Leadership Development

Five Ways an Optimistic Attitude Can Make You a Better Leader

By Michael C. Mack Neuroscience tells us that optimists make better leaders than pessimists. Stressful situations trigger a fight or flight response, which may manifest itself in a negative emotional reaction. Our brains release chemicals that can be useful if confronted by a bear, but which could prove costly if confronting a church leadership problem. An optimistic attitude helps leaders to view situations from a constructive viewpoint rather than as a dire disaster. Cultivate an optimistic attitude as a leader so that when you are faced with setbacks, mistakes, disappointments, or failure, you can avoid the flight or fight response,

July 26, 2013

We Carry a Heavy Load

Healthy, active churchesÂ need healthy, active leaders. Only a balanced life equips a person to handle the burdens of leadership. By Aaron Wymer “I don”t think so, Elzie. It”s just easier to be a Christian when I”m not an elder.” With these words, or words very much like them, Wayne told my father he wasn”t willing to become an elder at my home church. My dad”s eyes twinkled a little when he told me what Wayne said, but the rest of his face frowned. I could tell dad agreed with him, but couldn”t bring himself to refuse his call to be

April 28, 2013

Churches, Brains, and Change

By LeRoy Lawson Messy: God Likes It that Way A. J. Swoboda Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 2012 Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships Daniel Goleman New York: Bantam Books, 2006 Memoirs of an Addicted Brain:Â A Neuroscientist Examines His Former Life on Drugs Marc Lewis New York: PublicAffairs, 2012 Gutenberg the Geek Jeff Jarvis Kindle Single, 2012 Early in my ministry I took comfort in a joke””probably already stale””that made the rounds in preacher circles. A pastor ran into a former colleague who was now making his living working in a funeral home. When he asked him why

April 27, 2013

Changing Church Culture

By Jim Powell Recently, several leaders from a local church asked to meet with me to discuss their congregation”s decline. They wanted advice on how to turn things around. When I sat down to visit with them, I noticed all of their questions were exclusively programmatic in nature. What kind of music do you play? What do you wear on Sundays? How do you present announcements? Do you serve coffee and doughnuts? There is value in asking such questions because we need to contextualize the gospel, and having relevant methods can make a difference. Yet I was concerned that they

March 12, 2013

Time to Change

By Mark A. Taylor I”ve been thinking this week about change. Not the pennies and nickels in my pocket, but the change that most of the country observed SundayÂ at 2:00 a.m. That”s when Daylight Savings Time kicked in, leaving many of us yawning the next morning. Even though 49 of 50 U.S. states observe Daylight Savings Time (somehow most of Arizona has stayed exempt), some of us still chafe under the mandate to lose an hour of sleep each March. “The change in the spring is always hard for me,” a friend said Saturday night. We had been trying

March 8, 2013

How We”ve Developed a Mentoring Culture

By Mark Worley A student, who is now a graduate of Dallas Christian College, wrote these words: I wish I could be mentored. My classes are great. I believe I”m getting a quality education as I learn to think critically, understand the Bible, apply the Bible, and teach the Bible. But, that”s only classroom learning. It has not beenÂ enough. I need a mentor toÂ help me, someone experienced in ministry and life””a time-tested and trained, solid leader. Someone like this could meet with me a couple times a month (we”re all busy), and just talk to me about life. He could

January 28, 2013

Get in the Game! Volunteer Anxiety Disorder

By Craig Wilson I thought God and I had a deal that I would never have to go to a hospital to have any form of surgery. I have a very real fear of being put under anesthesia, cut open, and stitched back up like a teddy bear that”s losing its stuffing. I don”t like the idea of an IV needle in my arm, and had never had to have one. Apparently God was not aware of this deal, because there I was, just two days after my 43rd birthday, lying in a hospital bed with an IV in my

January 28, 2013

Get in the Game! Values, Vehicles, and Victories

By Jim Probst The Pareto Principle highlights the tendency for 80 percent of the work to be done by 20 percent of the people. We”ve all heard of this 80/20 principle, and we often see it as an inescapable rule inchurch cultures. Our beloved 20 percent have the “curse of competence” . . . or at least the “curse of obligation” . . . that fuels the fire to fill the volunteer void again and again. Meanwhile, the under-responsive masses settle into an uninspired consumer Christianity. As this scenario occurs and reoccurs in our churches, we are left with an

January 27, 2013

Get in the Game! Why I Love Volunteers!

By Eugene DePorter While visiting a church recently, I heard a young preacher say, “I hate volunteers.” It shocked and distracted me so much I wasn”t able to grasp what he was trying to communicate. In my 26 years of ministry at Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, Kentucky, I have depended greatly on the faithful, unselfish efforts of volunteers. They have contributed to helping many people know Jesus, and I will always be grateful for their impact. Most churches appreciate the value of volunteers, but recruiting these servants is a continual challenge. Jesus told his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but

October 11, 2012

Leaders Are Readers

By Mark A. Taylor Buying books is cheaper than changing ministries. So goes the advice often attributed to Russ Blowers when he was minister of East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis. But are young leaders today heeding the advice? All of us following a leader hope so! We want our leaders to know more than what they find on Facebook or ESPN. We need to hear more from our preachers than their own experiences. We expect our teachers to challenge us with ideas loftier than their own. We need those helping us live the Christian life to examine the

November 6, 2011

Equipping Volunteer Leaders

By Jennifer Taylor Churches around the country struggle with the wonderful problem of how to expand their work by involving enthusiastic new leaders””people who may have limited Bible knowledge or ministry experience. The Crossing (Quincy, IL) created its Ministry Development Institute in 2009 to equip and encourage these volunteer leaders. The 18-month course of study provides in-depth biblical teaching and training in ministry skills. Classes include Old and New Testament surveys, the book of Acts, biblical interpretation, worldview and spiritual formation, practical ministry, and more. The institute posts syllabi and reading lists for each course on its website, and the

October 20, 2011

My Opinion about Opinions

By Karen J. Diefendorf I have an opinion about opinions! In the Army we use the Military Decision Making Process (MDMP). One of the steps is to separate facts from assumptions. It isn”t always as easy to differentiate the two as one might imagine. But the reason it is critical to identify assumptions is because of the great risks hidden within them. We put it this way: “The greater the assumption, the greater the risk.” Leaders have to determine how much risk they are willing to assume with any action. It seems to me that opinions in the life of

April 20, 2011

Kent E. Fillinger

The Church Size Matrix (Part 2)

Kent E. Fillinger continues the Church Size Matrix by examining how a church’s growth changes the minister’s role, leadership structure, staffing needs, and organizational culture.

April 17, 2011

Brad Dupray

Interview with Justin Miller

Justin Miller reflects on leading Real Life Christian Church through repentance, leadership change, authenticity, and systems that helped prepare the congregation for growth.

March 14, 2011

Bruce Stoker

Lesson for March 20, 2011: Leadership Priorities (1 Timothy 4:6-16)

Bruce Stoker reflects on 1 Timothy 4:6-16, urging church leaders to keep their focus on biblical truth, godly practice, and devotion to God’s Word.

February 11, 2011

Tim Harlow

Don”t Make Me Lay Hands on You!

Tim Harlow reflects on Nehemiah, Jesus, and Paul to challenge church leaders toward courageous, loving correction rooted in zeal for the health of God’s people.

February 7, 2011

Kyle Baker

Improvisation Is Hard Work

Kyle Baker draws on jazz training with Delfeayo Marsalis to show church leaders why strong improvisation requires discipline, planning, rehearsal, and continued growth.

December 6, 2010

Rick Grover

Leading Beyond Your Ability

Rick Grover reflects on leading beyond personal ability through dependence on God, trust in others, outside help, and renewed humility in church leadership.

September 26, 2010

Vince Antonucci

2010 NACC: The Why Behind Our Ministry Mistakes

Vince Antonucci explains why ministry mistakes often trace back to a lack of self-awareness—and how leaders can better understand their background, personality, talents, and blind spots.

September 23, 2010

Brad Dupray