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.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
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
Read More
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.”
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
I’ve been struck by a consistent theme in the lives of several pastors I’ve spoken to recently. That theme is disappointment.
Read More
One of the great challenges for pastors is deciding how much of their personal lives to reveal – whether in private conversations or in sermon illustrations. It’s known as “appropriate self-disclosure” and it’s a big deal.
Read More
inter Gwen and I were privileged to share some extended time with a group of pastors and wives. While we were one of my fellow pastors gave a devotional that I found to be insightful, and I've been thinking about it ever since.
Read More
Someone who shaped my life in my early years of ministry was the late Dr. Howard Hendricks, professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. I read his books. I listened to his sermons.
Read More
Most pastors I know are inveterate bibliophiles. They know that great books can provide information, inspiration, and illustrations.
Read More
Ever since Thanksgiving, I’ve been pondering an intriguing Scripture verse. Psalm 126:3 reads, “The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy.”
Read More
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.
Read More
Some time back I came across a quote (sorry, but I don’t know where it originated) that really marked me. It read…If you never celebrate your wins, it will seem like you’re always losing.
Read More
One of the most painful aspects of the post-pandemic church has been its numerical contraction. Attendance is down across the board. And with that, giving is down across the board.
Read More
In his fine book, Canoeing the Mountains, Tod Bolsinger describes the outstanding leadership of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark as they led their Corps of Discovery in search of a northwest passage to the Pacific Ocean
Read More
Nothing will slow down a growing church faster than a toxic staff member. What makes a person toxic? One definition is that it’s an individual who is unsupportive, negative, or even abusive.
Read More
The best organizations have a clear sense of culture. The Apple way… the Chik-fil-a way…the Disney way. Having that stated culture sets the bar for expected behavior.
Read More
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.
Read More