Fathers & Brothers - "Pray More" - Peter VanDoodewaard Talks to Jim McCarthy

May 13, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

"Pray more." That two-word answer from Peter VanDoodewaard to the question of what he would tell himself on the eve of ordination captures the central tension of the entire conversation: a pastor can grow skilled, disciplined, and theologically precise, but nothing of eternal weight happens apart from the Spirit's work. The episode is a calm, unhurried exploration of pastoral calling, the formation of conviction, and the concrete differences between Presbyterian denominations—grounded not in abstract debate but in the lived experience of a man who has spent eighteen years preaching to seminary professors and students a quarter-mile from his front door.

The Shape of a Calling

VanDoodewaard's path to the pulpit was neither dramatic nor sudden. He grew up in a Dutch Reformed home in Ontario, Canada, with a father who was a ruling elder and a succession of pastors whose preaching "transfixed" him as a boy. The desire to preach was present before he could remember its absence. But he also recalls a long season of wrestling with assurance—riding his bike as a boy praying "Lord, please have mercy on me" without sensing that mercy. The resolution came not through deeper introspection but through a shift in focus: "I started to understand the object of faith. Christ. If I look to him, there's salvation."

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What you'll learn

1 (02:00) **Opening & Guest Introduction** - Host Jim McCarthy introduces Peter VanDoodewaard, pastor of Covenant OPC in Taylors, SC, and a longtime fixture near Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
2 (08:55) **Pastoring Next to the Seminary: Blessings & Burdens** - Peter describes the unique dynamics of preaching to professors and students every Sunday.
3 (13:07) **Canadian Roots & Reformed Upbringing** - Peter recounts growing up in Ontario, Canada, in a Dutch Reformed home with a ruling elder father and formative pastors.
4 (17:55) **From High School Sweethearts to Ministry Partners** - Peter tells the story of meeting his wife, Lorelee, in high school and their courtship across different theological traditions.
5 (23:10) **Why Ministerial Friendships Matter** - Peter emphasizes that God has given him friends in ministry so he never feels alone or unaccountable.
6 (25:38) **Discerning the Internal Call to Ministry** - Peter traces his desire to preach back to childhood, listening to animated, Spirit-filled preachers in his home church.
7 (30:28) **Lorelee’s Role in Discerning the Call** - Peter explains that Lorelee was of one mind with him from the start, saying “let’s go” when ministry seemed impossible.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Jim McCarthy

Show Notes

Peter Van Doodewaard has served as the Pastor of Covenant Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Taylors, South Carolina for 18 years. Check out his excellent sermons here.

Also, be sure to register for Greenville Seminary's GA lunch on Wednesday June 24th here.

Special thanks to Nathan Clark George for our opening and closing instrumental. Nathan serves as the Pastor of Worship alongside Kevin DeYoung at Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, NC. You can access Nathan's fantastic catalog here.