A tree doesn’t survive the winter without healthy roots. Neither do we. I remember that bleak February morning when my husband and I loaded up our car and drove through the stripped-bare forests of the Blue Ridge Mountains to move into my parents’ basement. Everything felt cold, including my heart. Weeks earlier, my dad was
Any idea what the best outreach opportunity of the year at your church is? You might think it’s an event you do, or perhaps it’s Easter. But whether Christmas has historically been your best opportunity to reach unchurched people or not, I believe it could be. You may think it’s far too early to start thinking
What comes to mind when you think about Thanksgiving Day? For many of us, it would probably be turkey. After all, it’s the centerpiece of our traditional celebration. As family and friends gather around the table, we generally offer a sincere prayer of gratitude to God for all His blessings before enjoying the food and
So you’re a reader, but which books can give you the unique insight you need to make sure not only that the organization you lead is healthy, but that you and your team stay healthy? I get asked all the time from leaders what my top leadership books are. I’ve put together my top picks.
The work of any church is done by an army of dedicated people. Some are staff, some are volunteers—some are a lonely team of one. It’s often thankless work, so do everything you can to say thank you. We’ve got a list of 30 ways to show your appreciation and thanks. You can get the whole
A few years ago, the gym that I go to was undergoing new ownership. Without any prompting, I began thinking about possibly going to a new gym down the street. That week in the locker room another gym member entered and was upset because his credit card had been hacked. Coincidentally, he had also used
Taking too long Playing candidates off one another Not doing background checks: legal, social media, credit; They are not asking “#MeToo” questions Not providing clarity to internal candidates They are not communicating sufficiently to the congregation Some highlights from today’s Rainer Report: There is no reason why it should take as long as it normally
No man or woman is ever fully acquitted of all responsibility. Just as there are inalienable rights, there is such a thing as inalienable responsibility. What this means is that everyone leads something. Everyone is in charge of something—even if it’s just you. Each one of us is responsible for the choices and decisions we
More than 70 percent of pastors say they work between 55 to 75 hours every single week. Those numbers may not surprise you. But they should. Just like all the people you serve in ministry every week, you were created for a specific purpose—and that purpose isn’t fulfilled simply through activity and busyness. You might think
Feeling too busy already? Over-programming is one of the most common indicators a church has slipped into Maintenance Phase. We recently released our Q3 2018 edition of The Unstuck Church Report. Based on about 1,200 churches that have recently taken the team version of the Unstuck Church Assessment, 80% found themselves on the right side of the church life
