Celebrate the Wins

Celebrate the Wins

Years ago, I had the privilege of coaching basketball under a guy who knew how to turn the tables of a bad team into one that started to believe in themselves. Honestly, at first, coming from sitting under other coaches who yelled, screamed and pointed out all the mistakes, it was weird for me to…

Creating Culture in Your Congregation

Creating Culture in Your Congregation

One of the true greats in youth ministry, Mike Yaconelli, wrote a book in 2002 that presented a difficult challenge to the modern Church. In Messy Spirituality Yaconelli challenged the Church, which was filled at the time with me-generation Baby Boomers and young, upwardly-mobile professionals (Yuppies) of the 90s, to lay aside its pretense and…

ACCOUNTABILITY: To What and Whom Does Your Ministry Answer?

ACCOUNTABILITY: To What and Whom Does Your Ministry Answer?

Introduction “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” Or so I’ve heard. That is a truism that is all too true in many a church, where “squeaky wheels” set an agenda of anxiety, reactivity, and whim, while the church as a whole flounders to find its course. What today’s church must have are guiding principles to…

Using the Timing of Operational Cycles to Make Your Ministry Work

Using the Timing of Operational Cycles to Make Your Ministry Work

Introduction I was going through a box of some old things that I inherited from my dad not too long ago, and I came across a real treasure. There amongst things that he had obviously cherished was his grandfather’s pocket watch. My great-grandfather had been a Methodist preacher of days gone by, retiring from ministry…

Stages in Discipleship Development: A Well-Established Concept

Stages in Discipleship Development: A Well-Established Concept

Introduction Which of us has not finished our training and entered the workforce of the Church with great dreams of helping young people “find Jesus” and move on to become giants of the faith, filling their personal pews for years on end, serving God’s children from a purity of heart, and raising themselves a whole…

One Step at a Time

One Step at a Time

One Step At A Time Have you ever had the privilege of being present when a little one takes his first steps? There’s anticipation and excitement and collectively-held breath… and then joy as he toddles forward, however short-lived. Those few seemingly insignificant movements literally change his life. They may not seem like much at first…