I need a pastor. Being a pastor myself, I wasn’t one to admit that I did. My reluctance probably stemmed from my pride of self-sufficiency and invincibility. Being a mature Christ-follower—and a pastor at that—meant that I should be able to handle anything that comes my way all on my own, no matter how bad it gets, right? Isn’t that …
Millennials: The Money Challenged Generation
For Millennials born in the 80s, school debt is significantly higher than for the Xers and Boomers of previous generations —approaching $40,000 per graduate! Church planters know the pain of this financial strain all too well. Recently, I met three different planters that are struggling with a $90,000 debt for their MDiv degree. This left them with no choice but …
Meet JR Woodward and Dan White Jr. at the Inhabit Conference
Are you headed to Inhabit Conference in Seattle this week? We’d love to meet you! The conference is exploring the movement of communities daring to re-imagine what is possible in our neighborhoods and celebrating how God is re-founding the local Church in our time. Each year hundreds of practitioners, pastors, social entrepreneurs, church planters, community leaders, environmentalists, denominational executives, publishers, professors, …
Where are New Churches Needed Most?
Some church planters want to go “Where No Man Has Gone Before” (the title of the second pilot episode of the Star Trek television series). If you would prefer to go with something biblical, try the Apostle Paul’s words in Romans 15:20: “It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I …
Ignoring the Success of Celebrity
A couple years ago I remember reading a job description for a new church planter. A mega church was embarking on their first planting foray. My eyes widened at the qualifications list. The only person who could meet the criteria was a man (had to be a man) more qualified than Jesus. I didn’t apply. It’s common in church culture for the best …
How To Choose Leadership In Your Church
When forming a leadership team in your church, choose non-representative governance! WHAT??!! This statement may seem scandalous for those who live in a representative democracy, and certainly, most leadership teams combine members representing either departments (adults, children, worship, outreach, etc.) or segments of the congregation. Yet, in my book, Made to Flourish: Beyond Quick Fixes to a Thriving Organization, I …
Free Webinar: The Church We Need Now
What Is Incarnational Movement? What practices are integral to the church flourishing? In this FREE Q & A webinar you will learn: The five elements that create movement Discover the posture and practices of incarnational ministry Discover the key factor to the spontaneous expansion of the church You will benefit from fresh, informative content and are invited to participate in Q & A …
Getting Organized is Not Anti-Mission
There is an incredible distrust of institutions these days. Where can we turn to find an institution that people believe is out for their common good? Church? Government? Banks? Newspapers? According to Gallup only 32% of Americans have any confidence in the 14 major national institutions to perform their necessary duties. The bottom line according to Gallup is Americans clearly …
5 Vital Things Church Planting Spouses Need to Thrive
Like many spouses who supported their partners through schooling, I was thrilled to finally see the end of a long, hard season. My husband Ben had just graduated and was now moving into his first full-time ministry job. That’s when reality hit me: This is going to make me a “pastor’s wife”. And then I did one of the worst …
WHY CHURCH PLANTERS NEED COACHING
I remember the first morning I woke up after I had moved to Syracuse, NY. My family had spent the previous year discerning the Spirit’s voice with friends, family and our faith community. My wife and I had served in full-time vocational ministry for 15 years, and we were sensing a growing call to start a new faith community in …