The article below is an excerpt from The Upstream Collective’s newest Free Download entitled, Taking a Virtual Short-Term Trip. There have been a lot of short-term mission trip cancellations this year due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak. Many people have been talking about other options they could consider in light of these cancellations. One option … Continued
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
One of the greatest felt human needs is to be understood. Not for everyone, but for many. And part of being understood is to first be seen. I feel this need deeply, and that need grew exponentially when I became a stepmom. Never married with no children of my own, I married a man with […] Ministry to blended families requires intentionality and understanding.
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
Conflict. Most of us do not like the word, and even fewer of us like experiencing it. Given a choice, many people would rather walk away from conflict than engage another person or group. Conflict can happen almost anywherein our homes, our workplaces, our schools and everywhere we run people with differing opinions, behaviors, values […] Learning about humility in conflict can help us navigate these challenging situations.
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 […]
Whats the point of your life? Were on this earth, the apostle Peter says, to glorify God and amplify the gospel: Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits (1 Peter 2:12). For someone who is the main character in the story of your life, what matters is how their situation prepares them and others for that home.
When Angie and I moved into the first home we ever purchased for ourselves, we moved into an aging neighborhood where we were surrounded by sweet older widows. One day, a van pulled into the driveway of the home across the street and along the side were the words: PROJECT INASMUCH The van belonged to … Continued
