How and When to Give Raises
Churches that give across the board raises are shooting themselves in the foot. Why do I say this? Here are three reasons: No one deserves a raise just because they put in the time during the year. Raises must be earned and deserved, not expected and taken for granted. Raises should be given only when someone […]
How to Cast Vision
Having a vision is one thing; knowing how to cast so it sticks is another. Let me share with you how I did it over a twenty-four year period in the church I restarted. Casting vision begins with having an all-consuming passion for some form of ministry. It can be any aspect of ministry. It […]
Some of Us Don’t Value the Soul Anymore
During my 50 years of ministry (Yes, 50. That’s not a typo.), I’ve become convinced that most churches don’t put much value on soul. And that saddens me. Why do I say this? Far too often, more than anything else, money defines a person or organization. The old saying “show me your pocket book and […]
Why You Shouldn’t Show Individual Staff Salaries
I’m often asked if the church budget should show individual staff salaries and without hesitation I always say, “NO, not on your life!” Here’s why. First showing all the salaries encourages mediocrity. Why? Because the same mindset that publishes individual salaries also wants to give across the board raises, which is always a horrible thing […]
Spending Time Mentoring Staff
Spending time mentoring staff is one of the most important things a pastor can do. When I suggest to a person I’m coaching that he needs to spend more time mentoring or training his staff, he usually asks, “What does that look like?” Here’s my response. First, you should see yourself as the head coach of a ball […]
All Good Things Must Come to an End
Many of you know that for the past two decades I have been obsessed with offshore billfishing. It’s impossible to give justice to a description of the feeling one gets when a 400-pound blue marlin is coming toward your bait. You see the fin, then the bill, then the crash as the Blue attacks the […]