The pastor who built your last decade of ministry success is probably the wrong hire for your next decade. This isn't a criticism of faithful … [Read more...] about Stop Hiring for Yesterday: Structure Your Church for Tomorrow
Before You Make a Plan, Name the Pain
The rural congregation represented 130 years of history in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, with about 150 active members. Its leadership agreed … [Read more...] about Before You Make a Plan, Name the Pain
5 Organizational Pitfalls That Keep Churches Stuck
Henry Ford cautioned, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” Henry Ford wasn’t talking about … [Read more...] about 5 Organizational Pitfalls That Keep Churches Stuck
FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS
Help for Faith Leaders in a Season of Political Stress I don’t know about you but I for one, post Thanksgiving, found myself thankful to have the … [Read more...] about FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS
The Long, Slow, Complex Work of Loving Each Other
2024 has arrived. As a kid, I realized that exciting things would happen every four years: an Olympic year (which I love) and an election year, which … [Read more...] about The Long, Slow, Complex Work of Loving Each Other
Let’s Celebrate Failure
Yes, you read correctly. It’s time for congregations to start celebrating failure! We don’t celebrate failure in most businesses and certainly not in … [Read more...] about Let’s Celebrate Failure
We Need to Talk
“We need to talk.” Those words often signal there is a hard truth to share, a difficult decision to make, a problem to solve, or a conflict to … [Read more...] about We Need to Talk
What to Call Your Elephant
You’d think it would be easy to spot an elephant, but not if you’re looking in the wrong direction. Years ago, I led a mission team to … [Read more...] about What to Call Your Elephant
Engage or Enrage
Facebook’s business strategy is simple: “engage or enrage.” Either response hooks users. Retaliating against rage with rage does not serve the cause … [Read more...] about Engage or Enrage
