Leadership Development

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

December 31, 2010

The Lasting Influence of a Small Church

By Gordon R. Clymer Recently six Timothys of Indiana”s Black Oak Church of Christ returned to say thank-you to the church where each was baptized. Located between Hammond and Gary, the community has become more inner-city than metropolitan. Fewer than 100 people now meet to worship with this congregation. In years past it was never a large church, but it had a vision of outreach. These six men sent out to preach the gospel include James North, professor of church history at Cincinnati (Ohio) Christian University; Ziden Nutt, executive director of Good News Productions, International (Joplin, Missouri); Gordon Clymer, professor

October 23, 2010

A Challenge for All of Us

By Mark A. Taylor I”m grateful for a preacher who did what Bob Russell didn”t. In his interview this week, Bob says he wishes he”d started a “Preacher Boys Club” as a part of his local-church ministry. When I was in junior high and high school, the minister did exactly that. Actually two ministers led our group at the Christian church in Waukegan, Illinois. It was started by Robert Sheets and continued by Steve Willis who followed him in ministry there. We met before Sunday-evening youth group and learned about different kinds of sermons and how to deliver them. We

July 18, 2010

They Trust Me, They Trust Me Not

Dave Ping explains why trust is essential to church leadership and how wounded congregations can begin rebuilding confidence through genuine listening, caring, and practical trust-building practices.

May 16, 2010

Ken Swatman

The Credibility Factor

Ken Swatman explores how pastors build credibility through time, authenticity, transparency, and biblical authority while leading congregations through discipline, redemption, and restoration.

April 25, 2010

Chuck Booher

The Integrity Mirror

Chuck Booher challenges pastors, elders, and ministry leaders to examine whether their private conduct reflects Christ, warning against intimidation, deceit, jealousy, and abuse behind the scenes.

April 11, 2010

Kent Fillinger

Megachurches: Repentance Leads to Real Life

Justin Miller led Real Life Christian Church through repentance, unified eldership, renewed vision, discipleship, and leadership development after becoming senior minister during a season of financial strain.

March 21, 2010

Ken Swatman

Leadership Development Church Leadership

Ask Yourself Some Questions Before You Fire

Ken Swatman offers pastors and church leaders a careful process for evaluating staff concerns before making the difficult decision to terminate a ministry employee.

February 28, 2010

Janet McMahon

Leadership Coaching in the Local Church (Developing Leaders of Leaders)

Janet McMahon reflects on how volunteer coaching, shared responsibility, and intentional leadership structures can release leaders and help local churches care for people more effectively.

February 7, 2010

Ken Swatman

How One Minister Survived a Building Program

Ken Swatman shares three principles that helped Oregon City Christian Church survive and even value the challenge of building and relocating to a new facility.

January 17, 2010

Wilbur Reid III

sabbaticals for volunteer church leaders

A Sabbatical for Volunteers

Volunteer church leaders can grow weary from years of faithful service. Wilbur Reid III makes the case for sabbaticals that renew leaders and strengthen the church.

January 13, 2010