Creating a Culture of Listening and Respect

by Jon Anderson   Until we moved to another city a few years ago, my wife and I were part of a large church for over 25 years. For the last 14 of those years, I served as an elder. During that time, our church went through several critical seasons. Two of those seasons went […]

Teaching Truth with Grace in a Time of Tension

by Brad Cox   We are living in a politically charged season marked by sharp disagreements, quick judgments, and a constant pull to choose sides. Unfortunately, in many ways the church has found itself in a similar season. Topics that used to be cut and dry are suddenly up for discussion.   Members in the same […]

Leading Above the Noise: Church Leadership in a Polarized Age

by Carlus Gupton   Many church leaders today feel exhausted. The emotional temperature of public life seems to rise every year. Social media amplifies outrage. News cycles accelerate conflict. Cultural debates once confined to politics now spill directly into congregational life. Elders and ministers who entered ministry to shepherd people toward Christ increasingly find themselves […]

Together is Better: Why Ministry is Meant to Be Shared

by Grady King   Better together sounds simple enough. After all, everyone needs encouragement and support, right? Yet, simple does not mean easy. And when it is ministry, we all have our opinions, preferences, and ways of doing things. Yet ministry is meant as a shared service by God’s design. Ministering together is challenging today […]

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 […]

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