Looking for a church? Ask God for a place to serve, not sit, a place to be courageous, not comfortable, a place for others, not you. Don’t shop for a church; it’s not a commodity. Pray for God to bring you into a radically loving community. – Michael Mack, Editor of Christian Standard Looking for
How can a pastor moving from one congregation to the next make a successful transition, given the unusual circumstances of the COVID-19 crisis? Lovett H. Weems Jr. says the challenges of the day demand creativity and flexibility. But it is also more important than ever to follow normal best practices for making a right start.
It’s that time of year again, that time of year when we examine what we don’t like about our life and make a resolution to change it in the New Year. Can be I honest with you? I think your New Year’s resolution isn’t going to be as effective as you hope it will, if
Back by popular demand, here are the latest really weird criticisms pastors have received, with special thanks to the responses at Church Answers and on social media. “You didn’t send me a thank you note for my thank you note.” Thank you. “You’re too happy!” I’ll make a point of being a total grump around
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
When I was a kid we played outside—without iPhones, Xboxes, and PlayStations. We used our imaginations a lot. Some of my earliest memories are of playing Army in my neighborhood. The tiny town of Nutter Fort, West Virginia, became the great battlefields of American history. Park Hill was Mount Surabachi on Iwo Jima, Elk Creek
