Conflict: Our Story

by Amanda Box and Jerry Neill   Ahhhhh, conflict on a ministry team, the unexpected team-building exercise nobody signed up for, but everyone has to survive; because even people who agree on eternal salvation can disagree about continuing to print a bulletin or going entirely digital; when two or more are gathered in His name… […]

An Effective Template for Conflict Resolution

by Jon Anderson   Conflict is a natural part of human relationships, even among people of faith. Whenever two or more individuals care deeply about something, differences in perspective are bound to surface. What matters most is not whether conflict arises, but how we choose to handle it. Too often, we slip into power struggles […]

Handling Conflicts with Grace: Leading by Example

by Greg Anderson   Several years ago, a church member asked to meet with me. We scheduled a time and sat down in my office. I didn’t know the reason for the meeting. Our interactions had always been positive—so I had no reason to expect what came next. After a few minutes of exchanging pleasantries, […]

Overcoming Hybrid Work Challenges

by George Welty   The year before Covid started, I was talking to a pastor friend on the phone, and said, “Why don’t I just come pick you up at the office and we can go to Panera?” to which he replied, “My office is Panera.” I had never heard of such a thing. Now, […]

The Spaces Between Sundays

by George Welty   Kevin was a bodybuilder who also worked for a moving company. As a trainer, he taught new hires how to use proper lifting techniques—a great way to make money and put his weightlifting knowledge to work. The first time Kevin ever walked into a church, it was for a job fair […]

Encouraging Work-Life Balance: Supporting Staff Well-Being

by Anna Moser   Just the other day, I had my first experience of a car dying on me while driving down the road. Thankfully, my fiancé was following behind me and pushed my car into a nearby parking lot in the 100-degree heat. While I was not familiar with the dashboard lighting up and […]

Understanding Hybrid Work: Defining What’s Healthy for Your Church Staff

by Chris Goldman   Recently, the vocabulary of work has dramatically expanded to include arrangements like Remote Work, WFH (Work from Home), WFA (Work From Anywhere), Telecommuting, and Remote-Friendly. These modes quickly became not just commonplace but essential, as organizations adapted to pandemic realities. Now, a cultural shift is underway: the “RTO” (Return To Office) […]

Forging Meaningful Partnerships with Local Organizations

by Jason Locke   Several years ago, a prominent Christian man attended a gathering of church leaders from a particular denomination. On this occasion, the church leaders came together to discuss enormous needs in their major metropolis. They were aware of growing food insecurity, unmet mental health needs, and so forth. Their prominent Christian guest […]

Engaging Youth in Outreach: Empowering the Next Generation

by Kathrine Pimentel   Whatever you do, don’t say the word “evangelism.” That’s what a small group of Christian high schoolers told me while discussing the topic of sharing the Gospel. In a world where everything has become offensive, you can add the word “evangelism” to the list. In the moment, it would have been […]

Understanding Your Community: Conducting a Needs Assessment

by Delores Orcutt,  MSN-PHN, RN, FCN   Conducting a needs assessment may be an unusual topic to read about in a church publication. It is typically reserved for secular organizations like business or public health. However, a church community is an ideal place for this effort. This article will explain the what, why, and how […]

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