Ask someone how they’re doing. The common response: “I’m good, thanks!” Here’s the more candid version I’m hearing these days. “I think I’m pretty good, but I’m not really sure. Honestly, I don’t know.” That’s an honest answer. It’s an answer of a leader who may be on overload. It could be someone in your … Continued
With much of the world in various stages of lockdown, short-term mission trips have become one of the first summer casualties. Planes are grounded. Airports are quiet. And the folks who print all those matching mission trip T-shirts are wondering when business will pick up again. But I, for one, am grateful someone hit the […]
A few years ago I met with a group of millennials in our church—asking them to help me think through leadership today. The most repeated word was “authentic.” Funny, they couldn’t necessarily define the term, but they apparently know when they see it—and when they don’t. I was talking with a young staff member of … Continued
Its true that Saddleback has gained attention because of its growth over the decades, but I dont want our church to grow just to add to our numbers. Im motivated by changed lives. Im always asking myself, Who is the next person God will radically change? Whose marriage will be transformed next? What is the […] This article discusses Rick Warren's method for crafting sermons.
Third culture kid teens are resilient, resourceful, clever, creative and flexible. For their entire lives they have not only practiced but also excelled at adapting to new cultural situations and learning new ways of being and of doing. This year in particular they have been challenged to draw upon these strengths in new and important ways as the world continues to navigate the ambiguity and adjustments of new protocol and procedures in all arenaswork, academic, social and commerce. Understanding third culture kids reentry adjustment is crucial for this demographic.
As a second generation Filipino-American I am very aware of my othernesswhether its at church on Sunday which includes a 30-minute worship set with a beautiful LED screen displaying the lyrics so we can sing along, a distant departure from my Catholic upbringing where we were accompanied by a pianist and the sheet music was […] This article explores how to love other Christians even when you don't agree.
Most of us change places of ministry during our career. I realize, of course, that making changes now during COVID may seem unwise, but below are 13 mistakes I’ve seen leaders make in this process of “courting” a new ministry. 1. Seeking God only when looking for a new position. If you spend time with … Continued
We cannot eliminate uncertainty. In this season of ministry, we can only address what is known. When it comes to the number of volunteers we need and in what positions we need them, there is a fair amount of uncertainty moving forward. As new guidelines and new normals are established in our churches, the ideal … Continued
Robinson, Illinois, is a unique town of about 8,000 people. Rural, but defined by industry, Robinson is about 40 minutes away from the next largest city. It is home to a Marathon Petroleum Corporation refinery, a Hershey Company plant and a state prison. It is also where Pastor Adam Hafenbridle, along with his wife, Emily, is leading a church replant named The Refinery in this community.
For many churches, planning for the year is a big deal and requires a lot of time plus energy. If you or your church havent taken the needed time to plan your church calendar planning pivots, I would recommend that you use this season to plan for what is ahead. I know that you cant plan in as much detail […]
