Thousands of years ago, storytelling was a passageway into humanity; the craft of making images appear in the mind of your audience gathered around a fire was practically magic. Then, technology hurdled into the scene and, by and large, we …
Take it slow – a new anthem for outreach
I always try to pay attention to what’s happening in popular culture. Rhythms and reviews tend to either drive the thoughts and feelings of a generation, or at least reflect it. Although not comprehensive, it still helps to understand the …
Taming the Beasts
Madeleine L’Engle’s fine story Dance in the Desert begins with a caravan of people traveling in hurried fear through a trackless wilderness. They seem to be running from something, and turn furtively to check the movement of shadows at the …
What You Ought to Know About Becoming a Church Leader
There was a saying, often repeated in the farming community of my youth, that structured the perceived values of work life simply and decisively: If you can’t farm, you can always teach; if you can’t teach, you can always preach; …
A Place To Grieve
Recently, we experienced a sudden death in our very close-knit family. My Grandmother, a woman who had overcome so much, a woman of compassion and laughter, went home suddenly into the arms of the Jesus she loved so much. For …
Strategic Neglect
We’re finishing up the first month of a new year. It’s a good time to ask, How are we doing? Busy? Even busier than last year? Are we willing to admit that this busyness does not necessarily equal effectiveness, success, …
A Critical Time for Church Leadership-Preparing Beautiful Feet
Written by Shelley Henning Romans 10:13-15 (NLT): For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe …
Your Leadership Development Pathway
Written by Burt Braunius At the beginning of this new year, church leaders are wise to ask, “What will be our plan for developing future leaders?” One of the sure signs of an unhealthy church is the failure of leaders to …
Here’s what the local church will look like in 20 years
Written by Wayne Brouwer Some years ago a convention of fortune tellers gathered in Dublin, Ireland. While the group was meeting in a large plenary session, thieves broke into a number of rooms and displays, stealing crystal balls, tarot cards, …
What I Do to Get Myself out of a Leadership Funk
By Dr. Wayne Brouwer My first congregation was very rural, with our home-made church building one of only a dozen whistle-stop structures on the sweeping Alberta prairies. Mail was not delivered, but had to be picked up at the Post …