September 25, 2005
Partners With God
Partnership is often overlooked in kingdom work. Tom Ellsworth reminds leaders that God is the senior partner, and Noah’s story shows how faithful obedience and trust carry us through the storms.
Church Leadership
Church Leadership equips pastors, elders, ministry staff, and volunteer leaders to lead with biblical conviction, humility, and wisdom. Explore practical, Scripture-shaped guidance on leading teams, developing leaders, casting vision, making decisions, and building a healthy ministry culture. You’ll also find help for navigating conflict, communication, accountability, and the spiritual formation of leaders—so leadership flows from character, not just competence. Whether you’re stepping into leadership for the first time or carrying long-term responsibility, these resources aim to strengthen your leadership for the good of the church and the mission of Jesus.
September 11, 2005
Re-Respect Your Elders
Volunteer elders often face misunderstanding and criticism. Eddie Lowen urges churches to reject disrespect, uphold biblical qualifications, and use thoughtful selection practices so elders can lead with integrity and joy.
September 4, 2005
Ambushed by an Open Door
A professor’s classroom story becomes a warning and a guide: cultural change has made communication harder, and church technique shifts can carry hidden trade-offs. Hold tight to what endures while evaluating change with wisdom.
August 14, 2005
‘Seeing the Call’
When ministry life becomes tightly wound, leaders can lose sight of God’s presence and confuse calling with constant demands. Neal Windham explores how seeing with love restores listening, discernment, and renewed vocation.
How You Can Help the Preacher Shortage
With a looming shortage of young ministers, churches must intentionally encourage teens to consider God’s call. Phyllis Fox offers practical ways to support calling, partner with parents, build relationships, teach Scripture, and give teens real responsibility and service opportunities.
A Tribute to Eddie and Lois Bratton
As Eddie Bratton retires, Cathy Kissling remembers how Eddie and Lois Bratton—and a faithful church family in Kalkaska, Michigan—helped her family survive a painful season with counsel, prayer, and practical care.
Disney’s Disaster
Mark A. Taylor warns against delaying ministry until everything feels certain. Disneyland’s chaotic opening day becomes a reminder that creativity can be messy, hard work can cover mistakes, and determination can still carry a worthy vision forward.
June 26, 2005
Two Ministers, One Mission (an interview with Rubel Shelly and John York)
Rubel Shelly and John York discuss Woodmont Hills as “The Family of God,” emphasizing acceptance, honesty, and movement toward Christ. They also describe shared preaching and dialogue sermons designed to keep the focus on Christ, not personalities.
June 12, 2005
Five Keys for Effective Teaching and Preaching
Strong communication shapes how people perceive a church. Jim Tune shares five practical keys—preparation, clear structure, respect for time, effective storytelling, and wise use of technology—to help teaching and preaching move from dull to dynamic.
May 29, 2005
Moving from Managers to Shepherds (Part 2)
Practical steps to help elders move from boardroom management to pastoral shepherding—learning shepherding skills, delegating wisely to deacons and staff, forming real flocks, and reshaping meetings for prayer, encouragement, and ministry.
May 29, 2005
Simple Gifts, Teachable Moments
A popped balloon becomes a lesson in contentment, and a pastor’s journal becomes a window into harder questions: how Christians respond, why church health matters more than formulas, and how leaders can resist the bitter pull of cynicism.
May 22, 2005
A Guide to Effective Leadership
Randy Richards and Gary York outline a leadership model that clarifies elder and staff responsibilities, emphasizes policy leadership and empowerment, and helps churches measure progress toward a God-given vision.
May 22, 2005
A Guide to Effective Leadership: A Case Study
Eastview Christian Church faced leadership stagnation as growth outpaced older processes. Randy Richards and Gary York describe how policy leadership clarified roles, improved meetings, strengthened teamwork, and helped elders focus on vision, monitoring, and strategic thinking.
May 22, 2005
A Guide to Effective Leadership: Policies
Randy Richards and Gary York describe four key elder policy categories—vision, process, relationship, and limitation—kept in a regularly updated policy manual to guide proactive oversight, delegation, and clear boundaries for church leadership.
Moving from Managers to Shepherds (Part 1)
Lynn Anderson contrasts “shepherd and flock” leadership with institutional management, showing how authentic relationships and integrity shape spiritual influence. A mentoring story and biblical examples invite leaders to move from the boardroom into the pasture.
Equipping Leaders from Within: Partnerships
David Faust reflects on how Bible college and seminary shaped his Scripture understanding, ministry skills, and lifelong learning—and why churches and schools still need to partner to equip leaders well.
Equipping Leaders from Within: We Need Each Other
As churches grow and plant new congregations, the need for trained leaders rises. Tom Jones argues for deeper church–seminary partnership to develop both more workers and better-prepared workers for ministry.
Equipping Leaders from Within: Safeguards
Hiring church staff from within can bring big benefits, but it also raises concerns about experience and theological grounding. Chuck Sackett outlines practical safeguards to equip internal hires for faithful, biblically informed ministry.
