Often when I ask ministry leaders, “What’s the single biggest challenge you’re facing right now?” the response comes back with some version of the same phrase:
“I feel like I’m the only one.”
When a difficult season hits—an obstacle, a setback, or just the slow accumulation of fatigue—it’s easy to take all the weight and place it squarely on our own shoulders. Each situation is unique, but none of us were meant to carry it alone.
Community and networking are often among the most neglected practices in ministry leadership. Not because leaders don’t value them, but because they already feel stretched thin. We live in an age where access to information is unlimited, but information doesn’t empathize with us or sit beside us in solidarity. If you want to last in ministry, learning how to connect with peers isn’t optional—it’s essential.
That said, community isn’t about being more social or adding another commitment to your calendar. At its best, it’s about not having to carry every decision, concern, or uncertainty by yourself. It’s a place where you can borrow perspective, language, and clarity—especially when you’re too tired to generate it on your own.
If the word networking already feels exhausting, that’s understandable. It doesn’t have to be formal, frequent, or well-organized to matter. What makes community helpful isn’t scale or structure—it’s consistency and honesty.
For some leaders, community looks like one standing monthly coffee with another minister. For others, it’s a short text exchange after a difficult night of ministry. These small points of connection often matter far more than large, occasional gatherings.
Over the years, I’ve seen a few simple ways leaders begin building that kind of connection.
Sometimes I attend a conference or workshop not primarily because of what I’ll learn, but because of who I might meet. If others are showing up around the same topics, challenges, or questions, we already have something in common.
Many of these gatherings create natural opportunities for conversation and connection. If registration asks whether you’re new, don’t be afraid to check the box. Even a single honest conversation can be enough to remind you that the challenges you’re facing are shared—and survivable.
Depending on your denomination and role, there’s a good chance a professional or ministry association already exists for you. Two national groups I’ve personally found helpful are the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry and TENx10.
Not every network requires a membership fee, but many are worth the investment—not because they offer more content, but because they create shared language, perspective, and relationships. When you engage their conversations, gatherings, or in-person events, you begin to realize you’re not navigating ministry in isolation.
You don’t have to be an extrovert or a natural organizer to start something meaningful. Community can begin with one or two people and a simple agreement to meet consistently.
That meeting might happen in an adoration chapel, over a meal, or during a walk. What matters isn’t the setting, but the rhythm. Make space to check in, pray together, and share what you’re learning—or struggling with—in real time.
This doesn’t need to grow, scale, or become “official.” If it stays small and simple, that’s not a failure. In many cases, that’s exactly what makes it sustainable.
Leaders who are connected to peers tend to stay longer, make fewer reactive decisions, and feel less isolated when challenges arise. Community isn’t a luxury—it’s quiet infrastructure that supports healthier ministry over time.
If you’re feeling isolated or unsure where to begin, our free newsletter is one small way to stay connected. We share practical reflections, language you can use in your context, and opportunities to connect with other ministry leaders—without asking for more time or energy than you have.
You don’t have to figure this out alone.