Author Archive for Beth Hadley

Mentoring the Next Generation of Leaders

by Scott Laird   “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:2, NIV) Four spiritual generations: Paul, Timothy, reliable people, and others. Four generations that have been taught and mentored in the Lord. This […]

Navigating Conflict on Leadership Teams: From Control and Ambiguity to Trust and Shared Mission

by Carlus Gupton   Leadership conflict does not usually explode overnight. It simmers. It appears in tense meetings, guarded conversations, stalled decisions, and quiet frustration between elders and ministers. Most teams care deeply about the church’s mission yet find themselves navigating unclear authority and unspoken expectations. The question is not whether conflict will surface, but […]

From Lone Leader to Collaborative Leadership – Building a Healthy Team Culture Among Ministers and Elders

by Jason Thompson   Church leadership has often been shaped—sometimes unconsciously—by cultural models that elevate the decisive individual: the visionary pastor, the strong chair, the gifted personality who “carries” the church forward. Decisive leadership has its place, but Scripture tells a richer story. God’s work rarely depends on a single hero for long. Instead, the […]

Leading from Rest, Even in a Busy Season

by Jay Jarboe   During an early morning ride to the airport, I asked a leader, “When do you take your sabbath rest?” He immediately responded with “Oh no, brother, I can’t take a rest, I am too busy in ministry.” Perhaps I was tired after a long trip, or perhaps it was the early […]

Small, Steady Practices for Sabbath and Soul Care

by Steven Carrizal   “Time off will not heal you when the problem is how you spend your time on.” Read those words again. I was on a walk listening to a podcast when those words almost literally stopped me in my tracks. Carey Nieuwhof was a guest on Andy Stanley’s podcast talking about working […]

Refocusing Vision After a Draining Season

by Jason Locke   Church ministry is filled with ups and downs. I’ve occasionally experienced the highs that come with transformed lives and numerical growth. And I’ve experienced the lows that come from tragedies, losses, and difficult decisions. Valleys and mountaintops can be equally draining. Without intentionally taking a moment to refocus, it’s easy to […]

Leading from Overflow, Not Exhaustion: Sustainable Rhythms for Spiritual, Emotional, and Physical Renewal

by Grady D. King   You already know this: ministry is all-consuming. There is always a need, expectation, and at times, self-imposed pressure to respond—to do something to make a difference. Most church members only see the public you, but you know the mental and emotional energy it takes beyond the assemblies. In short, ministry […]

Setting SMART Goals for Effective Planning

by Jay Jarboe One of the wonderful truths about God is His desire for relationship and partnership with His people. Paul reminds us, “we are God’s fellow workers” (1 Cor. 3:9a). The early church committed itself not just to ordinary activities but to meaningful spiritual relationships (Acts 2:42). Many believe that activities create relationships, but […]

A SWOT on SWOT

by Evertt Huffard For many years, I began a weekend consultation with a group of elders or a mission team with a SWOT assessment [strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats]. However, I shifted away from this tool to the “start-stop-continue” tool because it naturally generated action steps. Consider this SWOT on SWOT. STRENGTHS: A good consultation generates conversations that the […]

Balancing Ministry Demands with Personal Development

by George Welty   Many churches tacitly celebrate their pastors being overworked. We might not say it out loud, but the culture exists: tired equals faithful, busy equals devoted, exhausted equals fruitful. Many in the pews have never glimpsed the inward weight of ministry — the spiritual fatigue, the emotional weariness, and the continual burden […]

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