Welcome back to my interview with Gareth Lloyd, the senior pastor of Sovereign Grace Church in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. Read part one of the interview here and part two here.

Gareth, what single bit of counsel has made the most significant difference in your leadership?

The experience of God’s work upon your own soul is the best qualification to lead others.

Where in ministry are you most regularly tempted to discouragement?

This is a tough one!

For many years I regularly experienced debilitating discouragement ministering in an atmosphere which was not grace centered but where believers were constantly heaping burdens on themselves and beating themselves up with guilt for their sin (myself included). I recently sat with a number of guys who are all ministering in that same environment and each one, in turn described how they were suffering the discouragement of ministry as though that were a natural part of the deal of being in ministry.

I am so grateful that for the past four years I have enjoyed being part of a new church plant where I have experienced and enjoyed a grace centered community. I get to do life with the most grateful, encouraging people I have ever known!

Do you exercise? If so, what do you do? If not, why not? (Please be specific.)

I play soccer for an hour once a week and over the last month have been spending an hour on a treadmill and cross trainer two days a week.

Currently, what sport do you like to play and/or watch?

I play soccer once a week as part of our local church outreach and also for the church team. (We are currently the UK Sovereign Grace Churches champions having beaten all the opposition!)

I watch soccer whenever I get opportunity on TV and watch one of local teams live with my sons a couple of times during the season. I also enjoy watching rugby.

What do you do for leisure?

I love listening to music, walking with Angela and the children and watching movies.

If you were not in ministry, what occupational path would you have chosen?

I spent some years prior to ministry in property management and before being encouraged to consider ministry was training towards teaching.

Thank you, Gareth!