Episode #10 of the “Behind the Curtain” Ministry Podcast is here!
Noah Filipiak interviews Noel Heikkinen, one of the pastors at Riverview Church in Holt, Lansing and East Lansing, MI. Riverview is a church made up of around 3000 – 4000 people that has 4 venues in the Lansing area. Noel and Noah discuss the hardest thing about being a pastor, including a helpful discussion about the anxiety pastors and church planters face, how we can combat anxiety, and how churchgoers can help their pastors feel less anxiety. They discuss how churchgoers can help their pastors stay healthy, avoid burnout, and stay at their current ministry post longer. They also discuss the dangers of church planting and book publishing, including good reasons to do such ventures as well as sinful reasons.
Noel is a director with the Acts 29 Church Planting network and is author of Unchained.
You can listen to the episode below and/or can subscribe via iTunes (recommended if you want easy access to old episodes and instant downloads of new episodes)
Bonus material from Episode 10:
Breakout Churches by Thom Rainer
Rescuing Ambition by Dave Harvey
Your Life in Rhythm by Bruce Miller
Related posts:
The Big Egos & Huge Insecurities of Pastors
Interview with Covenant Eyes' Chris McKenna on staying pure with new technology, Instagram and how h...
Ep. 44: Satisfying our unending appetite of insecurity with the unending love of our Father
Is the Church unified in Jesus or layers of race, ethnicity & culture?
Episode 37: Dr. Mike Wittmer on the effects Christian celebrityism is having on the Church at large
- Ep. 119 – Jalen Seawright of Common Hymnal on Justice, Limits, & Jesus’ Kingdom - April 1, 2026
- Introducing: The UnFragmented Bible video podcast - March 31, 2026
- Ep. 118: William Mack on Soul Health & Pressure - March 11, 2026

Leave a Reply