My husband and I are not church planters. We were once called to lead a new mission after it had already begun; and we have been a part of a core group starting a church, becoming a part of the group shortly before the church met for the first time. Although we have...
Five Resource Options for Today’s Teens
More than likely, it’s been many years since your youth group days of Sunday school, discipleship training, and midweek groups. For some, many more than you’d care to admit. If you can even remember what resources your leaders used back in your day to help teach God’s...
The Necessity of Being A Bivocational Pastor
Does God still call people to become a bivocational pastor? Most young pastors probably assume that, of course, God wants them to receive a salary from their church that compensates for all their family’s financial needs (and if the budget’s not there, then that’s...
Ways To Keep Kids Engaged
It can be hard to plan church activities for children during the summer, especially in small churches, because of sports, family vacations, and so forth. Our church will have Vacation Bible School, as will many other churches. But, in addition to whatever Sunday and...
It Made a Difference to That One
Many of us in pastoral care prefer getting to know people in groups, on Sundays, or at meals. While group settings are helpful in building a team and a community of believers who support one another, I have found one on one relationships are truly the key to the most...
The Pastor And His Rural Community
For most of his ministry, my husband has pastored rural churches. He feels called to serve smaller churches, to “remind them . . . to be ready for every good work” (Titus 3:1 nkjv). Pastoring in a rural community is a mixed blessing. On the positive side, we have...
8 Books for Pastors Who Want to Last
Every pastor who still wants to be in the ministry five years from now needs to carefully read eight books. All eight have been game-changers for me. Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box by Arbinger Institute (Berrett-Koehler). This international...
Making Disciples, Not Diaper Changers
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. —Matthew 28:19–20 Go. Make disciples. Baptize them. Probably every single evangelical church is very familiar with Jesus’ final command to...
The Power of A Sunday Morning Testimony Time
I grew up passively watching TV and learning by quietly listening to lectures. However, technology has transitioned our culture from passive listening to active involvement. Perhaps we're catching up with Benjamin Franklin who is often quoted as saying: "Tell me and I...
Seven Ways to Battle the Urge to Quit
I quit! Admit it. Sometimes you feel like shouting it from the highest rooftop…or the closest podium. I quit! I’m done with people who are ungrateful and selfish. I’m finished with ministry leaders who serve their own agenda. I’m exhausted by ministry participants...
Building a Church from Scratch
My husband and I are not church planters. We were once called to lead a new mission after it had already begun; and we have been a part of a core group starting a church, becoming a part of the group shortly before the church met for the first time. Although we have...
Five Resource Options for Today’s Teens
More than likely, it’s been many years since your youth group days of Sunday school, discipleship training, and midweek groups. For some, many more than you’d care to admit. If you can even remember what resources your leaders used back in your day to help teach God’s...
The Necessity of Being A Bivocational Pastor
Does God still call people to become a bivocational pastor? Most young pastors probably assume that, of course, God wants them to receive a salary from their church that compensates for all their family’s financial needs (and if the budget’s not there, then that’s...
Ways To Keep Kids Engaged
It can be hard to plan church activities for children during the summer, especially in small churches, because of sports, family vacations, and so forth. Our church will have Vacation Bible School, as will many other churches. But, in addition to whatever Sunday and...
It Made a Difference to That One
Many of us in pastoral care prefer getting to know people in groups, on Sundays, or at meals. While group settings are helpful in building a team and a community of believers who support one another, I have found one on one relationships are truly the key to the most...
The Pastor And His Rural Community
For most of his ministry, my husband has pastored rural churches. He feels called to serve smaller churches, to “remind them . . . to be ready for every good work” (Titus 3:1 nkjv). Pastoring in a rural community is a mixed blessing. On the positive side, we have...
8 Books for Pastors Who Want to Last
Every pastor who still wants to be in the ministry five years from now needs to carefully read eight books. All eight have been game-changers for me. Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box by Arbinger Institute (Berrett-Koehler). This international...
Making Disciples, Not Diaper Changers
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. —Matthew 28:19–20 Go. Make disciples. Baptize them. Probably every single evangelical church is very familiar with Jesus’ final command to...
The Power of A Sunday Morning Testimony Time
I grew up passively watching TV and learning by quietly listening to lectures. However, technology has transitioned our culture from passive listening to active involvement. Perhaps we're catching up with Benjamin Franklin who is often quoted as saying: "Tell me and I...
Seven Ways to Battle the Urge to Quit
I quit! Admit it. Sometimes you feel like shouting it from the highest rooftop…or the closest podium. I quit! I’m done with people who are ungrateful and selfish. I’m finished with ministry leaders who serve their own agenda. I’m exhausted by ministry participants...
Helping Your Small Group Thrive
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