Ministering from the True Self with Vulnerability and Creativity with Mandy Smith

In this episode, we talk with Mandy Smith about the calling of the pastor as a vocation of paying attention—to God, to ourselves, and to the communities we serve. We explore vulnerability, human limitation, and the difference between living from a false self shaped by expectations and a true self grounded in God’s call. Together, we reflect on authority, creativity, discernment, and what it means to lead without pretending to have all the answers. We consider how pastoral faithfulness grows through dependence on God rather than self-sufficiency.

Visit Mandy Smith’s personal website (https://thewayistheway.org) or follow her on Instagram at @mandysmithhopes. 

We mentioned the following books:

Mandy Smith, The Vulnerable Pastor

Mandy Smith, Confessions of an Amateur Saint

M. Craig Barnes, The Pastor as Minor Poet

Pre-order Matt’s book, The Pastor as Gardener: A Renewed Vision for Ministry, and then visit his blog to sign-up for pre-order incentives: www.mwerickson.com.