Article Archive

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Maybe you are considering planting a new church and would like to know if this is a calling from God. Or, maybe you have an interest in becoming a church planter and want to know if you should take the next step in that direction. If your answer is yes to one of the above statements, read this blog for some advice or encouragement as you seek discernment from God and others.
Maybe you are considering planting a new church and would like to know if this is a calling from God. Or, maybe you have an interest in becoming a church planter and want to know if you should take the next step in that direction. If your answer is yes to one of the above statements, read this blog for some advice or encouragement as you seek discernment from God and others.
When coaching someone, there is power in using a "what if" question. In this blog, I want to encourage you to use the "what if" question as you coach others and seek to help them assist others to come up with solutions to the problems they might face in life, leadership, and ministry. Read on to discover more about using this helpful "tool."
This week, my wife, Marty, and I had the honor of attending a church planter's retreat sponsored by the Converge Northwest District and held at the beautiful Cannon Beach Christian Conference Center on the rugged Pacific coast in northern Oregon. Read on to discover just a small amount of what was seen and heard at that relaxed gathering. Maybe you and your church can learn from my observations.
A recent poll states that 38% of pastors are tempted to quit and leave the ministry as their chosen profession. The long-lasting Covid pandemic is largely to blame, but there may be other reasons. Let's talk about a few.
Pastors and church planters need good coaching in order to serve the Lord at their best. And, they need a coach who loves them and comes alongside them as a trusted friend and partner in ministry. What does this look like? Keep reading to find out how.
Anyone who is in a pastoral or biblical teaching ministry may experience a sinking feeling after the presentation has been made. It's that helpless feeling that comes when you think you could have done much better and you wonder if you "lost" your audience somewhere between the introduction and the conclusion. I had one of those experiences yesterday. Now, 24 hours out, I am reminded of what really happened. Let me share a few thoughts about this with you as a way to encourage you in your ministry.
During 2020, the use of social media has been the source of way too much division and negativity.  Virtually everyone using Facebook or Twitter has lost friends over differing opinions and viewpoints, especially political ones, or they have chosen to "defriend" people who were on their friends or peeps list. How sad all this is. For my last ministry blog of 2020, let me share with you how we can get back to using social media to build up rather than tear down relationships.
This blog is meant to highlight the importance of prayer in coaching pastors, church leaders, and leaders of Christian organizations. So let's take a look at a number of Bible texts that encourage us to be a people of prayer, especially prayer in coaching ministry leaders.
Does Your Church or Ministry Have a BIG Vision? What the vision of your church or ministry? Do you even have one? It is my observation that not many churches have a vision for what God is calling the church to become. Some do have a mission statement that incorporates the essence of the Great Commission and Great Commandment of the Lord Jesus, but how about also having a vision statement that states where the church or ministry is headed in the future under the guidance of God and with his help? Be encouraged to ask God for his BIG vision. Read more to find out what this means.