Back in 2021, as we were emerging from the long, dark season of COVID, I attended a gathering of leaders from my denomination, the first of its kind since the CDC had issued its new facemask guidelines.
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I enjoyed meeting with my coaching groups. It’s so gratifying to see these young pastors eagerly leaning into their professional development. Yet it was in a follow-up phone call that I witnessed another need.
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As I write this, it’s the day after Easter…and I am remembering what this day was like for me during my 34 years as a lead pastor. I’m also wondering if some of my fellow pastors may be feeling the same way today.
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As well as having been a preacher for over four decades, I also have been privileged to be a teacher of preachers, having served as an adjunct professor in two universities.
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When Gwen and I were seeking to discern what it was that God was calling us to in this season of our lives, these concepts were really helpful to us and eventually led us to launch Dave DeSelm Ministries. I think these truths are transferrable to all of us
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Vision is a key component of leadership. However, as author Ray Pritchard once said, “Good leaders have a vision; better leaders share a vision; the best leaders invite others to join them in spreading this vision.”
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Recently I came across the following from a website called Pastoral Care Inc. It reflected the completed research for 2022, and what I saw was troubling.
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For many years one of my December practices was to consider a theme verse for the upcoming year. More times than not it proved to be my “north star,” guiding me through the uncharted months ahead.
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Most pastors I know are inveterate bibliophiles. They know that great books can provide information, inspiration, and illustrations.
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I remember visiting many churches and seeing a wooden plaque in the foyer that was updated every week. It was titled “Attendance and Offering,” and it gave the stats from the previous week and one year ago, enabling people to compare.
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The term “Celtic Church” is used to describe one of the earliest forms of Christianity in the British Isles. Dating from around the year 400 A.D., the Celtic Church established itself as the most successful evangelistic movement ever seen in the countries of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.
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In the course of my ministry life, I have met many people who claim never to have received a prompting or sense a whisper from God. Not even once. Yet, when I probe a bit deeper, I discover that the reason why is that they have not positioned themselves to be able to hear from God.
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In my two previous posts, I tried to make the point that our relationship with the Lord is more than theoretical – it’s real. And any loving relationship has at its heart communication.
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If there is such a thing as a biblical understatement, “God spoke to our ancestors…at many times and in various ways” (Hebrews 1:1) qualifies. Consider the following Old Testament examples.
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I’m sometimes asked by those I coach, “What’s the best advice you could give me about being a good leader?” My answer often surprises them. “It’s being a good follower.”
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I have a bad habit. Okay…who am I kidding? I have a bunch of bad habits. But one of my worst is my tendency to interrupt others. They begin to share something and then I butt in.
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One of the most interesting New Testament characters, to my way of thinking, is Timothy. This young man, the son of a Jewish mother who had become a believer and a Greek father (who apparently had not) met Paul…
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According to a Barna report that came out a few years back, the aspect of ministry that pastors love most - by far - is preaching/teaching. To their way of thinking, nothing beats addressing the crowd.
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Nolan Bushnell, the father of electronic gaming, creator of the Atari video game system, and founder of Chuck E. Cheese once stated, “Everyone who’s ever taken a shower has had an idea.”
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I was quite surprised to read that, according to a recent Gallop poll, 87% of Americans say they believe in God. This is not to say that they are religious, much less churchgoers. They probably aren’t.
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