What I’m Learning: Rest and Restoration

The most significant words I’ve gotten about soul care came from the voice of God during my first sabbatical. Because of our son’s constant epilepsy needs during 20 solid years planting two churches, I had never taken more than two weeks off. I used all of these issues as a justification not to take a break. But on my first walk on day one of eight weeks off I heard, “Hugh, Sabbath is my way of taking care of you. You’ve never taken me seriously and thus you’ve never been taken care of.” I can’t say I’ve learned this all yet, but I’m starting to believe that the life of God isn’t formed in us until we really trust him with the loving commandment to rest. Really rest.

Hugh Halter
Hugh Halterhttp://www.hughhalter.com

Hugh Halter is founder of Post Commons and Lantern Network, former U.S. director of Forge America, and on faculty at Northern Seminary. He is the author of a number of books, most recently Flesh: Bringing the Incarnation Down to Earth and Brimstone: The Art and Act of Holy Nonjudgment.

Ohio Church Makeover

This move would not only give them room to grow, but also would enable them to do a lot more to fulfill their mission of being a church focused on “building the kingdom, one life at a time.”

How Much Tech Do You Actually Need?

Because you cannot do this alone, you are going to have to trust the right individuals who know more about tech than you do. Your calling is to shepherd. Do that.

Gene Appel: Do Less Ministry; Reach More People

None of the programs at our church were bad in and of themselves. The volume of it just prevented us from being focused on building relationships with those who are far from God. So, we had to do less ministry to reach more people. It sounds funny, but people had to be trained in how to do life with nonbelievers or people spiritually disinterested.