by Bill Wilson | Mar 26, 2019 | strategic planning
Building a congregation’s life around a clear vision and purpose is an easy thing to believe in. Aligning that purpose with biblical teaching and witness is an agreeable notion. I seldom encounter a leader or leadership group who resists the idea that the path toward...
by Guy Sayles | Mar 19, 2019 | preaching
Congregational leaders use a variety of frameworks, processes, and tools in their work of guiding, shaping, and nurturing churches. Among others, I’ve gratefully used appreciative inquiry, family systems theory, adaptive leadership, and a variety of...
by Doug Haney | Mar 12, 2019 | healthy ministry
Adult choirs still matter and these faithful singers when at their best contribute to the health of the church. A healthy adult choir both reflects and contributes to church health. What does it mean to have a healthy adult choir and what can ministers of music...
by Jayne Davis | Mar 5, 2019 | leadership
What is the best team you’ve ever been a part of? We are in the middle of a hiring process at our church right now. This is an important question to ask if you value team ministry and want your next hire to be a good fit. Good teams work together toward a...
by Mike Queen | Feb 19, 2019 | leadership
I read an article some time ago about a young woman who had applied to a certain college. Like at most schools, the application had several personal questions. To her surprise, she was accepted at this school. In her acceptance letter, it said something like this:...
by Jim Kitchens | Feb 12, 2019 | future
“In those days there was no king in Israel; all the people did what was right in their own eyes.” – Judges 21:25 Editorial comments like this are peppered throughout the book of Judges. Its editor wanted to make sure we didn’t...
by Chris Aho | Feb 5, 2019 | love
I stood in the chancel with the bride and groom. The moment’s significance was infused with the Spirit’s presence as we turned to the most familiar of wedding scriptures: If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do...
by Bill Wilson | Jan 29, 2019 | Christian
The book of James closes with a most interesting assertion: “My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from...
by Barry Howard | Jan 15, 2019 | pastor search process
In the Baptist world, an ecclesial culture that treasures local church autonomy and operates in a “free call” method for pastoral assignments, there seems to be a new trend emerging. More and more Pastor Search Committees are considering associate ministers with...
by David Hull | Jan 8, 2019 | leadership
This Christmas, I gave and received a great book. Let me introduce it to you if you have not already found it. Leadership in Turbulent Times is the latest book by historian and leadership expert Doris Kearns Goodwin. She builds on her earlier books about Abraham...
