Building trust takes time. There are no shortcuts. There are no quick fixes. It just takes time and time means that we must have patience. The Importance of Trust In the midst of a conversation with another pastor, he…
A Change in Schedule
About a month ago I was asked a very profound question by a reader of this blog. With a slight smile on his face he asked me if I was crazy. The reason for his questioning of my sanity was…
Patience in Small-Church Ministry
Several years ago I met with a young pastor who was becoming increasingly frustrated with the church in which he served. He wanted them to make changes and they were moving much slower than he thought that they should move.…
Conflict: Good or Bad
In a Defining Moments session, Bill Hybels was asked if he thought that there was too much conflict in churches. His answer caught my attention in that he stated something that I have been feeling for quite some time. His…
Defining The Healthy Church
I have often stated that healthy churches come in all sizes. There are healthy large churches, healthy medium sized churches, healthy mega-churches and, last but certainly not least, healthy small churches. My concern for churches isn’t their size. It’s their…
A Vision to Die For
Right at the beginning of this entry I need to make a confession. I stole the title from someone else! I am in the midst of a trip to the Atlantic region which has meant that I have spent a…
Measuring The Impact of Your Church
Most small churches don’t understand, and for that reason, don’t appreciate the extent of their impact on the world at large. In most cases it goes far beyond what happens on a Sunday morning. Impact or success In a…
There Are No Nobodies in the Church
For two years prior to starting this blog, I sent out a weekly email to a group of small-church leaders across Canada. In those emails I tried to encourage and mentor the leaders who received them. From time to time…
The Value of Celebration
Last Saturday was a big day. My wife’s family celebrated her father’s 85th birthday. It was a family affair but in this case family made for a big celebration. All five children were there along with some of the grandchildren…
Five Positives in Small Church Ministry
This blog entry is meant to be something of a protest. I am tired of small-church being put down. I want to stand up and say something positive for small churches. If you are a small-church pastor or leader or…