Pinnacle Leaders Podcast: Leadership Soul Care in a COVID-19 World

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ABOUT THE EPISODE

As a leader, it can often be challenging to make your own emotional and spiritual health a priority with all of the associated pressures. You may be familiar with the expression “it’s lonely at the top;” for many Kingdom-minded leaders, feelings of social isolation and loneliness have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The scaling back of in-person church services and small groups, social distancing, and other results of COVID-19 can make caring for your own soul particularly challenging. Dr. Lon Flippo, Professor, and Chair of Pastoral Studies at North Central University shared Biblical wisdom on the topic of leadership soul care in one of our most recent episodes of the Pinnacle Leaders Podcast, Leadership Soul Care in a COVID-19 World.

TODAY’S GUEST: DR. LON FLIPPO

Dr. Lon Flippo is Professor and Chair of Pastoral Studies at North Central University in Minneapolis, MN. With more than 30 years of pastoral ministry experience, Lon has written several Christian parenting books and publications related to faith, church, and parenting in a secularized society. He has also spoken at national conferences about family ministry best practices and parenting ministry.

EPISODE OVERVIEW

As a leader, it can often be challenging to make your own emotional and spiritual health a priority with all of the associated pressures. You may be familiar with the expression “it’s lonely at the top;” for many Kingdom-minded leaders, feelings of social isolation and loneliness have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The scaling back of in-person church services and small groups, social distancing, and other results of COVID-19 can make caring for your own soul particularly challenging.

Dr. Lon Flippo, Professor, and Chair of Pastoral Studies at North Central University shared Biblical wisdom on the topic of leadership soul care in one of our most recent episodes of the Pinnacle Leaders Podcast, Leadership Soul Care in a COVID-19 World. With more than 30 years of pastoral ministry experience, Dr. Flippo has written several Christian parenting books and publications related to faith, church, and parenting in a secularized society. He has also spoken at national conferences about family ministry best practices and parenting ministry.

“You’re not compartmentalized in life; you’re a physical being, emotional being, spiritual being, and mental being.” Dr. Flippo shared during the podcast. “You have to put all those pieces together. When you’re off on one piece, you’ll be susceptible to fears and uncertainties because you’re not complete.”

Dr. Flippo also offered the following counsel for leaders living in today’s COVID-19 world:

• “We have to manage our margins. We have to get rid of things that are going to crowd in, take over our lives, and keep us from staying steady.”
• “We have to secure our support. We have to get people around us – people who are encouraging us, who love us and who strengthen us.”
• “We have to stay in the presence of God.”

“Whatever you’re facing that day, just try to win that day. A ‘mini-victory’ is better than no victory. When you’re used to little victories, then maybe you can start experiencing some big victories,” said Dr. Flippo.

Subscribe to the Pinnacle Leaders Podcast with Dr. Langley for more Biblical wisdom for today’s kingdom-minded leaders.

RELATED READING

• The Satan Project, by Dr. Lon Flippo – Have you ever felt attacked on every side? Ever wondered why suddenly life is so difficult? Do you feel like giving up? The Satan Project will open your eyes to the spiritual warfare all around us, show you that you’re not alone, and fortify your resolve to stand strong. Get your copy at: https://www.amazon.com/Satan-Project-Lon-Flippo/dp/0990445275
• Soul Survivor: Reflections on life from an abandoned child, by Dr. Lon Flippo – How does a soul survive when abandoned as a child…by an irresponsible, cheating mother….by abusive caregivers….by an overwhelmed, institutionalized father? The soul survives when the child realizes he has never been abandoned by his heavenly Father. Dr. Lon Flippo’s gripping personal account-seen through a child’s eyes-takes readers on an emotional journey through abandonment, abuse, hopelessness, anger, search for identity, grace, and healing. Walk with Lon as he finds, not only lessons, but answers, redemption, and restoration. Get your copy at: https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Survivor-reflections-lessons-abandoned-ebook/dp/B004CYESEO/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=soul+survivor+lon+flippo&qid=1605904334&s=digital-text&sr=1-1
• iParent: Parent Prodigals and Parents in the 21st Century, by Dr. Lon Flippo – Examining the Parable of the Prodigal Son through a twenty-first-century lens, Dr. Lon Flippo grapples with explosive family issues. With raw emotions and personal insight, he shares a modern-day parable of love, loss, and restoration and then tackles the problems families of prodigals know all too well, revealing the prescription in God’s Word and offering practical applications for today’s families. iParent inspires weary parents of prodigals to faithfully trust, unswervingly love, and extravagantly love. Get your copy at: https://www.amazon.com/iParent-Parenting-Prodigals-Parents-Century-ebook/dp/B00KXFM8X4/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=iparent+lon+flippo&qid=1605904642&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

QUOTES & SCRIPTURE TO REMEMBER

• “If leadership was easy, everybody would be doing it. Particularly now, the leadership bar has gone to a whole different level.” ~ Dr. Randal Langley
• “Who we are in private is more important than what we portray in public. You make yourself and break yourself behind closed doors.” ~ Dr. Lon Flippo
• “If you don’t attend to your physical man, then your soul gets weary as well.” Dr. Langley
• “Depression is when you can’t get past the past and anxiety is when you can’t see past the future.” ~ Dr. Lon Flippo
• “Manage your margins, secure your support, and stay in the presence of God.” ~ Dr. Lon Flippo
• “Find trusted, Kingdom-minded leaders who you can learn and grow from. You have to learn from the mistakes of others because you can’t possibly live long enough to learn them all yourself.” ~ Dr. Randal Langley
• “Take time to do what’s necessary to build relationships.” ~ Dr. Randal Langley