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Continue reading →: Every Breath, Every BlessingI’m pleased to recommend a beautiful new book for children and families and for your church library. Every Breath, Every Blessing: Finding Hope on Tough Days is written by Dorena Williamson and illustrated by Paran Kim (Zonderkidz, 2025). I love the way the book begins with acknowledging life as a…
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Continue reading →: Hope Beyond Our Sorrows Book Giveaway and Some Learning OpportunitiesIf you’re a regular on this site, or know me online or in person, you quite likely already know about my new book—and maybe have heard more than enough, thank you very much. So I won’t go on and on about Hope Beyond Our Sorrows: Learning to Live with Life-Changing…
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Continue reading →: The Message Women’s Devotional BibleWhen the doorbell rang, I wasn’t expecting this delightful package! The Message Women’s Devotional Bible will be available August 5th from NavPress, but in the meantime, I have two copies of The Gospels portion to give away. To enter the random draw, just leave a comment below letting me know…
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Continue reading →: From Mid-Faith Crisis to Deepening FaithUnlike authors Catherine McNiel and Jason Hague, I didn’t grow up with an inherited faith. I can’t say that I’ve experienced the same kind of disappointment and disillusionment that they describe in their new book, Mid-Faith Crisis: Finding a Path Through Doubt, Disillusionment, and Dead Ends (InterVarsity Press, 2025). Yet…
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Continue reading →: On Finding a New ChurchAfter twenty-five years of congregational ministry, I felt a new wind of the Spirit blowing in my life, to complete my role as a pastor and focus instead on the writing side of my ministry. It felt like a huge step for my husband and me to leave the congregation…
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 