November 6, 2025
To focus outward means that the church’s primary concern is the people outside its walls and influence. It means that the church’s assets—its money, its talent, its time, and its facility—are focused toward reaching into that group.
March 13, 2016
By Patrick Mitchell When I entered a conversation with a dear friend that morning at Milligan College”s exercise facility, I never would have thought that within a few months I would be pastor of a 125-year-old church in a town that boasts a population of approximately 1,000. While still chugging along on the elliptical machine, Phyllis asked if I would consider helping fill the pulpit of a rural church in our area while it searched for a pastor. You should know that at that point in my life (I was then 30 years old), I was done with church ministry.
July 14, 2014
By Don Hinkle (From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I”ve Ever Received.”) “Don”t touch the girls. Don”t touch the gold. Don”t touch the glory”””from a retired minister/author to a group of preachers after chapel at San Jose Bible College””was perhaps the most succinct and insightful counsel about ministry I ever heard. I”ve also found that the saying “it all depends on whose ox is being gored” is illustrated every day. When I was a student at Midwest Christian College, Darrell Terry (Project Challenge, I think) told me to never put people in boxes. I only had two obligations
May 2, 2013
Some churches and church leaders avoid measuring ministries in the church out of fear or from a desire not to be held accountable. Are you afraid of discovering something you don”t want to know? By Kent E. Fillinger “The church is in a difficult time. But the church doesn”t understand it”s in a difficult time because it doesn”t know the truth about itself,”* said Dave Peterson, senior pastor of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas. “Rich Stearns [president of World Vision] observes that a segment within the Christian culture seems to say, “˜We”re good people doing good things, and
April 15, 2007
Kent Fillinger urges church leaders to move past “dysfunctional politeness” by setting clear expectations, monitoring results, and evaluating ministry programs so churches can adjust and bear fruit.
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