I recently saw the Broadway play “Home,” written by Samm-Art Williams and directed by Kenny Leon. Once called the “road trip of the soul” by the Washington Post, the play follows a man named Cephus who is trying to find a place to belong when his sweetheart, Pattie Mae, marries another man, setting him off from the rural south to the North, trying to find that place called home.

The Pension Boards journeys with the Rev. Terri Akkerman on her ministry career and how she balanced life, health, finances, and ministry, providing tips for younger ministers.

In a moment, her whole world changed. Improvement and progress were words she would never hear again.

“It was an incredibly overwhelming, heavy, and dark time,“ said Veronica Kyle, member of Covenant United Church of Christ in South Holland, Illinois.

As a minister, it can be tempting to focus purely on those you serve, and not place your needs as high on your priority list as you should. But, what happens if you get sick? Can your ministry be sustained long term if your health care needs are not being met?

Summer vacation travel is at the forefront of many of our minds, offering an exciting escape from the daily work or ministry routine. But, if you are a clergyperson, retired, or a lay member living on a tight budget, how can you venture into the vacation season with financial confidence to ensure a worry-free and enjoyable summer vacation?