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Fulfillment in the Second Chair

“I have labored to no purpose. I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing.” I don’t know how many times I’ve heard words like this from a second chair leader who is in the midst of a season of discouragement. Things may be going well in the church, but the second chair does not feel that his contributions are recognized or valued, or the ministry may be suffering through a difficult...

Confessions of an Arrogant Man

When your life is rocked by circumstances beyond your control, your focus is on survival. While in survival mode we often cry out to God. And sometimes we get the sense that He is responding to us in the midst of our survival mode. That happened to me recently while battling a severe form of pneumonia and coming close to the end of life’s journey. The message of this article is healthy for me to articulate...

We Had Hoped

It was a Thursday morning in May of 2015, and I sat sipping coffee at the bar in my kitchen, enjoying the company of two very dear friends. The tone was light, the conversation uplifting, and the mood peaceful. By all outward appearances, it was like any other Thursday morning of any other week. But this Thursday was different. It was the morning after celebrating 25 years of service on staff with my church...

The Future Doesn’t Exist Yet

All congregations experience seasons when something has ended, but a new thing has not yet begun. Perhaps it is the beginning of a new pastorate, when consensus about the way forward is still forming. Maybe it occurs at the end of a building project when leaders are spent and no one is sure about what is being called forth from the new space. It can even occur at the completion of a strategic plan, when we are left...

Building for the Past?... Build for the Present!

During our 40th wedding anniversary trip to Europe this spring, my wife and I visited the underground bunker being restored by enthusiasts at Schoenenbourg, France. This impressive fortification is one element in the defensive Maginot Line built after World War I to keep Germany from invading France ever again. 

The 4 Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership

The Leader’s Greatest Commandment. Leadership is hard. It is a difficult calling and responsibility. If I finish my life and have not left a mark or made an impact that was significant to another person’s life, I won’t be content with that.“Holy discontent” is the term Pastor Bill Hybels has coined...

Communicating and Connecting

Have you ever had the experience of meeting someone for the first time and had the feeling you have been friends for a long time? You might re-meet someone you once knew pretty well but have not seen for a long time. The two of you begin talking, almost like picking up on a conversation interrupted just yesterday.

Authentic Leadership: An Honest Reflection on God’s Intentional Design

There are many places you can go to find out about leadership. You can interview leaders. You can be mentored by leaders. You can listen to keynote speeches and sermons given by leaders. You can read or listen to books written by leaders,  and in today’s socially connected world, you can even follow leaders both on and off the platform. 

The Role of a “Typical” Church Administrator

If I were a research specialist and were asked to decipher the role of church administrator based on what I heard at the 2016 TCN Conference…here is what the requirements and responsibilities could look like...

Culture Change

Culture—not vision or strategy—is the most powerful factor in any organization. It determines the receptivity of staff and volunteers to new ideas, unleashes or dampens creativity, builds or erodes enthusiasm, and creates a sense of pride or deep discouragement about working or being involved there. Ultimately, the culture of an organization—particularly in churches and nonprofit organizations, but also in any organization—shapes individual morale, teamwork...