My wife and I have both been greatly inspired by the challenges regarding prayer that Mark Batterson offers in his book, Draw the Circle. In one section, the Washington D.C.–based pastor talks about not allowing prayer to be a substitute for action but a stimulus to action.
Read MoreThirty-eight years ago this month I was installed as senior pastor at Fellowship Missionary Church. The church was a small plant and met in a YMCA. And I was as green as grass!
Read MoreOne of the surprising things that I’m hearing from pastors these days is that they are sensing the need to hire more staff to meet the new needs that have surfaced in this season. And by shifting around their church budgets, some dollars have been freed up to do so.
Read MoreAs a young leader, I was 100 percent convinced that competency was the key to effectiveness in leadership. I no longer believe that’s true.
Read MoreJesus was the greatest leader who ever lived. He inspired multitudes with His teaching. He performed miracles before thousands. Yet, for all of His interaction with large numbers of people, His primary investment was with a small group of individuals.
Read MoreIn my three-and-a half decades of pastoral leadership, I was blessed to witness a church grow from 50 to 2300. While in the early days I was able to lead the church with a staff of one (me!), it wasn’t long before I discovered that the demands and responsibilities of a growing church had moved beyond my capacity. That meant hiring staff.
Read MoreDefining what a disciple is has been debated long and hard. However, when you consider that Scripture uses the Greek word mathetes for “disciple,” the meaning is pretty straightforward. The word simply means learner.
In other words, disciples are people who learn to be like Jesus was and learn to do what Jesus did.
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