9 Ways Great Leaders Communicate
Great leaders are great communicators. Communication certainly includes making a great speech, or for pastors, delivering a compelling sermon. That kind of communication is important, but it’s less so than communicating well one-on-one. I recently finished reading neuroscientist Andrew Newberg’s book, Words Can Change your Brain. His book suggests 12 key neuroscience based communication practices. I’ve included nine here with
What Would you Do for $10,000,000? How Leaders Build Integrity
What are you willing to do for $10,000,000? James Patterson and Peter Kim published the book, The Day America Told the Truth in 1991. In their research they posed this question to 2,000 Americans in an anonymous survey. These are the results. Would abandon their entire family (25%) Would abandon their church (25%) Would become prostitutes for a
Facebook and Twitter RANTERS…my Response
I’ve used Facebook and Twitter for a few years to help communicate my message on living for Christ as a leader and as a person. It’s been a valuable tool to share my thoughts and I’ve learned a great deal from others. However, I’m finding that more and more people are using it as a
Guilt Producing Questions Pastors Secretly Ask Themselves
I’ve served as a pastor for over 39 years in churches as small as 4 1/2 (my wife, two pre-schoolers, and one on the way) to churches that approached 2,000 attenders. The locations have included the far west, the midwest, the south, and the southwest. If you were to ask people after I moved from
Which Church Jobs and Ministry Opportunities Best Fit Your Personality?
In this post I’ve asked Kevin and Kay Marie Brennfleck to share their amazing expertise in ministry and non-profit job placement. They run these two excellent sites that help place pastors and other job seekers into churches and ministries, ChristianCareerCenter.com and ChurchJobsOnline.com. If you are seeking ministry placement, check these sites out. You will also be encouraged with
The 3 Kinds of People in Every Church
In Judson Edward’s book, The Leadership Labyrinth, he describes 21 paradoxes in ministry. He defines the ‘relationship paradox’ in this way: the people who like you the most will be the ones you try least to please. He then writes that these three kinds of people fill every church. His insights are quite helpful. The energizers: their very
How Questions Build Christian Leadership
I recently came across a new book that is outstanding. It’s a devotional using powerful questions to walk the reader through the New Testament. It’s written by Dr. Brian J. Wright who serves as a prison chaplain. This book is called Inspired Questions: A Year’s Journey Through the New Testament published by Christian Focus. I
3 Lessons I Learned from 75 Cuban Pastors
A few years ago I experienced one of the most difficult yet rewarding weeks of ministry in my 39 years as a pastor. I trained 75 pastor-leaders in Cuba and I will never forget it. The group I trained is pictured below. I spoke 22 times in 5 days, 19 of those times crammed into
7 Holes that Can Swallow Ministry
I have four earned degrees and my toughest by far was an industrial engineering degree from Ga Tech. That degree taught me to think systematically. In addition, I’ve added to my competency tool box many books on church planning plus two churches where I’ve served have engaged in year-long visioning processes with church consultants. So, I’m
7 Thinking Errors that Hinder Church Growth
My first degree, industrial engineering, taught me to think systematically which has in turn benefited my pastoral leadership. Since then I’ve read many books on church planning and been certified through Ministry Advantage and Auxano, two strategic planning/pastoral coaching organizations. I’ve also led three churches where I’ve served through a year-long strategic planning process. So, I’m well-versed
