Pastor Mark Buckley was a product of the late 60's...drugs and wild living led him to being locked up in a mental hospital in Napa, California.
Rather hear the story?
"I began to call on the Lord because I thought I'd been an all-American kid and now I was in depression and confusion," Pastor Buckley explains.
God had a plan.
Once he was released from the hospital, Mark says "I began my journey walking with Jesus. I met kids from the Jesus movement who were studying the Bible and doing evangelism...my eyes opened to the Kingdom of God."
And now Mark is a pastor to pastors through Streams of Grace, Mark Buckley Ministries. In addition to encouraging pastors and facilitating groups, he works with pastors who need wisdom and counsel to strengthen their churches, ministries and marriages.
"Pastors that meet together every month and pray for each other and share their challenges and trials..."
And the challenges pastors face?
"They're putting out more energy than they're able to recoup and that is a prescription for burnout."
Pastor Mark has gone through his fair share of challenges, including the tragic loss of his son. He credits the grace of God and his church family for keeping him surrounded with love and support for helping him to walk through that heartbreaking loss.
The best way to encourage your pastor?
Pastor Mark suggests, "an occasional email thanking your pastor for the sermon."