About this episode

John Ortberg and John Mark Comer discuss the challenges and opportunities in pastoral ministry, focusing on the concept of shadow missions.

What is my shadow mission? In this episode, join John Mark Comer and John Ortberg as they explore the possibilities and pitfalls in the pastoral vocation. They discuss the dangers of over-relying on giftedness, the importance of detaching from outcomes, and the power of identifying what John refers to as a "shadow mission"— what your life could be if it veers just a few degrees off course. This session was held at the Practicing the Way Pastor Conference in Los Angeles, California, in 2026. John Ortberg is a pastor, author, and speaker. He’s been in ministry for over 40 years and teaches around a central theme of spiritual formation. John is a deep believer that the main thing God gets out of your life is the person you become. He desires for people to know God in an interactive, life-transforming way. Presently, John leads the ministry Become New, focused on helping you grow spiritually one day at a time. To find more resources and experiences tailored just for you—the pastor—visit practicingtheway.org/pastor. This podcast and its episodes are free, thanks to the generosity of The Circle and other givers. You can learn more about The Circle or contribute toward future resources…

People in this episode

Host: John Mark Comer

Guest: John Ortberg

Topics covered

• pastoral vocation
• spiritual formation
• shadow mission
• detaching from outcomes
• giftedness

Keywords

• shadow mission
• pastoral challenges
• spiritual growth
• John Ortberg
• John Mark Comer

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Practicing the Way

Places: Los Angeles, California

More episodes of The Contemplative Pastor

• A Conversation Between John Ortberg and John Mark Comer (Part 2) · June 25, 2026 · 26 min

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