What Can You Do to Have a Summer Hump Instead of a Summer Slump?
By: Bill Easum
I remember my first visit to Prince of Peace Lutheran right after Mike Foss arrived. I was impressed by something they did in the summer to have a summer hump instead of slump.
They added an outdoor worship service and […]
Break Out of Program “Silos”
By: Tom Bandy
Most church staff leaders find themselves trapped in management roles for programs. Growing churches break their staff out of management by deploying them at the “intersections” of the disciple-making process. In other words, their job is not to manage programs but develop leaders. They prioritize one-to-one time with […]
For the week of June 19, 2006
Leaders Lead … in the Spiritual Life
By: Tom Bandy
Many pastors lament the low spiritual discipline of adult members of the church. It is very common for less than 5% of the adults in any established church to be in any accountable spiritual growth; and although many church plants […]
The Strategic Issue for Every Board
By: Tom Bandy
Change is inevitable, even if we stay the same. Therefore, no matter what we do, somebody will be dissatisfied. Somebody will leave church. We cannot keep everybody happy, and complete harmony is forever beyond our grasp. Therefore, the painful question every Board members face is:
“Are we willing […]
The Deepest Challenge
By: Tom Bandy
Behind and underneath all the other resistance or anxiety about change and growth, leaders have discovered the root cause of decline and plateau in the church. The real question is:
“With my (our) first breath and last penny, will it be “me” or “mission”?
This is true both for established churches and […]
Key Questions for Every Creative Idea
By: Tom Bandy
Servant empowering leaders never tell people what to do, but always ask these questions when anyone suggests a creative idea:
1) Did it emerge from serious spiritual growth?
2) Is it aligned with our vision and mission?
3) Is it within the boundaries of core values and beliefs?
4) Do you […]
Mission Attitude
By: Tom Bandy
Parish clergy are an endangered species in the emerging world of indifference or hostility to the established church. Attitude is everything. You can acquire the skills you need, but unless you have the right attitude you are vulnerable to drop out or burn out. Score yourself (and ask others to score […]
Finance and Leadership
By: Tom Bandy
Established churches of all kinds are hitting a financial wall. Some are now asking the clergy or staff to take salary cuts, and these leaders are rightly perturbed at the hidden assumptions behind such a move. Remember that the key to stewardship is disciplined adult spiritual growth, and that the […]
How Churches Become Alive Spiritually: Part 2
By: Bill Easum
Last week we saw how churches become spiritually dead. But spiritual death does not have to happen. In order for the picture to be reversed, the following usually happens.
Action – Some one (usually the pastor) begins to cast a vision of a different future and […]