Why Am I Here? Second in a 4-part series about finding and living out your life’s purpose The next time you’re waiting in line at the grocery store, take a look at the people around you. Three out of the four of them yearn for their life to have significance, says pollster George Barna. His…
Is This As Good As It Gets? First in a 4-part series about finding and living out your life’s purpose People hunger for their lives to have meaning … and we believe we can make a difference. 97% of Americans who are self-identified as religiously active believe they have the ability to impact their community…
Individuality or Conformity: Must You Choose? While human beings may embrace individuality – qualities that distinguish one person from another – we may fear its ramifications. Our instinct is to conform. “Humans have a fundamental need to belong, just as we have needs for food and water,” says C. Nathan DeWall, Ph.D., a psychologist at…
Successful Staffing Through Coaching: Matchmaking With a Purpose Chris, a young pastor, had been hired to manage a new campus for a multi-site mega-church congregation. Yet even as he faithfully sought to put the church leadership’s strategy into place, Chris could feel his pioneering strengths being squelched. His frustration mounted. Christian life coach Deb…
By the Book or Out of the Box? Two Ways to Face Risk Every ministry adopts rules that are unique to its culture. Members of your team follow those procedures differently. Some embrace risk and break rules to press forward. Others showbox for android naturally follow established procedures. Facing risk – along with processing information,…
One-on-One Coaching: Self-Discovery Leads to New Purpose As Christian life coach Deb Mertin works with leaders she draws on a unique personal perspective, having herself transitioned to professional ministry leadership after 25+ years in the health care field. “Some clients are new to leadership and are seeking to clarify their vision for ministry,” Deb says.…
Race or Slow Pace? Two Ways to go about Managing Change Change is a constant for your team. Like other transitions a team faces (such as processing information and solving problems), your team members manage change in radically different ways. As a team conducts ministry, it passes through four inescapable transitions – movements or changes…
Push or Pull – Which Is the Best Way to Solve Problems? Every day your team is bombarded with new problems it must solve, both big and small. Solving problems is an important transition (like processing information) that each member of your team approaches in a unique way. As a team conducts ministry, it passes…
Processing Information: Which Is Best – To Trust or to Verify? How do your team members trust others and the information they receive? Chances are good that people on your team process information in different ways. As a team conducts ministry, it passes through four inescapable transitions – movements or changes that take the team…
A Team’s Tone Can Be Constructive or Destructive! I know which kind of team I prefer. I’m sure you do, too. If you’ve worked or volunteered at any level in a church, ministry, or organization, you have experienced one, the other, or both firsthand. This is part 1 of a 5-part series where we will…