A Revitalized Church This is an unusual place. A Reformed church with a rich RCA history within its white, Dutch heritage, which is now a multi-racial, multi-generational faith community. A church that experienced significant decline over several decades that has …
Tenacious Leadership
The pastor was giving a charge to a new Commissioned Pastor. He said, “The work of ministry is hard and it doesn’t get easier over time. There are some who talk about pastors burning out. Those are not words that I …
Figure It Out
At the recent Leadership Summit, Bill Hybels told stories about a phrase that his father used with him as a boy. The phrase was, “Figure it out.” Hybels was put into situations like learning to sail, learning to ski, and …
Summer time, Summer time, Sum Sum Summer time
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUvXw8cWDi4&feature=youtu.be”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlyL6icfyOE&feature=youtu.be”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][dt_gap height=”20″][vc_column_text]Schools often slow down in the summer time. It’s as if it is okay to stop learning and to live the lyrics of the 1958 classic, “Summertime, Summertime” by the Jamies, or “In the …
Questing Savannah
Savannah, Georgia is a beautiful city of gardens and cemeteries and parks. Our youngest daughter went to college in Savannah just as Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil became popular in both book and movie versions. She even …
Missional Church Leadership
One of this week’s meetings was an assessment conference for developing a contextualized training plan for a missional church leader and commissioned pastor candidate, Rodrigo Cano. He is the Hispanic church planter of Alas Conexion (Connections) Church, Grand Rapids, MI. …
Graduation
A young man ran from his college graduation ceremonies with his robe flying, diploma in hand. He yelled out to all who could hear, “Look out, world! Here I come! I have my B.A.!” A crack of thunder immediately rolled …
Facing Tomorrow
When Bill and Gloria Gaither were anticipating the birth of a child, they were conflicted. On the one hand they were excited about the potential they could envision in this new life; on the other hand, they were troubled by …
Leadership: Palm Sunday Style
Almost obscured by the disciples, who threw down their cloaks as a saddle, and the crowds, who waved palm branches while shouting “Hosanna!”, comes our juxtaposition–Jesus. He is “gentle and riding on a donkey” (Matthew 21:5), or, as prophesied, “lowly …
Books 4 U
This week a pastor wrote to one of our colleagues. He asked for recommendations of books to discuss with his church board (Consistory, Council, Elder Board). The email said, “Could you please recommend to me the 5 best books for …
