Archive for Evertt Huffard

Israel-Hamas War: Resisting an Impulse 

by Evertt W. Huffard  10/18/23 When our preacher began his sermon Sunday morning, he wanted to say something about the Israel-Hamas war but was not sure what to say. With some hesitation he acknowledged the tragic loss of lives on both sides and the need to pray for peace. Then he added, “I wonder what […]

From Quick Fix to Healthly Assessment (part 4: Managing Assessment – continued)

by Evertt Huffard – In the last article, we discussed four interacting factors that every healthy church needs: spirituality, mission, organization, and relationships. Figure 2 expands the model. The wisdom of the spirit gives the spiritual basis for mission while good works flow through organization and relationships. This system approach also illustrates the responsibility of elders to […]

From Quick Fix to Healthy Assessment (part 3: Elements of a Healthy Assessment)

by Evertt Huffard – In the last article in this series, we talked about how when leaders have the ability to walk by faith in tough times, the potential for a healthy assessment of the crisis will be more likely. Today we will discuss the elements of a healthy assessment. Elements of a Healthy Assessment When invited […]

From Quick Fix to Healthy Assessment (part 2: Managing Self)

by Evertt Huffard – Managing Self In the last article, we discussed three principles that have served me well in approaching a church crisis. These three principles have something in common–the need for leaders to manage their own fears and emotions in a crisis. Stress, personal attacks, threats, pain, anxiety and a host of fears can make it […]

From Quick Fix to Healthy Assessment (part 1)

by Evertt Huffard – It happens to leaders all the time. When leaders in a church face a crisis, all attention and energy goes into “solving” the problem as quickly as possible–only to discover that the quick fix led to even greater problems. I was an elder long enough to understand why any church leader wants […]

From Quick Fix to Healthy Assessment (Part 4: Managing Assessment – continued)

by Evertt Huffard In the last article, we discussed four interacting factors that every healthy church needs: spirituality, mission, organization, and relationships. Figure 2 expands the model. The wisdom of the spirit gives the spiritual basis for mission while good works flow through organization and relationships. This system approach also illustrates the responsibility of elders […]

From Quick Fix to Healthy Assessment (Part 3: Elements of a Healthy Assessment)

by Evertt Huffard In the last article in this series, we talked about how when leaders have the ability to walk by faith in tough times, the potential for a healthy assessment of the crisis will be more likely. Today we will discuss the elements of a healthy assessment. Elements of a Healthy Assessment When invited […]

From Quick Fix to Healthy Assessment (Part 2: Managing Self)

by Evertt Huffard Managing Self In the last article, we discussed three principles that have served me well in approaching a church crisis. These three principles have something in common–the need for leaders to manage their own fears and emotions in a crisis. Stress, personal attacks, threats, pain, anxiety and a host of fears can make […]

From Quick Fix to Healthy Assessment (Part 1)

by Evertt Huffard It happens to leaders all the time. When leaders in a church face a crisis, all attention and energy goes into “solving” the problem as quickly as possible–only to discover that the quick fix led to even greater problems. I was an elder long enough to understand why any church leader wants […]

Beware of Short-cuts

by Evertt Huffard I recently wrote a book review that takes a few minutes to read, 15 minutes to reproduce, but 15 hours to write. I often remind students that there are no short-cuts in ministry. The sin of plagiarism is the dishonesty of presenting the hard work someone else has done as if it […]