Mark Driscoll, and why Every Pastor Should be Taken Down
Last week the Acts 29 Network dismissed from its membership Seattle mega-church pastor Mark Driscoll and his church Mars Hill Church and asked for his resignation as pastor. This came as several controversies came to light about Mark and his church. Mars Hill’s accountability board countered with a statement of frustration that apparently that board had failed to personally
Should you Try a Bilingual Service at your Church? We did and WOW!
At the church where I serve as Lead Pastor, West Park Church in London, Ontario, we held a bilingual service last Sunday. About three years ago the church embraced a Mandarin speaking congregation looking for a home. Our Chinese church, now over 100 strong, is an integral part of our faith community with their own
My Daughter’s Emergency Brain Surgery: 3 Leadership Lessons Learned
My youngest daughter Tiffany was diagnosed with a brain tumor at age 1. Now 27, she has endured seven brain surgeries, intractable epilepsy (non-responsive to drug therapy), proton beam radiation, and an experimental device implanted into her brain. The implant, just approved by the FDA and called a responsive neuro-stimulator holds great promise for epileptic
Leader, have you Normalized God?
When you hear someone say, “God,” it evokes many images and thoughts. Yet for a Christian leader, without a clear biblical understanding of God, leadership lacks power. Recently I read the newly released book, Yawning at Tigers: You Can’t Tame God, So Stop Trying (Thomas Nelson) by Drew Dyck, managing editor of Leadership Journal. It is
Our Church’s Giving Increased 33%…Here’s Why
I recently became lead pastor at a great church in London, Ontario, West Park Church. It has a rich tradition, great people, is located in a fast growing area, and has a killer facility. When I arrived we faced a significant budget deficit. We erased our deficit with a special offering around Christmas. However, during
This Sermon got the Most Positive Comments ever-and it was on Tithing!
I moved to Canada about five months ago to pastor West Park Church in London, Ontario. I’m enjoying living and serving in Canada. Early on I realized that I needed to teach on generosity. So, last week I brought a message on tithing, the fourth in a series on generosity. I don’t think I’ve every
5 Clout Killers every Pastor should Avoid
Jenni Catron, who will soon go on staff at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church where John Ortberg pastors, wrote the just released book, Clout: Discover and Unleash Your God-Given Influence. I read it recently and I believe it is a must read for every pastor, as well as for every follower of Jesus. She defines clout
Top 10 Mistakes New Pastors Make
I just began a new role at a great church in London, Ontario, Canada. I never thought I’d be north of the border, but I’m thoroughly enjoying the ministry here. Before I came I extensively read about how best to onboard (adjust to a new job setting). In my reading and my 33 years of
How Prevalent are People Pleasing Pastors?
This February Inter-Varsity Press will release my third book titled, People Pleasing Pastors: Avoiding the Pitfalls of Approval Motivated Leadership with a forward by Dr. Ed Stetzer. When I began writing the book, I sought to discover how prevalent people pleasing motivations existed among pastoral leadership. What I found confirmed my suspicion. I commissioned several phases of
Why Leaders Need Emotional Intelligence
One way to grow your emotional intelligence, a crucial trait for successful leaders, comes by reading broadly. One of the best leadership bloggers today and my friend, Dan Black, just released his new book, The Leadership Mandate. He is offering readers of my blog an extended chance to receive 6 special bonuses (valuing over $85) when they purchase
