by Pat Bills Someone asked my (late) friend Landon Saunders if he was afraid of dying. His response was classic: “If I am honest I am a little afraid of dying… but I wouldn’t mind missing the next election!” My hunch is if we took a poll in our churches many would feel the same […]
Authors : Pat Bills
by Gena Granberg When I moved from the South to the Northwest in 2021, I felt firsthand the tensions surrounding politics. Events made me not just hesitant, but almost fearful, to address any political topic. Yet as a Christian, I believe we bring insight and attitudes that could—and should—leaven our emotionally charged context. As the […]
Authors : Gena Granberg
by Kaley Ihfe Romans 12:6 “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.” Churches couldn’t exist without volunteers. We call volunteering in church “being a part of the body,” and we expect all members to use their gifts for the good of the body. Current volunteer trends in the nonprofit […]
Authors : Kaley Ihfe
by Kaley Ihfe Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Small groups are a great tool churches use to help us live out Acts 2:42, providing a natural way for intergenerational relationships to develop. Here are some simple tips that I have learned […]
Authors : Kaley Ihfe
by Evertt Huffard They Smell Like Sheep, author Lynn Anderson observed that: “Good spiritual leaders are shepherds, not saviors, leaders not lords, guides not gods” (p. 74). Good shepherds, leaders, and guides cannot be passive and serve well. A paradox commonly observed in church leadership is the tendency to select good men who are passive […]
Authors : Evertt Huffard
by Jay Jarboe Peter Hawkins, a well-known professional coach, and advocate for team coaching, says “The days of the heroic CEO are over. We must move from I to We.” He believes an innovative leadership approach is needed for our world’s rapidly changing environments. “Moving from I to We” is the phrase used to describe […]
Authors : Jay Jarboe
Tags : empowering, team building
by Amanda Box The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the next best time is today. Many of us grew up in a church environment where people weren’t allowed to disagree, question the status quo, or offer a different perspective. When people have structures, language, and strategy to handle each other […]
Authors : Amanda Box
by Jon Mullican Most people work hard to avoid conflictual situations. Conflict creates discomfort. Conflict means to most that someone wins, and someone loses; to avoid losing or losing relationships, we sidestep the issue, the conversation, and the confrontation. Churchgoers follow this pattern well. Who wants to fight at church? Who wants to get into […]
Authors : Jon Mullican
by Amanda Box Research shows that during conflict, people revert to their behavior from about age 12—sad, but true. Since I happen to have a 12-year-old daughter, I have an up-close-and-personal daily view of what this looks like. It’s not pretty. It’s all about the win/lose, deserve/earn with her. I most definitely have my work […]
Authors : Amanda Box
by Shane J. Mushonga Conflict is like an unwelcome friend on life’s journey arriving uninvited; and it lingers if left unaddressed. How do we rid ourselves of this unwanted companion? Consider these three steps to choose healing as a better travel companion: 1. Be Intentional in the Process While conflict is common, healing requires an […]
Authors : Shane Mushonga
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