Bells Ringing in My Ears
I had to vacate my house for the night because some remodeling was being done, so I checked into a Holiday Inn. While I was out walking my dogs, one of the biggest mainline churches nearby began to ring out old hymn tunes. I was a block away and it hurt my ears. I went into […]
Too Busy to Lead
I had a conversation today that caused me to think. This pastor had a lot of balls in the air. In fact, too many. So a thought came to me about another two rules of management (click here to read the first five rules). Point Number Six: Never be too busy to lead. Sounds like a […]
Staff Management
They didn’t teach me management skills in seminary. But I wish they had, because as the leader of a church I needed them badly and it’s a shame I had to learn them on my own. So I thought I would pass on some pointers. Point Number One: If you can’t measure it, it will […]
Growing Your Church? You’ll Need Alliances
The following post is a rough draft of a section in the book 21st Century Strategies for Church Growth that I’m in the midst of writing. Your feedback is appreciated. If you’re with me so far, then I’m guessing you’re pretty serious about growing your church. One might think that everyone in the church would […]
Career or Call (from 21st Century Strategies for Church Growth)
In the introduction of 21st Century Strategies for Church Growth, my primary purpose is helping a pastor decide whether or not they can handle the heat in the kitchen of church growth. The following excerpt challenges each reader to question themselves about why they’re in ministry in the first place. It comes across as a […]
Tough Questions
I received a post from person on our advanced leadership forum inquiring what questions he should ask while at a search committee interview for a new church position as lead pastor. Here is what I said. What is their vision for their church? How many pastors have they had in the last 20 years? Why did the […]