Church planters are like the special forces of ministry. It takes courage to launch out into the unknown to serve people you have never met. It’s a worthy cause and one filled with lots of surprises along the way. Some of the things I have learned working with church planters at ARC is what you would expect. Church planting is…
How do you know if you are a church planter? Well, if you like to wear button-down plaid shirts, then there’s a good chance you were born to plant a church. Just kidding! But it is an odd recurring phenomenon I have noticed… There are lots of personality tests out there, and spiritual gift assessments you can take that can…
Honoring the Life and Legacy of Reinhard Bonnke *I originally shared this story on my blog four years ago, but this is an updated version I have not posted before. I have been very moved by Reinhard Bonnke’s example of faith, integrity, and winning souls. I had the chance to host him when he was speaking at Bethany in 2011.…
Over the years at ARC I have seen some successful as well as some not so successful approaches to fundraising. Here are a few quick tips if you are looking to raise money for a church plant. Mistakes Church Planters Make with Fundraising The biggest mistake people make is not making the ask at all. Don’t be afraid to ask…
If we want to be genuinely free, then there have to be some things we have to let go of first. What are the things you think you will lose if you give up that relationship or position? Usually, the thing we think we are going to lose by letting go is the very thing we are sacrificing by holding on.
There is a place for discretion and even Instagram filters. I am all for that. Sometimes though, I want to know what is going on outside of the square. I want the Imax version of the story.
We try to be faithful to people who are secretly driving us crazy, and somehow believe this is what God would want us to do. You need to be willing to hear people out on issues that concern you, and not just think they are aware of what is making you so unhappy. Isn’t that what you would like others to do for you?
It can be hard to know what to do when the hard realities of an unhealthy church culture or ministry leader impact our lives. We can start, though, by being honest with ourselves, before we focus on what others can do better.
I would love to say pursuing our calling as a coupe has been a beautiful mountaintop experience, but that would be so far from the truth. It has been a lonely uphill climb full of bumps and bruises.
Often, culture influences our decisions and behaviors without us being aware. This can make it challenging to find a healthy rhythm for our lives after experiencing dysfunction of some kind. How do we make a change when we realize we need to change the atmosphere of our faith? Here are five steps to a healthy church experience.