Contrary to popular belief, evangelism doesn’t “just happen” in church life. It requires intentionality, effort, and practice. Many of us have heard the contemporary mindset that says, “Get the church or ministry healthy and evangelism will follow.” In other words, instead of trying to motivate Christians to share the good news, let’s focus instead onContinue reading “Evangelism just happens”
Category Archives: Leadership
Shaped by suffering
Those who have been in Christian ministry leadership for any length of time have learned an important lesson: pain has a purpose. Pastors and ministry leaders know that God saves us, shapes us, sets us in an assigned ministry, sustains us in the work, and then secures us safely home. We also know that partContinue reading “Shaped by suffering”
It only takes one
Some have heard the maxim that pastors of mid-size churches leave over the opposition of fewer than seven people. In other words, a church of 500 active members could lose their pastor because of a handful of vocal and dissatisfied church members. There is another number that needs to be considered—the number one. Sometimes itContinue reading “It only takes one”
Stay focused
Understanding focus is like understanding the difference between a flashlight and a laser beam. Both are a type of light, but one is much more focused than the other and more impactful. Effective Christian ministry requires focus. Without it we may find ourselves dabbling in a hundred different things but not making much difference inContinue reading “Stay focused”
Hire slow, fire fast
I am by no means an expert on hiring new staff members. I do, however, make hiring decisions and understand the gravity of those choices. Hiring the right person for a position can change the direction of a ministry or an organization. On the other hand, hiring mistakes are both costly and painful. When aContinue reading “Hire slow, fire fast”
God uses pain
Every leader I know has been impacted by painful life experiences. Whether it was the unjustified dismissal from a ministry position, chronic health issues, or a difficult upbringing or home life. No leader, in fact no person, can escape pain in a fallen world. The good news is that pain is not wasted. God usesContinue reading “God uses pain”
Where are we going?
I love to hop in the car and drive without a particular destination in mind. Maybe one or two stops are rolling around in my head, but the potential of discovering new places and things is part of the fun. When it comes to leadership, however, most of your followers will want to know whereContinue reading “Where are we going?”
What to do when you feel empty
Every pastor I know considers it an honor to preach God’s word to God’s people and to those who are not yet His people. Every pastor also knows that preaching involves much more than the Sunday morning delivery of a message. There is a great deal of preparation that goes into preaching. Many hours ofContinue reading “What to do when you feel empty”
5 People Leaders Need to Hear
At the beginning of a new ministry assignment, a friend once said to me, “Lots of people will be trying to get your ear.” What he was saying, in principle, is that leaders will hear from lots of people and the leader must be able to discern who he or she should listen to. WhileContinue reading “5 People Leaders Need to Hear”
Three Steps to Vision
Do you ever wonder how things come about? Things like Christian colleges, seminaries, mission boards, and even churches. How do they come into existence? Take as a case in point Christianity Today magazine. The publication has been around for well over fifty years, has sold millions of copies, has commented on Christianity and the cultureContinue reading “Three Steps to Vision”
Dr. Todd Gray 