I’d like to invite you to join me THIS Thursday for a timely FREE online training that will help you de-clutter your life and ministry. Because a growing number of pastors are feeling worn out, overwhelmed and over-scheduled. Ever-increasing demands on pastors coupled with a new post-Covid reality often result in little margin for the pastoral priorities that matter most. … Read More
The Truth About Stress and Ministry
Sunday does come around with amazing regularity, doesn’t it? As a pastor, you face a never-ending to-do list: There is always going to be somebody else to reach for Christ. There is always going to be somebody else to disciple in Christ. There is always going to be another budget issue. There is always going to be another meeting. There … Read More
Quotes of the Week – Best of Twitter
Ministry Tips from Nelson Remember: One day you’ll present your flock to the Good Shepherd as the evidence of your work on this earth. Accountability leads to protection. Know what you expect of volunteers and lay leaders, and hold them accountable to those expectations. The best way to protect your people is to set up checkpoints of accountability for those climbing … Read More
What Gets Rewarded, Gets Repeated (Part 2) – Casting a Vision for Volunteers
If you find yourself lacking in a certain area inside of your Church…if you find yourself having to give energy to a certain area inside your Church, it may mean that you’ve not been celebrating that area. Because people will do, people will take next steps toward, and people will act on that which you celebrate. Let’s say, for example, that you … Read More
The Rule of Three – How to Have An Abundance of Volunteers
Cass Wheeler, the long time president of the American Heart Association, shares the “Rule of Three” when it comes to Volunteers in his book You’ve Gotta Have Heart. He says if you are going to have an abundance of volunteers (and that’s what we all want!) and get the job done with excellence, then you must understand the rule of … Read More
Rick Warren on How to Structure Your Church for Ministry
A couple of weeks ago, I shared 10 of the books that have had an impact on my life and leadership (click here to see the list) and The Purpose Driven Church held a prominent spot in that list. Most of you know that I had the privilege of serving on staff with Rick Warren at Saddleback before starting The … Read More
A Day To Remember
The September 11 attacks happened less than two months after Kelley and I moved to New York City to launch The Journey. In an odd way, I thank God that He brought us here before that infamous day. There is a sense in the city, even seven years later, that if you didn’t experience September 11, 2001 as a New … Read More
Where There’s Slack There’s Lack – New Eight Week Series
INTRODUCTION: I’ve been playing with this phrase in my mind for quite a while now. It’s a true statement, don’t you agree? Where there’s slack (in energy or effort), there will be lack… a lack of fruit, a lack of results, a lack of passion… Those of you who are familiar with me and with Church Leader Insights are pretty … Read More
Monday Proflections – June 30, 2008
It’s the week of July 4th and a vacation time for many people. I’m even taking a few days later in the week so it’s a pretty relaxed week, but here’s what’s going on that may be of interest to you: Monday – In our various staff meetings today, we are continuing our discussion of ‘how to wow’ – I … Read More
Why Your Ministry Should be Messy (at least a little)
For me, one of the great challenges of Church Leadership is the tension of not getting everything done that I would like to get done every day. With several billion people on the planet who still need to be reached, I may not get to check everything off my “to-do” list before the day is over. Let’s face it, if we are … Read More