ALPHARETTA, Ga. – A microphone left on in the bathroom.
A baptism that didn’t quite go as planned.
A child saying the worst possible thing at the worst possible time.
If you’ve spent any time in pastoral ministry, you know that some moments are sacred, some are serious and some are simply unforgettable.
That’s the heart behind a new podcast titled “It Could Only Happen to a Pastor,” launched this week by the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and hosted by Southern Baptist pastors Matt Capps and Josh Reavis. The show invites listeners into the hilarious, awkward and “did that really happen?” moments that come with shepherding a local church.
“We believed it would be good to bring a bit of laughter to our co-laborers in the Gospel,” said Capps, lead pastor of Fairview Baptist Church in Apex, N.C. “People need to know that pastors actually have a sense of humor, and it usually comes out when we are together.
“Pastors also have some really funny stories to share from their ministry experiences. It’s good to share those stories, laugh together and, in some cases, learn from one another.”
Capps and Reavis met through a mutual pastor friend at a recent Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting. They quickly realized that they shared a mutual love of laughter and lighthearted stories. They believed the stories they shared would appeal to a broader audience.
Meanwhile, NAMB’s resources team had been exploring the idea for a podcast that would provide both entertainment and encouragement to pastors. Capps and Reavis proved to be the perfect hosts by balancing insight, encouragement and comedy to bring the vision to life.
“Our team has tossed around this idea for years, but we knew it would take the right pair of pastors to do it well,” said Trevin Wax, NAMB’s vice president for resources and marketing. “Hearing Matt and Josh tell some of their own pastoring stories, with wisdom and humor, led us to believe this podcast could encourage and edify pastors on the front lines of ministry.”
And while the stories shared are often laugh-out-loud funny, the heart behind the podcast runs deeper than humor alone.
“Ministry is such a big responsibility and a weighty task, but if there’s not some levity in your life, it will crush you,” said Reavis, co-pastor of North Jacksonville Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla. “It’s one of those things where if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry.
“I look at this as an opportunity once a week for pastors to be able to vicariously hang out with other pastors to hear and share these stories that we all have.”
Each episode features true stories that could only happen in the unique world of ministry, such as microphone mishaps, baptism bloopers, funeral flubs, kid commentary and more. Stories included on the podcast have come from across the country from different types of churches. And if you have a story that could only happen to a pastor, submit it for consideration via email at [email protected].
“In the majority of our stories, we get to laugh with other leaders as they laugh at themselves,” Capps said. “We all know that a self-deprecating story is one of the healthiest forms of humor, since the only target of the joke is yourself. In fact, there is something endearing about a leader with a humble, even self-deprecating, sense of humor. We also have stories of unique and unexpected circumstances, situations that are hard not to find humorous.”
The first episode is already generating positive feedback from listeners.
“People have said they were cracking up listening to the stories,” Reavis said. “What I’ve heard over and over is ‘This is so relatable’ or ‘I’ve got a story just like that.’ And future content is already stacking up. We’ve probably already gotten enough material for a second season.”
New episodes drop on Monday, which is intentional.
“If you are a pastor, there is an old saying, ‘Never quit on a Monday,’” Capps said. “So, we’ll be releasing these podcasts on Mondays, and they’re short enough to listen to on your ride to work. We hope the podcast will take off and create an environment that affirms it’s OK to be serious about our faith and be joyful as Christian leaders. That’s why we end each episode by saying, ‘Take the gospel seriously, but don’t take yourselves too seriously.’”
And in a vocation that can often feel lonely and isolated, Capps and Reavis hope the podcast gives pastors permission to laugh, encouragement and the reassurance that they are not alone, even in the awkward moments.
“Pastors are not alone, and we don’t want guys to give up,” Reavis said. “Everyone is going to have challenges in ministry — challenging moments, difficult moments, embarrassing moments and moments you wish you could have back. We laugh about these things later, but in the moment they can feel like the end of the world. We want guys to realize it’s not the end of the world, and it’s going to be OK. This isn’t the first crazy thing that’s happened to you, and it won’t be the last crazy thing.
“At the end of the day, it’s worth it because we’ve been called to a high, honorable calling. There’s a ‘worth it’ to the weird.”
This article originally appeared in the Biblical Recorder.
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