of the worship resources…
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Continue reading →: A Conversation about Self-Care with a Free Gift for YouFour Gifts: Seeking Self-Care for Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength began as an article on When You Work for the Church: Is Self-Care Part of Your Paid Employment, and Should It Be? I’m still amazed at that journey from article to published book, because believe me, not all books find…
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Continue reading →: When a Church Closes: A Nightmare or a Good Death?Closing a church was my worst nightmare. I fought it with all my being. We hoped we might survive as a congregation, yet our church died. Through the process, we struggled with many forms of grief—anger, sadness, confusion. Darkness hovered, like Good Friday or Holy Saturday. Afterward, I wondered how…
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Continue reading →: Responding to Grief: Suffering and ConsolationDo you long to come alongside others who are suffering, but aren’t sure how best to do that? Do you regularly work with people who are suffering and want to deepen your reflection and practice? Are you an individual or church seeking to grow in compassion and caring? For all…
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 