How much thought have you given Not sure how it is in other parts of the world, but here in the U.S. we now live in a 24/7/365 election cycle. This election cycle is what keeps the wheels turning just west of the Atlantic Ocean. Some bemoan it. Others celebrate it! In this post we’ll…

Are you ready to transform your church’s ability to hear from God? There comes a time in the life of any pastor where they desire more of God. They want to commune with Him at a deeper level and lead their churches to the same. Pastor Scott Wilson of Oaks Church in Dallas has just…

Chances are you were not taught how to create and build church culture in Bible school or seminary… Or if you were, you really weren’t paying much attention as someone in their late-teens or early 20’s. I mean, what in the world is church culture and what does it have to do with anything? In…

Succeed A Lead Pastor… Sometimes it happens where a staff member or key volunteer of a good church is just merrily going about their ministry… and then the lead pastor resigns, and they are called upon to succeed the lead pastor. Boom! Transitions in churches happen all the time, and generally, the church just starts…

The clergy housing allowance remains legal… Pastors in the U.S. received welcome news last Friday. On March 15th, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit overruled a Federal District judge in Wisconsin. The judge had previously ruled the Clergy Housing Allowance provision of the IRS violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.…

One of the most important aspects of every weekend is the audio directors in ministry. He or she plays a major role in every component of the church service, whether it’s worship, announcements, prayer time, preaching, or the response time. That’s why it’s important to know the best ways audio directors can serve lead pastors.…

Here, we are discussing how your family can compliment your ministry. Ever heard it said, “family works against ministry” or “ministry works against family?” I have … and it saddens me every time I hear it. The Hardy’s have experienced it where ministry clearly complimented our family. We celebrated that. It is the other way…

Here, we are discussing the generations of faith for your ministry. While no family is guaranteed the children in the home will follow Jesus, I believe there is an awareness all of us can have as we raise them that will help to this end. I know Tony Evans and Bruce Wilkenson have made the…

Here, we discuss how to prioritize commitments. Priorities – The fact or condition of being regarded or treated as more important than another. Commitments – A pledge or promise; an obligation. Now let’s put these two together. Prioritizing Commitments – The fact or condition of one pledge, promise or obligation being regarded or treated as…

“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” This is an idiom that needs not be the description of any pastor or church leader anywhere in the world! Pastors are notorious for doing nothing but the ministry. They are called of God … and because they are called, they sometimes confuse their work…

NOTE:  It may or may not be summer when you read this blog.  But you get the drift.  Any time of year, you could have a slump. So read this “Summer Slump” blog as an “Anytime Slump” blog and you’ll be good to go:-)!) Click here to join the Church Marketing Bootcamp This summer does…

I have heard this question forever in ministry, “how do I balance church and family?” It is as if there is some magical scale out there that can be had that creates smooth sailing for pastors and church leaders in their homes and their churches. Let me be blunt. Balance does not exist. It is…

Ever heard this one, “I’m not joining that church because everyone, including the pastor, is a hypocrite?” Of course, those of us inside the church are all too happy to tell that joker to join anyway because one more (them) won’t hurt. But we don’t. In today’s blog, I want to talk with you as…

A pastor friend of mine and I were hanging out for a weekend at his church. Justin and I loved the time together. A good church with a rich history. We were talking about growing churches. After reviewing the church, groups, staff, board, and Sunday services with my Secret Shopper service, I offered him a…

Some reading this blog are like my son, Jonathan. The guy is more organized than an Amazon Fulfillment Center. He dots more i’s and crosses more t’s than anyone I know. Then there are guys like me. I’m fairly organized but nowhere near Jonathan. I mean, its much easier for me to “wing it” than…

If there is any single given in church ministry, it is that volunteers make the church go ‘round. Where would we be in the church without the faithfulness of men, women, boys and girls who give of themselves in service to it and to the Lord? I’ve been in church leadership for a few decades…

There are some reading this blog today that live for systems. They eat, sleep and breath the whole world of order, a place for everything and everything in its place, and do “a” first, “b” second and “c” third … then you’ll get results. I’m suggesting you put in place systems to do the thinking…

[NOTE: This blog is focused on a major event on the church calendar – Easter.  The principles articulated herein are applicable across the spectrum of church events and seasons.] Here’s a question for you: What is going to make this Easter different from last Easter?  By that I mean … what is going to cause…

If I’ve heard it asked once I’ve heard it 1000 times. “Dick, how in the world do I navigate change in the church?”  Wow! That’s a big one. Change to some people comes very natural. To others it’s like the plague. “I’ll do anything to avoid that!” But let’s think about this. In the church…

I talked to a pastor not too long ago and this guy really has it all together. He’s strong administratively and organizationally, he can preach and he can lead. In fact, he’s a very good leader. He knows he has a good number of healthy ministries and certainly knows he has some that need some…