Is Your Vision Visionary?

Vibrant Visions are the First Step to Vibrant Leadership

Without vision, the people perish. Granted, that’s a bad translation of Proverbs 29:18, but the proverb itself is spot on. The problem is that most church visions teeter on a balance between insipid and impotent. Which is one of the reasons why so many congregations are going through the motions of “doing church” instead of […]

Understanding the Role of Your Pastor

Discipleship

The “golden years” of the church, for many key leaders in churches across the US, were the 1950s. Back then “everyone” went to church – and if someone didn’t go to church, they knew they should! Back then, the pastor didn’t get caught up with trying to reach one generation or another. Everyone “liked” the […]

How Welcomed Are You?

First-Time Guests

Ministers and most (okay, many) church folk already know how important welcome is for guests and members. We know that welcome begins – or doesn’t – long before we get through the front or back doors. Everything from our parking lot to our signs and yard accoutrement tell folks – or should – what can […]

Better Than a Secret Handshake – Signs!

Signs

I was looking for the storefront church on Sunday morning. My GPS said I was at the right address, but nothing jumped out and said, “Hey, you! Come join us for worship!” Eventually, I parked and walked down the sidewalk. I finally found the church right where it should be – but the stenciled church […]

Packaging Experience

Everyone Needs a Coach

Over the past five years I’ve seen a tremendous shift in my ministry. Ten years ago, the bulk of my ministry consisted of local church consultations and workshops. Occasionally I would be asked to coach a pastor following a consultation. Today, almost half of my ministry is coaching pastors either before, after, or totally absent […]