The Effective Mission Statement
A mission statement is the rudder that points the ship in the direction it’s called to go, and therefore must be sure, strong, and clear so that there is no doubt by anyone where the ship is going. The purpose (mission) of the church is to make disciples. Each church must wrestle with its setting […]
The Two Deadly Sins of Omission
There are two primary mistakes church leaders make that keep their church’s DNA* from being embedded/replicated in their congregation. Both are deadly, in terms of mission focus, alignment, and excitement, and both are equal in their devastating affects. *(DNA = Mission, Values, Vision, Strategy, Beliefs, and Behaviors) The first mistake can be summed up in […]
Staff Disharmony: The Giant Killer
In the world of church, there are many different kinds of giants. Some are the kind we need to get our slings out to slay. But there are other giants who have earned our respect. For instance, there are giants of the faith: women and men who have already died to self and live for […]
How to Get to Know Unchurched People
Over the years, I’ve noticed there’s some significant confusion about the Great Commission. For several centuries, the church has interpreted it as “Go ye into all the world,” which of course is a translation for the more appropriate term ethnic groups (lit. ethnos). In today’s language, we would accurately say, “Go and make disciples of all […]
Seven Clues You’re On the Right Track
I had a conversation with a pastor in the midst of a church turnaround/transformation the other day. During that conversation he asked what behaviors should a church leader be looking for that would give her/him clues as to whether the congregation was effectively transforming. I thought about it and here’s my list of the top […]
The Spiritual Leadership of the Board
Most churches underestimate the importance of the board members as “spiritual leaders”. Board members are often elected or appointed because of specific skills (teaching, finance, property management, etc.). However, as management responsibilities are delegated to a trusted, gifted few, it becomes more important that the board members be models for the spiritual life. They need to be […]