Aligning individual callings with the broader vision of the church
Some pastors ask individuals what they want to do—what is their calling—and then send them off to go start that ministry in the church’s name. Everyone runs off in different directions and the church ends up with dozens of different priority ministries: food pantries,...
A discipleship assessment retreat
When we were in the beta testing phase of our discipleship assessment instrument, Tad Blackburn, pastor with The Vineyard Church, decided to try out the assessment in a retreat setting. He shares here from his experience: When we started with the discipleship...
Pastor to the Community: Discernment
By guest blogger Randy Lovejoy, part 2 of 2. As I open the door and walk in I feel the cool air hit my face. It is 8:20am and it is already beginning to heat up in the Echo Park community in Los Angeles. But the air conditioning combined with the sepia colored...
The Final Step of Redevelopment
By guest blogger Randy Lovejoy, part 1 of 2. “He must increase and I must decrease.” — John 3:30 NASB It is Sunday morning. I am at home. No pressure. No adrenaline. I have stepped down. Sunday mornings are usually a time of action. I would get up...
Why was it you went into ministry again?
Sometimes we need to remind ourselves why we went into ministry in the first place. Odds are, it was not for the money. It was to make disciples and to raise up leaders. More than that, it was to make disciples who would go on to make more disciples who would go on to...