I Asked My Adult Kids What It Was Like to Grow Up in a Pastor’s Home — This is What They Said

Parenting in the Spotlight: What It’s Like to Grow Up in a Ministry Home

When we started mapping out Season 2 of the LeadingSmart Podcast—40 Lessons in 40 Years—I knew I wanted to include voices beyond my own. Not just colleagues or co-hosts, but the people who lived this journey with me.

So I asked my four kids—now ages 24 to 32—if they’d be willing to talk about what it was really like growing up in a ministry home. The good, the bad, the awkward staff Christmas parties. All of it.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure they’d say yes.

They’re all busy, mostly introverted, and they knew this episode would be recorded, published, and heard by thousands. But all of them said yes. And when we hit record… they showed up. Fully.

This might’ve been my favorite 51 minutes of the whole season.

In this episode, you’ll hear us talk about:

  • What it felt like growing up in a pastor’s home

  • The pressure (spoken and unspoken) of having a last name people recognize

  • The rules we kept (and the ones we bent)

  • The ministry moments that shaped them—for better and worse

  • Why empathy became a family value (even when we didn’t realize we were teaching it)

You’ll also hear laughter, teasing, and some really honest reflections from four incredible humans who managed to grow up in a ministry home and still like each other—and us.

I didn’t want this episode to be a legacy play. I didn’t want it to be “look how great our family turned out.” I wanted it to be real. If you’re in the trenches of parenting and ministry—whether your kids are toddlers or teenagers—this one’s for you.

My hope is that their stories spark reflection, conversation, and maybe even some hope for your own family journey.

To hear the full conversation between me and my kids, check out episode 6 of our 40 Lessons in 40 Years Podcast, which dropped today. 

Download the full list of the 40 Lessons I’ve learned from 40 years in ministry here. My hope is that somewhere in these 40 lessons, you find a reminder that you’re not alone, a challenge that stirs your thinking, or a bit of wisdom that gives you strength for the road ahead.

LeadershipAnna BakerComment