Most of us want to be leaders. We want to make our mark for Christ and …
Resources for Article
Our culture is sick with busyness and constant connectedness. Almost everyone seems exhausted just trying to …
Three Insights on Building a Team
Last year I started a ministry to internationals at our church. We live in the suburbs …
Let’s just put this reality on the table: many church leaders struggle with prayer. We know …
Living in the Word: Bible Intake for Church Planters I was a new believer, and my …
By this, I was taken by surprise. Humbly knowing in our 4 1/2 years of existence, …
Abide: Introduction to John 15:5
Imagine you are listening to a sermon and the preacher asks “How many of you truly …
Leadership is all about developing other leaders. It allows you to multiply the work by equipping …
How coaching helps church planting wives
3 Ways Coaching Helps Church Planting Wives “Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great …
Life as a pastor’s wife means we’re on display for all to see – which is …
Ministry wives have a great capacity for leadership. We all are uniquely empowered and gifted to …
What to consider when hiring and firing team members
“We need him at the table! He has got to go!” The following post is a …
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Turn Your ESL Ministry into a Church Planting Machine
In the past, I have shared about the importance of shifting from a “come and see” …
Turn Your ESL Ministry into a Church Planting Machine Read More »
How to build a team of volunteers for your church
You’re a church planter and have answered the call, raised the money and launched with a …
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Qualities of a senior pastor: Boss or friend?
One question that rarely gets asked in church leadership is whether the senior pastor, as the …
Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies. — Hebrews 13:3 …
Team Matters: Conflict Dynamics
Imagine a world without conflict. Two political candidates bound onto the stage in front of a …
The Pep Talk You Need To Hear Today
“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We …
Culture in 5 easy-to-understand categories
Let me start by saying this is an oversimplification. Culture and worldview are complicated topics. Are …
How to fund a church planting team
My son wants to be a professional soccer player when he grows up. For several years …
Why gender diversity is mission critical for your plant
One of the best moves I ever made as a young church planter was seeing the …
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Choosing your church planting team
Two summers ago, another pastor and I landed on Knoxville, Tennessee as our city for planting …
Engaging people groups: cultural expertise vs. cultural acquisition
So you feel unequipped to connect with diverse cultures? Keelan Cook writes such an encouraging, informative …
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With U.S. global migration rates rapidly rising, we no longer have to book a flight to …
Stories of Doubt: Kent Bateman
Stories of doubt from an apprentices’ perspective Send Network: Tell us about the church you are …
Send Network: Tell us about your church plant and when you all started meeting. Andy Hall:Redemption …
Stories of Doubt – Jeff Phillips
At the immense risk of sounding negative, this reality is true when it comes to church …
Learning to love foreigners well
People gathering together is a universal activity that translates into every culture. And there’s nothing quite …
Principle of team building: Don’t be a lone ranger
Danger Ahead: 3 Ways Coaching Helps Navigate the Fog As a church planter, I’ve often felt like …
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3 Ways Coaching Helps Navigate Fog
Danger Ahead: 3 Ways Coaching Helps Navigate the Fog As a church planter, I’ve often felt like …
Kingdom First: Leading God’s People
The Apostle Paul, gave this charge to the Ephesian church leadership: “Pay careful attention to yourselves …
The Biggest Ministry Lesson from 2015: Loving the Foreigner
Flourish will continue a New Year practice of identifying a specific critical ministry lesson from the …
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Putting God first: Leading my family
The heresy of the evangelical order A divine order has become almost sacrosanct in evangelical subculture; …
Five lessons from Elisabeth Elliott
We’re re-posting some of our favorite blog posts from 2015. This encouraging and challenging post by Susie, from …
Putting God first: Leading myself
The most difficult person that you will ever have to lead is yourself. You are a …
Why I Stopped Entertaining People In My Home
We’re re-posting some of our favorite blog posts from 2015. Kathy’s post from October 5, 2015 is …
Why Give To The Cooperative Program
Do not, under any circumstances, give your money to the Cooperative Program (CP). Seriously. I mean …
The Best Pastor’s Wife Advice I Ever Received
We’re re-posting some of our favorite blog posts from 2015. This might just be our most commented …
“I wanted to change the world, but I couldn’t find a babysitter,” said a mother. Motherhood …
10 Ways to Drive Away First-Time Guests
If you attend a church regularly, you’ve probably noticed the phenomenon. A guest shows up for …
How to Shape Christmas Memories
My happiest Christmas memory is the time each year that my aunt Nancy directed my cousins …
Ten Unique Challenges of Ministry
In an earlier post I wrote that seminary cannot prepare anyone to be a pastor. Only a church, …
10 Tips to Becoming a More Productive Pastor
The work of pastoral ministry is a joy, but it’s also demanding. Every pastor is on …
Help, I’m Not Attracted To My Spouse
A friend recently asked me what you do when you are not attracted to your husband. …
Time was full, ready to give birth. A promise had been given and many had whispered …
Missional Community Connections: Part 2
Environments Conducive to Missional Communities Connections at The Austin Stone is not simply giving information that …
What are Missional Community Connections
Connections at The Austin Stone is not simply giving information that propels individuals towards involvement but …
How to Deal with Being Far From Family
“Come over to Macedonia to help us.” Macedonia? Let me translate that for you: “far from family.” …
How to Multiply A Missional Community
What steps should we take to multiply? First, assess the health of your group. Make sure …
How to Deal with that Mean Church Member
Recently, I’ve been asked more times than I can count if I have any insight as …
Todd Engstrom Interview: Missional Communities
Send Network: Tell us a little about the culture of your church. Todd Engstrom: At Austin …
Send Network: What is the vision of Midtown Fellowship? Allen Tipping:Our vision statement is, “A Jesus-centered …
Community and Mission: A Divine Meeting
My wife and I have a rugged wooden farm table. It’s not impressive—there are scratches, stains …
The stack of books on my nightstand inches higher everyday. Some were recommended and loaned by …
Most of us are safe and we like to stay that way within the confines of …
Engaging culture: Understanding poverty
Poverty: A Confusing Conversation Leading to Misguided Good Intentions How does a minister help a homeless …
When the Pastor’s Wife Goes Back to Work
Leaving behind our house of vomiting children, I went for a quiet walk on a beautiful …
Make Your Church Adoption-Friendly
When I pastored Highview Baptist in Louisville my friend David Melber and his wife, Tera, started …
Four Practical Actions the Exhausted Church Planting Wife Should Take
I won’t remind you that church planting is exhausting, it would actually do us more harm …
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The Bible tells us that the king of Israel once wanted to hear from the prophets, …
The last year has seen a steady dose of media stories that focus on the issue …
How Generosity Affects My Ministry
When we first started in ministry, I heard a lot about the pastor’s wife as the …
Engaging culture: Introduction
The New Testament Early Church was certain of the missional reality that they were living in …
What You Need to Know About God {in this very moment}
I had a little self-talk after getting up from my face and knees bent to the floor. …
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Is your church an evangelizing church? NAMB
During this blog post series, I am trying to help you assess your church by providing …
Is your church a discipling church?
During this blog post series, I am trying to help you assess your church by providing …
Is your church a ministering church?
During this blog post series, I am trying to help you assess your church by providing …
The Key to Belonging in Your Community
I love my community. I love eating at my favorite restaurants. I love shopping at my …
Is Your Church a Fellowshipping Church?
During this blog post series, I am trying to help you assess your church by providing …
Have a plan. Of course, you need a plan. It is always helpful to think through …
Financially supporting missionaries and church planters is a centuries old practice in Jesus’ church. Even now, …
Four Things Your Wife Wants You to Know
Last weekend, my husband and I had the opportunity to talk to a room of church …
Brave. Radical. Fearless. Awake. Step Up. Next level. All In. I hear these words everywhere in …
Sending Church – Commissioning
When you begin to rattle off the names of the great characters of the Bible, there …
We’ve all heard the epitaph of the Church Planting Graveyard…80% of church plants fail in the …
Comfort in the Bitter Face of Disease
Family stood by on Face Time, while we held our breath and stared at that ultrasound …
SENDING Church: How to Prepare Your Planter
One of the most often asked questions from pastors who have never planted is, “what do …
Thick Skin, Tender Hearts, and Four Types of Leaders
Don’t miss our iPad giveaway! Click here to check out Monday’s post for details. This piece by …
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Many churches admit they’re hesitant to get involved with church planting because they believe the failure …
Challenges to being a sending church
There’s a missions thread that runs through Taylors First Baptist Church. Launched at the time of …