The Analysis Phase After you have listened—long and hard and well—there comes a time when you must face the difficult task of discerning what you’ve heard. Out of all the babel and white noise, after all the rabbits chased and rat holes descended, when everyone has been heard and all has been said, what do [...]

Developing a mission statement grows organically from having a clear sense of calling. In order to hear God’s call on our lives and churches, we need to (shudder!) listen. Unfortunately, listening is one of our least favorite activities. At least, there are not many of us who are truly good at it. It requires some [...]

Bob Brewer, in response to my recent post on The Integrity of “No”, sent me this article. It was so good, I thought I’d share it with the rest of us. Can You Fire a Church Attender? by Dan Reiland (Executive Pastor at the 12Stone Church in Lawrenceville, GA) Maybe “fire” isn’t the right word. [...]

Developing a mission statement for a church is not a simple or easy task. It involves a great deal of prayer, study, listening, thinking, and crafting. You won’t do this at a weekend retreat or over the course of two or three leaders’ meetings. It will take time and energy. It will require leadership and [...]

In the recent movie “Yes Man,” Jim Carrey plays the role of Carl Allen, a guy whose life is at a standstill. He’s in a dead-end job, with a just-broken heart, and a not-so-promising future. He is miserable. Then he attends a self-help seminar where he is challenged to say “Yes” … “Yes” to everything [...]

In my experience (and perhaps in yours), church is often an exercise in herding cats. Lots of well-meaning people—gifted and motivated. Lots of opportunities that call to different people and to different degrees. Everybody heading in their own preferred direction. Compassionate chaos. Earnest pandemonium.[1] Without focus, a church doesn’t need to be a “team.” We [...]