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An Emotional Affair

What is an emotional affair and why must pastors, elders and ministry leaders fight against succumbing to this temptation? According to one online source, “An emotional affair is a non-sexual relationship involving a similar level of emotional intimacy and bonding as a romantic relationship.” The writer adds that emotional affairs often begin as a friendshipContinue reading “An Emotional Affair “

Sharpen Your Ax

Ecclesiastes 10:10 reminds us, “If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.” Leadership burnout results from continually giving one’s energy and resources for the well-being of others without taking time to invest in one’s own well-being—or a failure to sharpen one’s ax. Some will immediatelyContinue reading “Sharpen Your Ax “

Numbers Tell a Story

“Numbers do not tell the whole story about a church or Christian ministry, but they do tell a story.” I have heard those words vocalized for years by one of our well-known Kentucky Baptist leaders, and I agree with him. For instance, if a church has annual undesignated financial receipts averaging $400K per year andContinue reading “Numbers Tell a Story “

The Call to Self-Leadership

The concept of self-leadership has taken on a life of its own. A quick Google search reveals long lists of tips, books, seminars, courses, coaching opportunities and more on the subject. Self-leadership is exactly what it sounds like — leading yourself. A recent Forbes magazine article says this about self-leadership: “Leading oneself is critical toContinue reading “The Call to Self-Leadership “

When Giving is Soft

Pastors and ministry leaders pay close attention to several numbers in their ministry leadership context. Two of those — worship attendance and financial giving — can serve as early warning signs of the health of a church or Christian ministry. What should pastors, elders and ministry leaders do when giving is soft in the churchContinue reading “When Giving is Soft “

God Honors Work

We are not saved by our work, but we are saved to do good work. Paul makes both points crystal clear in Ephesians 2:8-10. And God honors our work. Proverbs 12:11 reminds us, “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.” Since work pays off inContinue reading “God Honors Work”

How Can We Help?

Kentucky Baptists are known for showing up and helping out. Whether it is Disaster Relief work in eastern Kentucky, foster care through Sunrise Children’s Services or helping ministerial students receive training for their calling, KBC churches stand ready and willing to respond to needs. No place has that been seen more clearly than in ourContinue reading “How Can We Help? “

Wandering Can Improve Your Leadership

Before Tom Peters introduced the term “MBWA” in 1982, Ben Cates had been honing the practice for decades. MBWA, better known as Management by Wandering Around, refers to the management principle popularized by leadership guru Tom Peters and defined by one online dictionary as “a style of business management which involves managers wandering around, in an unstructuredContinue reading “Wandering Can Improve Your Leadership “

Winning Against Insecurity

Insecurity is less of an either/or issue in the lives of most ministry leaders, but more of a reality on a spectrum. While not all leaders are debilitatingly insecure, most battle this malady at some level. I have met only one leader in my lifetime who I feel reasonably sure is not stricken with thisContinue reading “Winning Against Insecurity “

Growing into Your New Role

I’ve never accepted a ministry position that — in the first six months — I didn’t want to go back to what I was doing before. In fact, if your new ministry position doesn’t require you to grow into it, then I wonder whether the Lord called you to that role. The Lord stretches HisContinue reading “Growing into Your New Role”