Episode 78 - The Serenity Prayer | Part 4 + Original Worship Experience with Stone & Mercy Episode 78 - The Serenity Prayer | Part 4 + Original Worship Experience with Stone & Mercy In Part 4 of our Serenity Prayer series, we focus on one of the most overlooked — and most powerful — lines: “…and the wisdom to know the difference.” As pastors, many of us are wired to fix things. We carry responsibility. We step into chaos. We try to help. But what happens when we confuse what is ours to do with what only God can do? - In this episode, we talk about discernment born from closeness to Christ. - About the sin of omission. - About fear, comfort, insecurity, and self-deception. - And about how wisdom comes not from trying harder — but from staying nearer. God will not do what He has clearly given us the power and responsibility to do. And we cannot do what only He can accomplish. We end this episode differently — with an invitation into extended worship. If you’d like to stay and sit with the Lord, the final 25 minutes include music from the Stone & Mercy album, created as a space for reflection, surrender, and listening. You can listen, pray, or simply be still. Sometimes wisdom begins in silence.

📣 New Podcast! "Episode 78 - The Serenity Prayer | Part 4 + Original Worship Experience with Stone & Mercy" on @Spreaker #christianleadership #churchhealth #faithandrecovery #holyspirit #pastorsinrecovery #serenityprayer #spiritualdiscernment #stoneandmercy #surrender #wisdomtoknowthedifference

Episode 77 - The Serenity Prayer | Part 3 + Original Song "When It's My Turn" Episode 77 - The Serenity Prayer | Part 3 + Original Song "When It's My Turn" This week on Pastors in Recovery, we move into the hardest part of the Serenity Prayer. Not accepting what we cannot change. But owning what we can. As pastors, we preach that the Holy Spirit does the cleaning. We say, “God changes hearts.” And that’s true.  - But what happens when God has already shown us something… and we haven’t obeyed? - Where have we prayed for deliverance when we needed repentance? - Where have we blamed God for our lack of discipline? - Where have we said, “God hasn’t changed me yet,” when we haven’t taken the step He already asked for? In this episode, we talk about the partnership between God’s power and our responsibility. About how obedience isn’t passive. About how growth requires courage. And about the quiet, personal work that no one else sees. This isn’t condemnation. It’s clarity. Because sometimes the prayer isn’t “God change this.” Sometimes it’s “God, I’m ready to change.” Take a deep breath. Let the Holy Spirit speak. And ask yourself… what’s mine to own?

📣 New Podcast! "Episode 77 - The Serenity Prayer | Part 3 + Original Song "When It's My Turn"" on @Spreaker #christianrecovery #faithandrecovery #holyspirit #obedience #pastoralleadership #pastorsinrecovery #recoveryjourney #repentance #serenityprayer #spiritualgrowth

Episode 76 - The Serenity Prayer | Part 2 + Original Song "When God is First" Episode 76 - The Serenity Prayer | Part 2 + Original Song "When God is First" What happens when God is first… but nothing changes? In Week 2 of our Serenity Prayer series, we slow down and sit with one of the hardest realities of faith and recovery: accepting what we cannot change. Many of us were formed to believe that obedience should be rewarded—and that if we’re doing the right things, life should get easier. But what happens when it doesn’t? This episode explores the quiet disappointment pastors often carry when surrender doesn’t lead to relief, and how the Serenity Prayer invites us into a deeper reframe—not changing reality, but changing our relationship to it. Drawing from Paul’s “thorn in the flesh,” we reflect on faithfulness without resolution, obedience without relief, and peace that doesn’t depend on outcomes. Acceptance is not giving up—it’s learning how to trust God inside what remains. If you’ve ever prayed, surrendered, and still found yourself standing in the same pain, this episode is for you. “This week on Pastors in Recovery, we stayed with the Serenity Prayer and sat with what it means to accept what we cannot change—and still find peace.”

📣 New Podcast! "Episode 76 - The Serenity Prayer | Part 2 + Original Song "When God is First"" on @Spreaker #acceptance #christianrecovery #chronicpainfaith #faithandrecovery #graceovercontrol #letgoletgod #pastoralcare #pastorsinrecovery #recoveryjourney #recoverypodcast #serenityprayer

Episode 75 - The Serenity Prayer | Part 1 + Featuring the song "The Serenity Prayer" Episode 75 - The Serenity Prayer | Part 1 + Featuring the song "The Serenity Prayer" In this episode, we begin a new short series by slowing down and looking closer at the Serenity Prayer—starting with the very first word: God. Before we ask for serenity, courage, or wisdom, we acknowledge who God is. This prayer begins by placing God at the center, not as a vending machine or last resort, but as the greatest and highest power—worthy of our trust, our surrender, and our praise. We talk honestly about control, pride, and the tension between the things we desperately want to fix and the things we simply cannot change. From chronic illness to other people’s choices, from global problems to personal limits, this prayer invites us into a posture of humility and dependence on God. This episode sets the foundation for the weeks ahead, where we’ll break the Serenity Prayer into four clear sections—one piece at a time—so it stays practical, meaningful, and livable, not overwhelming.  If you’ve ever felt exhausted trying to control what was never yours to carry, this episode is for you.

📣 New Podcast! "Episode 75 - The Serenity Prayer | Part 1 + Featuring the song "The Serenity Prayer"" on @Spreaker #christianrecovery #faithandrecovery #graceovercontrol #letgoletgod #pastorsinrecovery #recoverypodcast #serenityprayer #spiritualgrowth #surrender #twelvesteps

Episode 70 - STEP NINE | Making Amends Without Making a Mess + Original Song "My Side of the Street" Episode 70 - STEP NINE | Making Amends Without Making a Mess + Original Song "My Side of the Street" Making amends sounds simple—until you actually do it. In this episode, we move beyond talking about Step 9 and step into the harder work of doing it wisely. We explore how even sincere apologies can cause more harm when they’re driven by guilt, image management, or the need for closure. Through a personal story, three “Imagine a Pastor” scenarios, and Scripture, this conversation helps pastors understand the difference between managing our conscience and truly owning our part. Step 9 isn’t about fixing relationships or securing forgiveness. It’s about taking responsibility without controlling the outcome. We’ll talk about: - Why some amends make things worse instead of better - How to own your side of the street without reopening wounds - When silence and changed behavior are the most loving response - Why peace comes from obedience—not resolution The episode closes with an original, acoustic song, “My Side of the Street,” reflecting the quiet surrender that comes when we do our part and place the rest in God’s hands.

📣 New Podcast! "Episode 70 - STEP NINE | Making Amends Without Making a Mess + Original Song "My Side of the Street"" on @Spreaker #celebraterecovery #churchhealing #faithandrecovery #graceoverimage #healingwithoutcontrol #makingamends #owningyourside #pastoralcare #pastorsinrecovery #stepnine

Book of the Week - Eleven Years A Drunkard, Or, The Life Of Thomas Doner: Having Lost Both Arms Through Intemperance This autobiography by Thomas Doner, a man who lost both arms due to his struggles with alcoholism, serves as a cautionary tale about the devastating consequences of excessive drinking. He recounts his descent into addiction, the shame and despair it brought him, and the physical and moral decay it inflicted. Through his harrowing personal experience, Doner aims to warn others about the dangers of alcohol and encourage them to avoid the path that led to his misfortune. The book is filled with religious and moral appeals, urging readers to resist temptation and seek a path of righteousness. 

📣 New Podcast! "Book of the Week - Eleven Years A Drunkard, Or, The Life Of Thomas Doner: Having Lost Both Arms Through Intemperance" on @Spreaker #addictionrecovery #alcoholawareness #alcoholismawareness #autobiography #cautionarytale #couragetochange #empowerment #faithandrecovery

Episode 66 – STEP FIVE | Confessing, Not Preaching + Original Song “Hats” Episode 66 – STEP FIVE | Confessing, Not Preaching + Original Song “Hats” In this powerful episode of Pastors in Recovery, Jon unpacks Step Five: Confessing, Not Preaching — learning to tell the truth instead of performing it. He shares honest reflections from his own ministry life — the “pastor hat,” the “church-planter hat,” and the moment he realized that the only hat that truly fits is the real-self hat. Through personal stories, relatable pastor examples, and the story of King Saul, Jon reminds us that fear of people leads to performance, but confession leads to freedom.  This episode also features Jon’s brand-new original Suno AI-assisted song, “Hats,” a nostalgic 1920s jazz-gospel piece led by clarinet that captures the journey of taking off every mask until only the real self remains. 🎵 Don’t preach your confession — live it. 📖 James 5:16 — “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.”

📣 New Podcast! "Episode 66 – STEP FIVE | Confessing, Not Preaching + Original Song “Hats”" on @Spreaker #christianrecovery #confessingnotpreaching #crashinglyrics #faithandrecovery #faithjourney #graceandtruth #hatssong #healingthroughhonesty #jonhammond #pastorhealing #pastorsinrecovery

🎧 RRP Episode 80 is LIVE! Hear Lance Orton’s journey of recovery & service through @CityTeam. 🙌
“Faith gave me the strength to change.” —Lance Orton
🔗 https://mdcr1.com/80
🎧 https://mdcr1.com/80
#FaithAndRecovery

The Beauty of Sobriety: Cheryl Burke’s Journey to Self-DiscoveryTools | PEP UNLIMITED LLC Cheryl Burke, a former Dancing With the Stars pro, has been dancing a different kind of routine lately — one filled with strength, self-love, and sobriety.

The Beauty of Sobriety: Cheryl Burke’s Journey to Self-DiscoveryTools
pepunlimited.com/.../cheryl-b...

#CherylBurke #Sobriety #OneDayAtATime #SelfLove #MentalHealth #ChooseYou #HopeAfterStruggle #DWTS #Inspiration #InnerPeace #YouAreNotAlone #FaithAndRecovery #ConfidenceWithin #Healing #PepRaise

The Beauty of Sobriety: Cheryl Burke’s Journey to Self-DiscoveryTools | PEP UNLIMITED LLC Cheryl Burke, a former Dancing With the Stars pro, has been dancing a different kind of routine lately — one filled with strength, self-love, and sobriety.

The Beauty of Sobriety: Cheryl Burke’s Journey to Self-DiscoveryTools
pepunlimited.com/.../cheryl-b...

#CherylBurke #Sobriety #OneDayAtATime #SelfLove #MentalHealthMatters #HopeAfterStruggle #DWTS #InnerPeace #YouAreNotAlone #FaithAndRecovery #ConfidenceWithin #Journey #Inspiration #PepUnlimited

Not all pain is visible. But healing is still possible. TYPE ‘AMEN’ and stay connected. SHARE this with someone who’s been holding it in too long.
#StartYourDayTheGrayWay #HealingPrayer #FaithAndRecovery #EmotionalHealing #JesusHeals

Episode 49 - The Covering We Never Got—But Still Need Episode 49 - The Covering We Never Got—But Still Need In this powerful and honest episode of Pastors in Recovery, Jon explores the deep theme of coverings—what it means to live under the shelter of God when you’ve grown up uncovered. So many pastors and ministry leaders were never fathered themselves. Some grew up with abusive dads, emotionally absent parents, or no example of love at all. And now, as fathers and shepherds, they’re trying to lead others with wounds they’ve never been taught to heal. Jon unpacks the biblical meaning of being covered—by the blood of Jesus, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the father-heart of God—and shares real-life scenarios that show how unhealed wounds can sabotage our parenting, our leadership, and our sense of worth. This episode includes: - Biblical truths about spiritual covering - The emotional cost of growing up without a loving father - How unaddressed trauma shows up in ministry - A special original song titled “Father Me Now” that captures the heart of the message If you’ve ever felt like you’re faking it behind the pulpit or falling apart as a dad, this one’s for you.  📩 Connect or share your story: 📺 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@pastorsinrecovery 📘 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pastorsinrecovery 🌐 Website & Forum: http://www.pastorsinrecovery.com

📣 New Podcast! "Episode 49 - The Covering We Never Got—But Still Need" on @Spreaker #biblicalcovering #celebraterecovery #christianpodcast #coveredbygrace #faithandrecovery #fathermenow #fatherwounds #healingstartshere #jonhammondpodcast #ministryburnout #pastorsinrecovery #spiritualhealing

From Trauma to Triumph: A Journey of Faith, Recovery, and Mental Health Advocacy Explore Sober Not Subtle for recovery stories, resources, self-help, peer insights, and merch that celebrates sobriety. Break stigma. Inspire change.

20 years of addiction. A suicide attempt. A second chance.
Rob Decker’s story is raw, redemptive, and rooted in faith. Now he’s helping others Rise As Lions.
Read it on Sober Not Subtle: sobernotsubtle.com/2025/05/19/f...
#FaithAndRecovery #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealthMatters #sobernotsubtle

Testimonial Tuesday: When I surrendered to my higher power—Jesus—the weight of addiction began to fall away. It was like someone flipped a switch and lit up the path ahead. The fog lifted. And grace met me there. #FaithAndRecovery #IntentionalServant #FromChainsToChange

One Week to Go!

In just 1 week, we launch intentionalservant.org — where faith meets recovery, and hope rises.

intentionalservant.org — going live in just 7 days!

Stay tuned, follow along, and get ready to join a movement of healing and hope.

#IntentionalServant #HopeRises #FaithAndRecovery