Leading Change

Ever wondered what it takes to move your church to the next level — how to cause your ministry to improve — to make it better and more effective to mission? It happens only when you are willing to take the specific steps necessary to examine all ministries of the church and set your mind…

Level-up your leadership. Grow your ministry skills. Reach more people than you ever dreamed possible. Here is the leadership streaming service. Read Video Transcript: Hey, Dick Hardy here, Co-Founder of Leaders.Church. I have a very special announcement today about some massive changes we’re making here at Leaders.Church, and how this is going to be a…

Across the country, churches are starting to open up for services again. With this reality, there are all kinds of different tactics and strategies for doing so. Despite this, we are far from the way things were before the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The pandemic has left an impact on our daily lives, including how we…

In raising kids, one thing is for sure. You’re always playing the long game. And that is particularly true as Christ-following parents chart the spiritual course for their children to love and honor God. So, with this reality, how do we fit this into bringing kids back to church after COVID-19? We have just walked…

The Post-Covid-19 Church The world has just gone through, and is still in the midst of dealing with, the biggest pandemic our current generations have ever known. Much reference has been made of the Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918. Now, we have our own version in 2020. So, what will the church look like post-Covid-19?…

 is something that plagues the human mind and heart almost constantly. I don’t think I have ever met someone who did not feel uncertain of something. Right now, more than ever, our world is full of uncertainty. COVD-19 is a silent and sly adversary who has shut down the world. Pastors are not immune to…

At the time of this posting, pastors everywhere are looking at reopening churches following COVID-19. They’ve spent the last two months doing everything possible to keep the Body connected. And from the contacts I’ve had, these pastors have done an amazing job. Now, it’s time to get back to meeting in person. The Church has…

These can be trying times for church leaders as they try to figure out how to do kids & youth ministry during COVID-19. But with keeping the proper perspective and making the most out of every opportunity, we can continue to minister to congregations and families represented in the church.  With social distancing, keeping connected…

What in the world do you do with a church board member who goes sideways in a meeting? How can you help that negative church board member become positive? Here’s an idea.  How about the church board self-police?  Ever heard of that? Self-policing can help a negative church board member become positive. This is not…

The Church board disagreeing is never fun. Strong lead pastors and strong board members CAN get along. And they CAN disagree without drawing blood and still get along. I remember back in the day, I served a great church in Des Moines, Iowa. This was a church of 2000 average weekend attendance during most of…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

People Want To Be Generous! Cultivating generosity is key. My wife and I watched a 12-year old BBC television series called Monarch of the Glen not long ago. It’s a lightweight, fun program with all sorts of interesting dramatic twists and turns. A number of episodes into the series, a 30-something female banker has come…

How do you lead change? Don’t you love it when you suggest change to people and you get the, “I’m really not sure I want to do this” look in their eyes? This can be particularly challenging when you are working with a group of good people serving on the church board. So how is…