Wounded Leadership

"Helping those who have been wounded find healing."

The Wounded Pastor

The calling to shepherd the church is one that involves some of the greatest adventures and joys one can experience. Yet, it is a call that also comes with many pitfalls and battles every pastor must be ready to face. The Wounded Pastor explores once such battle that nearly every pastor will face at least once in their ministry. This hidden danger and impending battle looming in the Evangelical world is the unjustified termination, or forced resignation, of pastors from a church.

The Wounded Pastor will explore stories of those who have journeyed such a path, define the scope of the problem in Evangelical churches today, explore Biblical examples, and put forth a strategy that will enable pastors to fulfill their Biblical calling by successfully entering back into vocational ministry, better equipped for the next assignment. With God's help and a bit of hard work the wounded pastor can experience healing and vibrant ministry again.

Book Features

What you will learn with this book

Practical Tips

Includes easily applicable advice to make positive changes.

Inspiring Stories

Contains motivating anecdotes and real-world examples.

Assessment Quizzes

Offers interactive quizzes to identify growth areas.

Goal-Setting Exercises

Provides activities to define your ideal future self.

Trackers & Worksheets

Features templates to organize goals and progress.

Convenient Downloads

Ability to read on all devices from anywhere.

Action Plan Guidelines

Outlines step-by-step plans tailored to your needs.

Ongoing Support

Members get access to discussion community and coaching.

Chapter 01

Within these pages awaits a deeply personal and rewarding voyage to unveil your best and most fulfilled self. This journey starts with you - where you are right now - and gently guides you to open your mind, stimulate self-reflection, and identify who you yearn to become...

Progress requires honest understanding of where you stand today. Let’s shine light on your current emotional patterns, behaviors, thought processes, and directions you take each day. This assessment chapter features discovery-based writing prompts, quizzes to reveal your tendencies, and journal space to unpack what makes you, you.

Have you ever felt like you were drowning in mental clutter? When our priorities get misplaced or obligations overwhelm, it can lead to ongoing stress or burnout if left unaddressed. This chapter covers tips to declutter your mind and uncover what matters most to your wellbeing.

We will guide you to categorize, filter and create space around life’s demands. Once your mind calms, you gain the clarity to make choices aligned with your authentic needs again instead of just reacting. Discover techniques from meditation to list-making to improve organizational skills while anchoring yourself in stillness and self-awareness even amid daily pressures.

Do you ever look back and wonder “Where did the week go?” or “Why am I so unproductive?” Intentional living ensures your limited time and energy flow toward your personal definition of a purposeful, fulfilling life instead of it trickling away meaninglessly.

Testimonials

"If you are a believer I highly recommend you read this work! While the existence of such a book is a sober reminder that the church is just as broken as our fallen world and how believers are capable of inflicting such malicious evil, within its pages the reader will find reassurance that they are not alone, a path to move forward, and hope for a future. I cannot recommend this book enough and hope that other resources like it will become available. As outlined in the book, this tragic phenomenon is on the rise and nearly every pastor will face this at least once in their ministry. The wounded pastor needs to know that they are not alone and that others have come through to the other side after their ministry and lives have been shattered and are able to successfully reenter ministry."

we need more resources like this! Cee

"In this published version of his doctoral project, Matthew Tanner walks his audience through both the reality and causes of pastors being severely wounded in their service to Christ. As one of those who has experienced deep wounds, I appreciate Matthew's pastoral heart of compassion for other brothers who have passed through or are in the midst of these types of trials. I recommend this book to all pastors, denominational leaders, or church leaders, particularly as part of a pastoral search team. This is a solid academic work that hopefully leads to exposure of a real problem and to real help for those who often are unsure where to find such help. A blessing for sure.

Pastor to Pastor

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Matthew Tanner was born in Bellville Illinois to Dr. Steve and Mary Tanner in March 1977. Matthew and his twin brother were given a ten percent chance of making through the first night. Trusting in God's Sovereign plan, their parents dedicated them to the Lord and both now live healthy lives in service to the Lord.

Dr. Tanner attended the College of the Ozarks, graduating with a Bachelors of Arts in Administration of Justice and Psychology. While attending college met his wife Heather, who were married in 2002 and now have three beautiful daughters.

Dr. Tanner has served in ministry as pastor, director of missions, interim pastor, and many other roles in the last 20 years. He carries a Master's of Divinity, a Master's of Theology, and a Doctorate of Ministry in Leadership Development.

Dr. Tanner currently serves as the founder and lead counselor for The Wounded Leadership Center for Biblical Counseling, Adjunct Professor of New Testament Studies and Leadership at Hannibal Lagrange University, and pastor of Providence Baptist Church, Hannibal Missouri.