Articles for tag: Ministry Leadership

November 19, 2013

Mark A. Taylor

Mistakes Are Good and Conflict Can Be Productive

By Mark A. Taylor If there”s one thing too many Christians avoid, especially with other Christians in church settings, it”s conflict. Bad situations fester because leaders fail to confront. Inferior ideas get implemented, and sometimes enshrined, because someone in charge is afraid to say no. A better way goes undiscovered because those discussing the future are too willing to follow the first plan proposed. A minority voice sways a decision because others in the group will not stand up and say, “Brother, you”re wrong.” Yet the greatest progress is often the product of freewheeling dialogue where dissent is welcome. Bob

July 15, 2013

Christian Standard

A Conversation with LeRoy Lawson

Meet Our Contributing Editors: In this, the second of our series of interviews with CHRISTIAN STANDARD”s contributing editors, an elder statesman talks about””and speaks to””the young leaders our movement is producing. Interview By Jennifer Johnson  Let”s start with the positive: what encourages you about our young leaders? Their commitment, their curiosity, and””for the most part””their hard work. They have chosen ministry in response to a demanding call, not as a secure job with benefits. They also know the difference between doing religion and serving Jesus. I”m not sure I knew that when I started out. When I planted a church early on,

July 15, 2013

Christian Standard

40 Under 40: Ben Simms

BEN SIMMS Executive vice president and chief operating officer, Lifeline Christian Mission, Westerville, Ohio Vision. Passion. Humility. These are three qualities that come to mind when I think about Ben Simms. I believe his vision for ministry is God”s vision because it includes the entire world. An ever-increasing number of people are called “visionary,” but their vision is often limited to one concept, project, or area of ministry. Not so with Ben Simms. He is able to see potential and possibilities when others focus solely on the obstacles and difficulties accompanying any opportunity. Passion is an indispensable attribute in ministry, but unbridled

July 7, 2013

Christian Standard

40 Under 40: Melissa Hofmeister

MELISSA HOFMEISTER Assistant director of networks and recruiting, Stadia Melissa Hofmeister has emerged as a leader within the church, while keeping her roles as Christ follower, wife, and mom as priorities. In the coming years, her influence on the Christian church will reach far and wide as she connects high-capacity, world-changing leaders to more than 45 Stadia church plants in the United States and Latin America. She”ll influence Muskego, Wisconsin, as God uses Melissa and her husband to transform lives through the new church they just planted. And most importantly, she will influence the mission field of the three boys

October 27, 2012

Christian Standard

The 3 R”s to Launching & Landing in Ministry

By Susan Lawrence It”s a great idea! You know it can have an impact on people. You”re excited to get it started. Others sense your excitement as you share with them, and they get excited, too. You”re ready to blast off with the power of a space shuttle. You”re in your comfort zone. Dream big, and shoot for the moon! You make a few plans, share what you imagine the beauty of the view will be once in flight, and press the LAUNCH button. The problem is what gets launched must also land. Without a plan for the journey, the

March 2, 2012

Christian Standard

Lead with Style!

By Rick Chromey Leadership happens when we move people toward desired insights, attitudes, and behaviors. We all lead somebody, but in the church our skill to enact change, instill confidence, and reduce conflict often spells the difference between success or failure, promotion or termination, trust or skepticism. Naturally, the real question is how will you lead and flex your leadership style? Tom enjoys the spotlight. His winsome charisma captures his congregation”s heart. He enjoys risks, but Tom”s hasty decisions betray trust and create insecurity. His lack of discipline keeps Tom unfocused and unproductive. Rob also enjoys risk and change, but

October 7, 2011

Christian Standard

Getting the Job Done

By Mark A. Taylor On the day after Steve Jobs died, his name was at the head of every newscast, the subject line on scores of e-newsletters and blogs, the stuff of conversation among his fans around the world. “I think I”m the only one who has NOT posted something about Steve Jobs today,” wrote a friend on his Facebook page. One of those posts linked to technology columnist Walter Mossberg”s memories at WSJ.com. “He was a genius, a giant influence on multiple industries and billions of lives,” Mossberg wrote. The coverage that day and since said nothing about Jobs”s

March 2, 2011

Christian Standard

How to Organize a Small Groups Ministry

By Kent Odor As a young man I ran several seasons on my high school track team. I won a few races and some ribbons, but I realized early on the Olympics were not in my future. Nevertheless, the experience had a very positive lasting impact on me. The daily training in preparation for the track season was absolutely necessary before I finally put my feet in the starting blocks for my first race. In a similar way, establishing a small group ministry in a church of any size requires some serious preparation. Here are some of the necessary ways

October 12, 2010

Christian Standard

The Behaviorally Based Interview

By David Limiero A good friend at church is the CEO of a growing manufacturing facility with more than 50 employees. He has advanced academic degrees and years of experience in business, but has only recently taken on the responsibility of interviewing potential employees. A few weeks ago he confided he still hasn”t figured out the secret to interviewing people for his staff. In particular, he”s had a number of people excel in the interview only to flounder on the job. Hiring the wrong people has cost him a significant amount of time, money, and productivity. If a seasoned, well-educated

August 18, 2010

Christian Standard

Lookin” for Squirrels

By George Ross I”m sitting in a motel a long ways from home with a laptop and a deadline. (I”m on a staff recruiting trip interviewing two guys for two key positions for our ministry leadership team.) I”m wondering if I should acknowledge in this article what I”m struggling with. So here I sit in the motel facing a big mirror on the wall as I look beyond my computer. I”m OK with the deadline and the risk factor, just not the mirror! A visual of myself at 6:30 am brings no inspiration! A Specific Sign In recruiting for a

January 3, 2010

Christian Standard

Provoking Change: A Review of Catalyst Atlanta

By Brandon Smith ________ Read the Sidebar: “Three Incentives for Joining the Movement” ________ When thousands of vehicles converge on a single four-lane road, movement is bound to slow. This was the case driving north on Sugarloaf Parkway outside Atlanta the first week of October. But the occupants of these vehicles were gathering for a conference, and, contrary to the traffic, the passengers were preparing for a great movement. The conference is called Catalyst. A catalyst, by definition, is a force that provokes or speeds up significant change or action. While I don”t remember a lot from my science classes

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