Episode 222

A Pentecost Game Plan | The Missionary Courage Our Parishes Are Missing

October 27th, 2026

1 hr 5 secs

Transcript

Link with Timestamp

Download MP3 (55.5 MB)

Your Host
Tags
anchor consulting catholic catholic evangelization catholic leadership resources church growth church leadership church revitalization clear path to discipleship diocesan directors discipleship equipcast everyday evangelization faith formation ideas jim jansen ministry ministry burnout missionary discipleship new evangelization parish ministry tools parish renewal pastoral leadership reaching the fallen away

About this Episode

I sat down with one of my longtime friends and mentors in ministry, Tom Quinlan, and what started as a conversation about the mechanics of parish life quickly became a masterclass in missionary courage. So many of us in ministry are completely exhausted. We run sacramental prep programs, coordinate volunteers, and check every conceivable box, only to watch young couples and families slip through our fingers the moment a sacrament is complete. We take that burden on our own shoulders, wondering what we did wrong and burning out under the lie that if we don't save the parish, nobody will.

Tom cuts straight through that noise with an honest, freeing reality check: God never asked us to do the Spirit’s work. Our place is to support God’s movement.

Episode Timeline:
  • [00:00] - Introduction
  • [06:48] - The four movements: Surrender, radical gratitude, and finding true joy
  • [14:50] - The unvarnished reality of parish formation
  • [21:55] - Why baptism is our greatest missed opportunity
  • [28:16] - The holy courage to rebuild tired ministries
  • [34:21] - "We cannot do this": Getting out of the way of the Holy Spirit
  • [39:33] - From consumers to stakeholders
  • [49:59] - The new Pentecost game plan: Reclaiming our missionary calling
  • [55:34] - Permission to exhale and let God carry the work
Resources Mentioned

Our Trusted Partners

Faith and Family Life Catholic Ministries (FFLCM) helps Catholic parishes and dioceses transform fragmented faith formation into an integrated, family-centered pathway of lifelong discipleship. Through the Pathways Formation suite, practical resources, leader formation, and ongoing accompaniment, they equip leaders to engage families, build sustainable teams, and cultivate faith that is lived at church and at home.

⭐️ Enjoying the Show?

If The EquipCast is helping you navigate the realities of parish leadership, please take 60 seconds to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your review helps other tired ministry leaders find these tools and realize they don’t have to walk this path alone!

Connect & Take the Next Step:
  • Grab Your Free Tools: Get the playbook that actually changes lives at EverydayEvangelization.org.
  • Bring This to Your Parish: Discover strategic training and accompaniment at Anchor Consulting.
  • Read the Book: Order your copy of A Clear Path: How to Make Missionary Disciples in Your Parish.

The EquipCast is powered by Everyday Evangelization in conjunction with Anchor Consulting, delivering practical evangelization strategies and parish ministry tools to help you leave your ministry better than you found it.

Copyright © 2026 Anchor Consulting. All rights reserved.