Cultivating Passion and Compassion in Ministry Internships

What makes a long-term pastorate successful? How do internships shape future ministers? And what does it look like to grow as a preacher over decades of ministry? In this episode of the Expositors Collective Podcast, Rev. Dr. Danny Hyde joins Mike Neglia to talk about his journey in ministry—from an eager young preacher to a seasoned pastor who has mentored over 20 pastoral interns and remained in one pulpit for over 25 years.

Danny shares his first-ever sermon experience, his training at Westminster Seminary California, and the hard-won wisdom that came from being torn apart in homiletics class by Edmund Clowney,—only to be built back up by a compassionate mentor. He reflects on how becoming a father shaped his approach to pastoring, how relational ministry is just as important as doctrinal fidelity, and why internships are crucial for developing pastors who truly love preaching and love people.

Other key topics include:

• The Cage-Stage Calvinist Years – What he’s learned since his early years of ministry.
• The Role of Internships – How he mentors young men for the challenges of pastoral ministry.
• Why Long-Term Ministry Matters – The stability and intergenerational impact of staying in one congregation.
• Simplicity and Clarity in Preaching – Why he’s working harder than ever to communicate with brevity and focus.
• Two Loves Every Pastor Needs – Why loving preaching isn’t enough—you must also love your people.

Drawing from his Ph.D. research on John Owen, his pastoral ministry, and his experience training future pastors, Danny offers wisdom for both young preachers and seasoned ministers alike.

Bio - Rev. Dr. Danny Hyde

Rev. Dr. Danny Hyde is the pastor of Oceanside United Reformed Church in California, where he has served since 2000. A prolific author and theologian, he holds a Ph.D. from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, where he wrote his dissertation on John Owen’s theology of worship and its political implications. He also earned a Th.M. from Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity from Westminster Seminary California, and a B.A. in Religion from Vanguard University.

Dr. Hyde has been deeply involved in ministerial training, overseeing numerous interns who have gone on to pastoral ministry, and has taught theology and pastoral studies at institutions like Westminster Seminary California, Mid-America Reformed Seminary, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, and Greystone Theological Institute. His denominational service includes roles on committees for church planting, digital media in worship, and doctrinal commitment within the United Reformed Churches in North America (URCNA).

As a scholar, he has authored over a dozen books, including This Is the Word of the Lord, Grace Worth Fighting For, Welcome to a Reformed Church, and God in Our Midst. His writing frequently explores Reformed theology, church planting, and worship, and he is widely recognized for his expertise on the theology of John Owen and the Canons of Dort.

Beyond his academic work, Dr. Hyde is passionate about mentoring the next generation of pastors, preaching with clarity and simplicity, and staying rooted in long-term pastoral ministry. In this conversation, he shares insights from 25 years of pastoring, the challenges and blessings of long-term ministry, and why loving people is as important as loving to preach.

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