One of the most important tasks before us as leaders is declaring the certainty of God’s future in the face of the multiple crisis facing our people, our nations and our churches. Jeremiah had a 50- to 60-year ministry during multiple times in his day—from the failed invasion of the Assyrians, to the total destruction … Continued
You can shut the building, but you can't stop the future of the church.
As this season of COVID-19 has extended, most states here in the U.S. are doing some level of reopening. Most countries in the world are beginning to reopen as well. The question is how does reopening impact churches and their ministries? Implementing a strong ministry pivot strategy is essential. I have served in ministry now for almost two decades. The majority of time […]
Bill Hull, one of the most prolific writers on discipleship, shared a profound insight that stirred my heart about pastoral blind spots. At age 50 I found myself successful but unsatisfied. I was hooked on results, addicted to recognition and a product of my times. I was a get-it-done leader who was ready to lead people into the rarified […]
What began as a major disruption has become a way of life. Not permanently, but for an open-ended and unknown duration of time. COVID-19 has changed our world. • Remember when shaking someone’s hand was normal?• Remember when sitting in a packed movie theater or crowded concert was a fun night out?• Remember when masks … Continued
As church leaders, we must keep our teams optimistic, flexible and focused on essential ministry. We must emphasize a “make it work” approach rather than derailing ministry by why it can’t work. About one third of your people are likely still responding to this season with a “We can’t do this essential ministry because …” … Continued
For my family, social isolation isn’t much different from normal life. Because of my son’s social anxiety related to his autism, drive-throughs are our normal way of eating out. We rarely get invited to other people’s houses. And even though my church is one of the approximately 30% of churches in the country that offer … Continued
Ready to get back to normal? Church on Sundays, small groups, well-oiled programs and a professional staff as the focus. We may now even have some hubris because we believe we have beefed up our online streaming and social platform muscle during this downturn and downtime. But are you seeing that a seismic shift in church […]
Let me guess. You feel like you really need to de-stress. 2020 has been unreal, and almost unbelievably trying—far different than any year you’ve led through before. Every leader I talk to is tired. Well, more than just tired. Stressed. Deeply stressed. And kind of exhausted. There’s a fatigue that comes with crisis that’s a … Continued
Recently, I wrote an article about why some pastors will likely resign when the “normal” returns after COVID. Here, I want to look at the other side of this story—pastors who may have been discouraged prior to COVID but are now finding new zeal in their pastorate. Here are some reasons they’re finding renewed hope: … Continued
