If we’re going to create a culture of evangelism, we have to start somewhere that might feel uncomfortable but is absolutely essential. We have to start with our own souls.
Maybe you’re wondering: What in the world does examining my soul have to do with leading others to Jesus? Everything. Because if we’re not healthy, we’re going to have a hard time leading healthy ministries.
That’s why we need to pause and examine our souls. To help us do that, I want to walk through a simple acronym—S.O.U.L.—that has helped me evaluate my own spiritual health and longevity in ministry.
Salvation
It all starts with salvation.
One of my favorite passages is 2 Corinthians 5:17–18. Paul writes, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”
Paul reminds us first of who we are and what we’ve been given. We’re new creations in Christ, and we’ve been given the ministry of reconciliation. As leaders, we need to hear that order again and again.
Before the Lord ever gave you a title or a position, before your name was ever put on a website, business card, or office door, He simply called you to follow His Son, Jesus. That calling comes before every other responsibility.
We will always be at our best when we remember that salvation is a work of God in our lives. We cannot give away what we do not have ourselves. That’s why we need to continually return to the gospel—not just as something we preach, but as something we personally live in and delight in.
How often are you reminded of the gospel work in your own life? We never mature past the gospel. We just mature in the gospel. Salvation is a beautiful gift from God, and our identity is rooted in Christ, not in ministry outcomes, attendance numbers, or visible results.
When was the last time you stopped and simply thanked God for saving you? Not rushed. Not as a transition into something else. Just gratitude. Sometimes our souls need that reminder more than our calendars need another meeting. Salvation isn’t just the starting line of ministry; it’s the foundation that holds everything together.
Overflow
If we’re honest, many of us are not leading and ministering from overflow. We’re leading from the flow that’s over. We’re running on empty. We’re exhausted. We’re pouring out constantly but rarely being filled.
So many leaders are starving spiritually because we’re always feeding others and never feeding ourselves. The Word becomes something we use to prepare messages rather than something that forms us. Prayer becomes a task instead of a lifeline. And over time, the tank runs dry.
Psalm 23:5 paints a different picture: “You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” That image matters. God doesn’t call us to live off leftovers; He invites us to live out of abundance.
We are always at our best when we are serving, teaching, discipling, and equipping others out of the overflow of our worship of King Jesus. Overflow changes the way we speak, the way we lead, and the way we love people.
So, let me ask a question that very few people ask ministry leaders: What do your spiritual disciplines actually look like right now? Are you spending time in the Word daily, or has Scripture primarily become a ministry tool? Are you praying—not just publicly, but privately? Prayer is the fuel for every aspect of ministry.
What about rest? Fasting? Sabbath? Sitting quietly in the presence of the Lord without an agenda? These aren’t optional extras—they are essential rhythms for sustainable ministry.
Leading from overflow means choosing dependence on God over and over. It means refusing to normalize emptiness and instead prioritizing intimacy with Jesus.
Unmasking
If there’s one thing we’re good at in ministry, it’s wearing masks. We wear the mask of success or the mask of busyness. We wear the mask of strength or the mask of performance. And over time, those masks become heavy.
The next generation sees through that. They value authenticity. They’re drawn to transparency. And if we want to lead them well, we have to be honest—not just publicly, but personally.
Unmasking requires two things. First, we have to speak up to the Lord. He already knows what we’re struggling with. You can’t fake out God. You can’t wear a mask in His presence. He sees behind it every time. Speaking honestly to the Lord isn’t weakness—it’s worship.
Second, we have to speak out to others. Who are the trusted friends in your life that you can be completely honest with? Scripture tells us to carry one another’s burdens, but people can’t help carry burdens they don’t know exist.
If you don’t have relationships like that, start praying that God would provide them. Community like that doesn’t happen accidentally. It’s built intentionally. And if you do have those friends, take a moment to thank God for them. Then thank them. Those relationships are gifts.
Unmasking isn’t about oversharing. It’s about refusing to live isolated lives. Healthy leaders don’t pretend they’re okay; they pursue honesty, accountability, and grace.
Longevity
Philippians 1:6 says, “I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” That verse reminds us of something critical: a calling to ministry leadership is not just a calling to start; it’s a calling to finish.
We’ve all seen cross-country races where someone explodes off the starting line, far ahead of everyone else. But a mile down the road, they’re on the sidelines because they forgot how long the race really was.
Ministry is a marathon, not a sprint. Finishing well matters.
So how do we run the race well? We do it by sitting at the feet of Jesus. By building rhythms of rest. By allowing ourselves to have healthy outlets and hobbies. By taking care of our bodies as well as our souls.
I’ve seen this in my own life. When I’m spending time with the Lord and taking care of my physical health, it affects every area of my life. And when I neglect those things, it affects every area of my life just as quickly.
A wise man once told me, “Don’t focus on the width and platform of your ministry. Focus on the depth of it. If you focus on depth, the Lord will take care of the width.”
That’s a word we all need to hear. Depth before platform. Faithfulness before visibility. Health before expansion.
So, let me leave you with this question: How is your soul? Because healthy leaders are more apt to lead healthy ministries. And a healthy soul is one of the most powerful tools God uses to build a culture of evangelism that lasts.
Adapted from the Creating a Culture of Evangelism Online Course. Learn more and take course for student leaders or collegiate leaders.
Published February 13, 2026
