A dialogue continues among researchers about the differences between managers and leaders. It is clear that there is overlap between the two roles. It is equally clear that some managers do not lead, and some leaders do not manage. A helpful (but ultimately inadequate) distinction is that managers deal with maintaining consistency in the here and now, while leaders work to change the future.

Pastors of congregations …

I hate meetings - no question.  I’m a believer that most meetings could happen in 5-10 minutes, but even most scheduling programs like Outlook, iCal, or Google Calendar schedule meetings in 30-60 minute blocks.  But let me go one further - stop having meetings in the conference room and start meeting at the place where the problem lives.  Meeting at the location of the problem allows everyone to …

“Evangelism is the activity in which the entire Church prayerfully and intentionally relies on God in sharing gospel love and truth, in order to bring people one step closer to Jesus Christ.”

The entire Church. The Church is the Body of Christ. As such, we extend hope to the world by communicating the message of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Gospel outreach is not simply one ministry option among many—something that only a …

One of the greatest gifts a teacher can bestow upon students in their Sunday School class is the gift of empathy, being able to understand and see the world from another’s perspective. Children with disabilities not only face the possibility of additional physical, intellectual, emotional, and social challenges more than most but also a host of other challenges that can make functioning in children’s ministry a bit more difficult than their peers. If we as teachers understand those challenges, we are able to better support and …

This fall I’m leading a breakout session at NOC2010 titled, Outreach in the Crises of Life.  I’m convinced that care and ministry during life’s crises is not only a great thing to do, but the most overlooked outreach opportunity churches have.  Crisis ministry focuses on what churches do best — helping people find meaning in life’s great transitions such as birth, marriage, illness, aging, and death to name a few.

Unfortunately, outreach in life’s crises is often reserved for our own church members as part of a typical …