Life & Work with Joseph Brasher of Murfreesboro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joseph Brasher.

Hi Joseph, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born in St. Louis, MO, and raised in West Tennessee (Sharon, TN) with a deep respect for faith, family, and purpose. From a young age, I sensed the call to something greater than myself—a calling to serve, teach, and lead others in a way that magnifies Christ. My journey has been anything but linear, but every season has been a stepping stone to deeper obedience and broader impact.

After marrying my wife, Brittany, while pursuing careers in banking and insurance, we began serving as small group leaders. I had the opportunity to speak at various times within the group and on mission trips. One pivotal moment came when I was asked to preach to our entire congregation. The desire to preach and teach God’s Word grew into a conviction that I could not ignore, which led to the affirmation of my vocational calling as a pastor. This calling would lead me to pursue my Master’s in Divinity from Liberty University, followed by my Ph.D. in Education and Organizational Leadership from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary.

Professionally, I’ve found purpose in primarily serving in church ministry. Having served faithfully in prior churches, we were asked to move our family from West Tennessee to Murfreesboro, TN, in 2018. This opportunity would also provide the chance to begin teaching and assisting in institutional effectiveness at Williamson College in Franklin, TN. I have also been able to serve as Co-Executive Director for Disciple Leaders Network, a network of 3,000 leaders from across the nation focused on developing discipleship strategies in churches.

As a lifelong learner, I am grateful for the opportunities to share through writing. I have authored various books focused on different areas of ministry and genres. In particular, the writing of Overflowing Marriage launched the ability to speak across the nation in churches about developing healthy practices in marriage. I have also written devotional books and fiction for children.

More than all these things, I am passionate about my wife, Brittany, and two daughters, Ellie Grace and Abby. My foremost responsibility is to be the best husband and father I can be to them and to leave a lasting legacy of love and faithfulness.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Anyone who tries to tell you that life is smooth is lying to you! What life teaches us is, as the old phrase goes, it’s not a matter of if you will face a storm, but when you face a storm. Some of the initial struggles encountered began during college. I had two fraternity brothers pass away within a short period from vehicle accidents. Both of those events left lasting impressions about the brevity of life and how we are to treat every moment as a gift given by God.

Later on, there were struggles that I faced around self-image that led to the regular consumption of alcohol as a way to escape any issues or to conform to those around me. It would take the accountability of a friend and a time of personal revival and renewal in my walk with the Lord that gave me a fresh outlook on life and the path to follow.

Serving in ministry can often feel like being on a consistent emotional rollercoaster. Some of the emotional downs, whether it is seeing the moral failure of leaders or walking through difficult moments with families, take their toll on life and relationships. Then, maintaining a healthy balance between caring for your family and the demands of others can lead to issues of wrestling with expectations.

Therefore, the need to care for your family and align your life to true priorities is a consistent battle within the pastor’s life.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
One of the unique opportunities I have is sharing with churches around the nation about how to connect people to grow in their faith. Numerous churches have to close their doors every year due to a decline in attendance or a lack of growth in their faith. Often, some leaders do not know or have the ability to lead their people to take these vital steps in their development. As a pastor, I can share in their frustrations of wanting to see people grow, yet they become distracted and discouraged by the many things vying for their attention.
The joy is insurmountable in seeing church leaders who genuinely care for their people and help them take the next steps in personal growth. Often, this requires taking the time to encourage other pastors and leaders in these churches and allowing them to craft growth plans that are unique to their context, considering each step as vital to success. I am often in awe of being someone who is younger than most consultants, yet with the ability to share many experiences and techniques that have been found to be successful and fruitful for churches.

How do you define success?
The Bible says that at the end of our lives, the words that we all desire to hear are “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Therefore, my success is not tied to numbers or platforms. My success is based on being faithful to the work that I have been called to do. Therefore, success is to be driven by excellence in faithfulness.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.josephbrasher.com; www.overflowmarriage.com; www.discipleleaders.com
• Instagram: josephbrasher
• Facebook: josephbrasher1