Leadership
Holistic Leadership Development
You want to develop leaders who will do what Jesus called us to do, leaders who can take the church forward into the 21st century. You look to the fields and see them, as Jesus does, ready for harvest — and you know that’s where your ministry needs to concentrate.
What’s needed is holistic leadership development — the kind of leadership development that comes from the harvest and leads people back into the harvest, resulting in subsequent generations of new believers and new leaders living as Jesus called us to live.
We can help you develop leaders the kind of leaders you need in a way that is both relational and intentional… and ultimately effective in helping your church accomplish its mission.
Out of the boat
by guest blogger Jonathan LaBarge The disciples are straining at the oars. The current, the wind, perhaps even the sea itself seems against them. Darkness cuts off their vision from the confines of the boat (Mt. 14). Where are they going? Could they even make it...
Church revitalization and a spirit of fear
You’ve seen this situation before: A beloved pastor of many years has gone and now there’s a new pastor. The congregation is finding it hard to readjust. Even small changes in direction feel threatening. There is uncertainty about where the church is going. What will...
New edition of the Coaching 101 Handbook
As I look back on the 15 years since the Coaching 101 Handbook was first published, the main attribute I am struck by is its durability. The work Gary Reinecke and I did on the international qualitative research project to determine coaching competencies, micro-skills...
Sheep or shepherds?
One of the major challenges in ministry is turning volunteers into leaders. You don’t just want people filling needed slots—although that’s one piece of the puzzle. You want to develop each individual: as a person, as a disciple, and as a leader. Ultimately, you are...
Creating a caring environment
You want to create a caring environment for your staff or leadership team. You also want to get things done. This dilemma is often one that senior leaders face. Yet it’s not the either/or situation we may think it is at first glance. When I was a pastor leading a...
An executive summary of The Leadership Difference
Been too busy to read The Leadership Difference? I just put together an executive summary of it that hits the highlights for you. Longer than my usual blog entries, but well worth it. Read on.... The Leadership Difference: An Executive Summary Have you ever felt like...
What we can learn from the Quaker Clearness Committee
Have you ever faced a quandary trying to decide which way to go at a juncture of life? Have you been uncertain of God’s direction or will in a situation? Have you wanted clarity about the direction you should take moving forward? The Quaker Clearness Committee process...
The Spirit-Led Leader
I realized early on in ministry that I was not smart enough to be the Holy Spirit. The best I can do is to help people listen to what God is doing in their life and then to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to see God’s agenda become a reality. When we are discipling...
My three words of advice for a small church pastor
Small church pastors have some significant advantages in ministry. Here are a few ways to leverage your time and energy to make the most significant impact in your congregations. Set aside relational time. As you likely already know, relationships are essential in any...
Train your leaders! A ready-to-go curriculum for developing leadership skills
Do you want to develop new leaders from within your own ministry? Do you see people who have potential, but you’re not sure how to train them to reach their optimal effectiveness? Do you want an approach to developing leaders that is clear and substantive-- yet at the...
Are you asking the right questions?
How can you be sure you are asking the right questions to get to where you want to go? As you lead your church or ministry, the kinds of questions you’re asking make a big difference in where you’re going and what you do—or don’t do—in order to get there. For...
Forced choice exercise: How to decide between two good options
How to decide? Often in ministry and in life, we are faced with choices between two—or more—good options, but we don’t have the time, energy or money to do all of them. We have to choose. It’s especially difficult to choose when both options seem quite good. A friend...