While working with a wonderful church team recently, I asked the team what they might offer as a handoff (next small step after an initial

Advent is a special time for the church – as it should be!  The church calendar is full of activities such as practices and events

Every church has a desire to reach new people.  Every church wants to be friendly.  Most churches believe they are friendly.  Many churches are friendly,

My son was recently married and I was reflecting on how weddings and churches are similar.  Granted there are many differences, too.  But I was

“Accountability breeds response-ability.” Stephen Covey Covey expands on this concept by explaining, “Look at the word responsibility—“response-ability”—the ability to choose your response. Highly proactive people

Just because something is simple does not automatically mean it is also easy.  Take marriage for example.  Going down to the courthouse to get a

With all the other shifts we’ve made this past 18 months, it is time for yet another.  We need to consider a shift in how

Fall is the typical time for retreats.  Sometimes those retreats are spiritual retreats and others are strategic ministry planning retreats.  In the past few weeks,

The majority of churches I have consulted and coached with over the past decade do not have an accountable leadership style.  Instead, their leadership style

Sometimes I think we make things too complicated.  That includes the church.  That includes both “doing” church and “being” the church.  Sometimes we are so

“Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of

What is the role of the Church Council?  Is it to manage the church or to govern the church?  Historically and in practice, most Church

“One of the key differences between innovation and adaptation is that innovation is voluntary. Adaptation is not.”  Carey Nieuwhof  https://tinyurl.com/ypjwrduk During these past 18 months,

Is your fall strategic ministry planning retreat on your calendar?  I have been working with several church recently on visioning and strategic ministry planning.  I

Every church would like more first-time guests!  How easy is your church making it for first-time guests to find your church online, details about your

Over the past few years, I have noticed a growing sense of what I refer to as congregational apathy.  The symptoms are be identified as

In this past year if we have learned nothing else, we have learned that things can change and they can change on a dime.  In

If we have learned nothing else in the past year and a half, we have learned the need to be flexible!  We have learned to

As I have repeatedly written about in this past year, the opportunities available to the church at this pivotal time in history are endless.  All

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a

Most church leaders are familiar with the life cycle of a church.  When a church is on the growing side of the life cycle, vision

“The moment you hand power over to other people, you get an explosion of curiosity, innovation, and effort.” Joshua Cooper Ramo Too often I hear

Do you ever find yourself in the wondering mindset of “what if?”  What if usually provides opportunities for what is possible.  Granted for some people

In this past year we have all likely been feeling a bit (or a whole lot) off balance, out of step, or wondering what lies

While some are ending their school year or even graduating, in the church world many are entering into a time of transition.  This is a

Just when I think it couldn’t get any crazier out there, it somehow does.  Nearly each day something happens that utterly surprises me.  In fact,

In earlier posts I have suggested that people are searching for community and purpose.  People are lonely and many are depressed.  People are looking for

You have probably heard the old saying of give people what they want, but sell them what they need.  In my experience, I have found

In my most recent publication, Being the Church in the Post Pandemic World, I coined three different typed of “gathered” people as they relate to

As we have all discovered, a new future is before us.  Our post-pandemic world has created a new reality for us.  Much of that reality

In last week’s blog, we talked about the power of the question.  Now that we have come to appreciate the power of a good question,

As leaders we sometimes think we need to have all the answers.  Maybe we feel as though others expect us as leaders to bring all

In this time of liminality, the path ahead is difficult to navigate.  The path is either completely foreign to us or is yet to have

We are beginning to see the light at the end of this long, dark pandemic tunnel.  Vaccinations are rolling out.  Positive test result statistics are

As the COVID vaccination is made available to more and more of the population, a greater number of churches are offering expanded in-person worship opportunities. 

In this post we will explore the final five relational shifts a vital post-pandemic church will need to make as outlined in my upcoming book,

Last week the first five relational shifts the post-pandemic church will need to make were introduced.  This week we continue those relational shifts with the

In my upcoming book (due out in late March), Being the Church in the Post-Pandemic World, I identified eight different game-changers for churches who want

In a quick poll recently, I asked what people thought was the top trait leaders needed to exhibit and practice in 2021.  Overwhelmingly, the top

I often wonder about the twelve disciples and their journey.  I try to imagine how they might have felt when Jesus asked them to leave

As a big Kansas City Chiefs fan, I am thrilled to see them head back to the Super Bowl again this year.  Even amidst a

In a September 23, 2020 report, Barna released some startling information.  Spiritual, emotional, and relational well-being were noted to be of concern about congregations as

When I launched my coaching practice twelve plus year ago, I was involved in some pretty intense certification processes and learning opportunities.  It was suggested

We are all human beings.  Imperfect people doing our best day in and day out to follow a perfect Savior.  On an average day, we

Endowments: Blessing or Enabling? It is no doubt that people love their church and faithfully leave behind gifts for the church with the best of

Breathe with Gratitude As we head into this week of Thanksgiving, I wonder if we can all just take a deep breath.  This past year

Would you consider your church to be a praying church?  Now, I don’t mean a church with a prayer team that prays for the joys

The Advent season will begin very soon.  This is the season where churches typically receive more guests than any other time of year.  Is your

This past weekend we re-entered the season of daylight savings.  In 1966 the Uniform Time Act was passed and created what we now refer to

Travel Advisories for the New Road While we had all hoped the pandemic would be a minor and temporary bump in the road, we all