Did you know you can recruit people in one of two ways: by conveying vision or by telling people about the problems and how much you need them? Which method do you think most leaders use? Today, I want to provoke you to think about what method you use to recruit volunteers, and I want you to take a few minutes just to realize it’s all about how you frame your message. You can go up to a great prospective volunteer and say, “We don’t have enough workers. We really need help. Would you consider?” But from the other person’s perspective, that’s kind of scary. They might feel like they’re stepping ..read more

Without a story He did not speak to them  (Mark 4:34). (Don’t miss my note at the end.) You hear it, see it, read it, or experience it. All your senses come alive. “This is one I’ll remember a long time,” you think, and sure enough you do. For a long time afterward, your mind reels with the possibilities. What can I do with this great story? What sermon will it fit? How can I work it in? I’ve sometimes facetiously said that a great story will fit my sermon next Sunday. The sermon may have to be reworked, but if it’s a great story, it will fit. Like the time my wife and I were dining ..read more

The grouchy grumbler. The negative naysayer. The gloomy pessimist. Complaining has many forms. Not every complaint is toxic. Sometimes, a complaint is warranted and can help to identify problems. Additionally, everyone needs to vent from time to time. But many churches have at least one person who complains about everything. Constant complaining can easily control the narrative within a congregation. People focus on the negative. Complaints get more attention than compliments. When a constant complainer has a prominent voice, negativity is amplified and misrepresents the actual state of the ch ..read more

All of us want to live a life that is authentic. We also want to live a life full of integrity. Then there’s living a life full of purpose. We know these three things can be guiding lights for us personally and professionally.  However, I’ve seen many leaders side-step these areas of their personal and professional lives. They see a shortcut and they take it. No one will know, they think.  It may be true. No one may ever discover what you did under the cover of darkness. You may never be exposed for taking advantage of your employees, organization, or friends.  But tho ..read more

Leadership is a complex subject that requires a lifetime of continued learning. It requires constant practice, learning from mistakes and the willingness to take risks.  Leadership is influence. It is about inspiring people to a purpose that results ultimately in their best interest, both here on earth, and for eternity. Thousands of books have been written on leadership, but if I had the assignment to teach leadership in 4 words, here’s what they would be. Heart -> Connect -> Trust -> Follow These four words provide a foundation for relationally-based leadership that when connec ..read more

It is strange to write about the death of the Baby Boomers because I am one of them. Indeed, this article was a reminder of my own mortality. While the implications of the death of this generation go far beyond church life, we who lead and love churches should prepare for this unavoidable reality. Here are seven brief reminders of which we are reasonably certain from a simple demographic perspective. 1. Pastors will do more funerals. The Baby Boomer generation kids were primarily the children of the World War II veterans and their spouses. When the veterans returned from the battlefields ..read more

Hey, everybody! My name is Geoffrey. I oversee our Family Ministries at Faith Family Church – that’s our nursery, preschool, kids, youth, young adults ministries. It’s been so much fun, and I’ve loved it. And God has blessed us. We’ve quadrupled in those areas! There have been a lot of lessons learned on this journey, and I’d like to share with you three questions you should ask as you work to connect people with the purpose of your ministry departments. These three questions have been very helpful for us, and I believe they’ll help you as well. I have learned that things don’t go well just be ..read more

Good leaders are toughminded. They’re able to take the heat. They can handle the difficult stuff comes their way. Leaders who are considered soft, weak, or indecisive are not respected. But there is another side of leadership. It brings heart into play. It balances out the tough side. Without heart, leadership can feel like medicine; necessary, but undesirable. Heart brings, among other essentials, kindness into leadership. Kindness is the #1 overlooked quality of a leader. Kindness is the #1 overlooked quality of a leader. Click & Tweet! We don’t talk about kindness much in lead ..read more

Leading is an intricate dance between love and discomfort. It’s the constant wondering of what people think, the unspoken desire to please those we guide, and the simultaneous need to make decisions that might stir discomfort. This internal tug-of-war is not just a leadership challenge; it’s a deeply personal journey.  As women leaders, we find ourselves grappling with the fear of man, eager to foster unity but often realizing that true leadership requires choices that might be met with resistance. If you are finding yourself on an endless cycle of doubt, insecurity, and second guessing ..read more

As a team member, feeling appreciated beyond the paycheck is important. You put a lot of effort into fulfilling your job requirements, finding things to do, and making the organization money. The daily grind can be mind-numbing. Add to that working for a leader who doesn’t show appreciation can destroy any motivation they have to continue working hard. As the leader, it falls on you to make sure your people know that you are grateful and appreciative of their hard work. I think back to some of my roles where I had a leader who didn’t show their appreciation. It was just demands for more output ..read more