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 …

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, …

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 …

A young girl went with her pastor father when he led a Christmas afternoon worship service at a retirement home. His exuberance while telling the story and implications of Jesus’ coming was palpable, and Christmas carols were sung with enthusiasm …

This past election season has been insane. To say anything less is a complete understatement.  And between traditional and social media, it was challenging to not find yourself inundated with postcards, commercials, quote and memes that pilloried people into a …

Our friends had a four-year-old daughter and a son of fifteen months who was just learning to toddle and talk. The girl loved to show off her brother, particularly because he really knew only one word: “No!” Regardless of what …

IN GOD WE TRUST A recent op-ed piece appeared in the New York Times this September titled, “The Avalanche of Distrust”.  I was fascinated as it talked about the level of trust American’s had not only in relation to the …

How To Open Every Service With The Best Impression Regardless if you choose to open with a video, a creative piece, a song, or you jump straight to a Welcome –at some point, someone, somewhere will be talking to your community. …