Characteristics of an Effective Counselor: Do You Have What It Takes? (Part 1)
“Kids respond to people whom they sense have a feel for what they’re going through.” —Rich Van Pelt, Intensive Care: Helping Teenagers in Crisis[1] “Leaders must not wait until they […]
Theology in the Wild: Why Theology Matters in the Messiness of Ministry
(What follows is the manuscript of a talk that I gave at the 2023 Spire Conference for church leaders in Nashville, TN.) Those who put together this conference asked me […]
Do You Have the Kind of Discipleship That Stands through the Storm?
I find that people who often have the hardest time becoming relational are those who have been in church a long time. If you ask personal questions, they don’t want […]
Your Ministry Will End Someday. Have You Thought Much About How?
You should really consider leaving ministry. Before you change the date and turn in your pre-written resignation letter to the board of your church, let me clarify. Wherever you are […]
Disciple Making in the Megachurch: Q&A with Bart Shaw of Trader’s Point Christian Church
Can large, long-established churches move to a disciple-making core focus? What steps need to be taken? I recently caught up with Bart Shaw, Campus Pastor and Lead Discipleship Pastor at […]
Why Care About the Rural Church? A Q&A with Tyler VanWey
Editor’s Note: Why care about the rural church? While it’s easy to focus on growing urban and suburban churches because of their population density, it also becomes easier to forget […]
Who Is Your Target Audience? Opening Your Eyes to Where God Has You
Business experts agree that for any endeavor to find lasting success it must have a compelling mission, effective strategy, and a specific target audience. Doing something for everyone often means […]
Baptize Them in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
In the Great Commission, Jesus told his disciples to make disciples and to “baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” So, what is the role […]