Be one. Build many.
A certain leader took on a very promising young man to disciple in the faith. The leader’s reputation was such that if he were to let it be known that he was looking for someone to mentor, most people would drop everything to volunteer for the position. The leader poured heart and soul over that young man, but he was still a tremendous [...]
David Goodman
What started as a romantic bike ride had become a small intimate adventure. I had inadvertently awed her with my relaxed trust in her steering. And boy did I reap the benefits, scoring big points with my new wife. Not a bad idea on your honeymoon.
Jess MacCallum
Pastors are surrounded with people. We confer with them in meetings, conflict with them in ministry, visit them in hospitals, counsel them in crises and train them in seminars. We pour our lives into them. But who pours their lives into us?
Robert Walter
Ever feel like someone is not paying attention to you when they are not looking at you? How about when you are talking and they are tapping on a screen? What does that body language say when someone is trying to communicate with you? God has put you into other people’s lives on purpose. How can we as Christian leaders be a better [...]
Brittney Moses
Leaders need people they can trust to give them honest feedback, however uncomfortable. Without such people, leaders will not see their blind spots. They will lose their humility. Their growth will be stunted.
Elaine Vitikainen
“I'll let you in on a little secret. Jill and I work really hard to keep a relational connection in the midst of marriage ministry. Emotional and physical closeness aren't a given. We have to make time to connect to just be husband and wife in an ever-evolving relationship. And there's nothing as good as prayer to connect (and to repair [...]
Jeff & Jill Williams
Discipleship of the emerging leader is as crucial as a lion nurturing his offspring or a father his child, but it goes deeper than a father to child relationship. It is much broader than teaching skills or fine-tuning character. Malcolm has written a letter that goes straight to the heart of discipleship and what emerging leaders need [...]
Malcolm Webber
When you lose a great staff member, it’s like climbing a tall staircase to nowhere. You did a lot of work in training and creating a staff culture that is productive; then, it’s gone. Jay has heard all the reasons why people leave seemingly great ministry positions. Here are ten of them.
Jay Mitchell
What a dilemma! ... I asked, “Why is it that you think ministry (preaching, evangelism, pastoral care etc.) is serving God but your government job is not ministry?”
Bal Bahadur
Many churches have lost one important thing in the pursuit of becoming missional – a true dependency on the all-sufficiency of the Bible. Following attractional, missional, or invitational models, churches become derailed from the central purpose that Scripture gives believers – knowing God by His Spirit in a Christ-centered community.
Brent Hoover
Which kind of leader are you – a banana tree or a mango tree? There are those leaders who are like banana trees: everywhere they go, they replicate. They mentor others so that others can exercise their leadership abilities and their gifts, they open up conversations for others to join and give their opinion, and they are in the business [...]
Marilyn Gardner
Empathy is not sympathy, which implies pity; rather, it is an emotion stirred by understanding a person’s situation and then identifying with it in a compassionate way.
Gina Burgess
Not only is there healing and recovery for those who have experienced church hurt but you can learn powerful and positive life-changing lessons on the journey. What happens when Christians aren't behaving like Christians?
Brittney Moses
Hmm … what began as a demo had developed into a significant marriage moment with a little bit of embarrassment. The “expert” coach-trainer was being asked in front of the class to improve his listening. The observers were quiet. They realized that this was sacred territory.
Jeff & Jill Williams
Leaders have the responsibility to remember that their words can slice and dice, and their actions can wound the best of followers. Because humans are fallible, these kinds of wounds will happen. Whatever the leader does after the confrontation or a misspoken, hurtful word illustrates the caliber of character the leader possesses.
Gina Burgess
Trust is having strong conviction in the evidence of something, or agreeing the evidence is true. That is why no one trusts a bridge they can plainly see is broken. Building trust depends upon actions that are the evidence that a person is trustworthy. Here are ways leaders can ensure the trust bridges are strong and true within a team.
Charles Stone
A large number of high-profile Christian leaders stumble on moral issues not by ignorance but by the hidden traps of authority and freedom they enjoy. A healthy blend of character, competency, and openness to God boils down to integrity of heart in a healthy leader who makes a lasting difference.
Dr. Jessy Thomas
Christian leadership is only found in Jesus Christ. True leadership is not found in anything other than Him – in anything other than His Person – in anything other than a living, abiding union and fellowship with Him. Christian leadership starts with Him. Otherwise, it is all worthless.
Malcolm Webber
Transformation of a caterpillar into a gorgeous butterfly is biologically amazing. Transforming fishermen, shepherds, and tax collectors into mighty men of faith and leadership was the intentional act of Jesus. The results were obvious, turning the world upside down. Such should be the results of our own discipleship. God freely gives [...]
Stan DeKoven
We all need to cry out for God to transform our hearts and give us hearts like His, hearts of genuine love for others and deep respect for each individual as a unique creation of God. Servant-leaders acknowledge daily that their hearts need God’s transformative power.
Jon Byler