What the American Church Can Learn from the Immigrant Church
Last week, our church staff held an inspiring live zoom interview with Tim Keller. Keller said, “Immigrant churches might be holding the key to the future in America.” This struck a nerve because I grew up in an immigrant church. In this post, I share 3 things.
So I Teach a Class On Race At My Church…
Teaching on race in a church context is not something I ever vied for. But the other day, I gave a 40-minute lecture on race followed by a brief question & answer section. These are a few of my reflections as I drove home after.
Why I’ve Started Meeting With a Spiritual Director
It is easy for a pastor to guide everyone else to God while walking around in circles, personally. It is easy for a pastor to smile on stage, but lose sensitivity to the ways of Jesus. These are just a few reasons why I began meeting with a spiritual director.
Pastor, Your People Will Be Frustrated At You (And That’s Okay)
I am a fan of wise, strategic planning with clear and compassionate communication. I believe in leading well! But a pastor cannot be liked by everyone all the time. A pastor cannot be perfectly understood by everyone all the time. A pastor needs to get comfortable with shepherding frustrated sheep. This is to lead like Jesus.
Why Your Pastor Is Busy
Does it ever seem like your pastor or team of pastors is busy? I mean, what do they do all day anyway? Don’t they just read the Bible, pray, and send out an email or two? In this post, I point to the complexities of the pastoral role through the many hats they wear and what that means for pastors and their people.
Why Pain (Inflicted by Another Leader in Ministry) Can Be a Gift for a Church Leader
One of the greatest pains in ministry is the pain inflicted by our partners and teammates in ministry. You’ve heard the stories. What good could come of it? In this post, I highlight an invaluable embedded gift under the crucible of this kind of leadership pain.
What’s the Difference Between the Small Church Pastor and the Large Church Pastor? (The Answer May Surprise You)
Is the pastor of a larger church more gifted or godlier than the small church pastor? Is the small church pastor more humble and theologically sound than the pastor of a large church? What is the exact difference between the two? In this post, I explore the key difference.
What Are the Differences Between the Seasoned & the Unseasoned Pastor?
What are the differences between seasoned and unseasoned pastors? In this blog, I make 5 observations about seasoned bosses and influencers I’ve had the privilege of interacting with and learning from. I also share practical ways younger pastors can learn from seasoned pastors.
To All My Former College Students
In this post, I share an open letter to the many college students I was privileged to shepherd over the last 7.5 years of college ministry. This is a letter of thanks, gratitude, and a reminder to think about God’s grace.
The Emerging Pastor (or “Christian Influencer”) Who Makes Me Nervous
It can be a beautiful sight when a pastor’s influence (or a Christian’s social media account) takes off. It can be a great benefit to those under their influence and a testament to the power of God. At the same time, I feel a bit nervous when I see a combination of key factors playing out in the life of the leader or influencer. This post examines those factors.
The One Thing Pastors In Their 20’s Should Consider Focusing On (After Character)
Character is king. Nothing matters more than character. But after character, what should pastors in their 20s focus on? In this blog, I make the case that developing one’s skillsets and competencies through rigorous and strenuous work is the next best investment.
Pastors, Let’s Not Make These Social Media Mistakes During Divisive Days
It’s challenging enough for pastors to lead their churches under great circumstances. The last thing pastors need is the loss of credibility due to unwise engagement with social media, especially during divisive times. In this blog post, I share a few social media mistakes pastors can make during divisive times and conclude with a few practical exhortations.
4 Thoughts for Strategic Re-Opening for College & Young Adult Ministry Leaders
God has always leveraged crisis moments. In this post, I share 4 thoughts for consideration for college and young adult leaders preparing for re-opening.
Marriage, Ministry, and My Biggest Mistakes
Ministry is a blessing. It can strengthen a marriage. But ministry will also place stressors on a marriage. Here are 4 mistakes I made as a married person in ministry.
4 Pastors Your Church Doesn’t Need
There’s ministry competency and then there is Biblical chemistry to the role of the pastor. This post is about pastors, whose competency and capacity may highly exceed the “average” pastor, but who I believe are not needed at our local churches.
What Does A Pastor Experience When Leaving a Church?
What does a pastor experience when transitioning out of a church? In this post, I share a few of my own experiences in the midst of my own transition.
The Single Greatest Ministry Skill
You don't need to be the strongest communicator or be the greatest strategist to be effective in ministry. While intangibles, like charisma or intelligence help us, there may be another form of ability that helps individuals thrive in ministry.