Posts by theim
How to Sabotage Mentoring by Being a "Good Role Model"
When I say I struggled to get up this week, struggled to open my Bible, I want her to say, “You know what, sometimes I do too.” I don’t want a perfect woman who always says, “Well, you should have done this.” I want someone completely transparent who can say, “I didn’t either—life is messed…
Read MoreThe Power of Prayer in Kingdom Fundraising
By Jim Loscheider Years ago, one of my mentors shared a powerful concept that resonates with me to this day. He said, “the glory of God is our highest priority and prayer is our first work.” Of course! Everyone who’s been transformed by Christ will eventually discover that God owns it all, and we are simply…
Read MoreDefining Christian Excellence
By Ted W. Engstrom & Ed Dayton Excellence is a Measure Excellence demands definition. One of the trite replies of our day, when asked how we like something or how well something is going is “Compared to what?” But excellence is like that. It assumes a standard. And conversely, excellence assumes inferiority. It assumes there’s…
Read MoreFighting The Need to Increase
By Dr. R. Scott Rodin When John the Baptist saw Jesus walking in his presence, he made the declaration, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Most Christian leaders would say that in their hearts they would wish that Jesus would increase and they would decrease. But it is hard to decrease in a leadership…
Read MoreWhat A Ministry Must Know About Brand Management
By Shannon Litton Mission-minded ministry leaders often overlook the important job of building a sustainable and effective brand. Ministries must not underestimate the important role brand management plays in engaging and sustaining relationships with those who make their work possible. Your audience today requires authenticity. The shiny, perfectly packaged messages of yesterday are no longer…
Read MoreLessons for Leaders: The Heart
By Wayne Pederson In our capitalistic society, much of one’s success or notoriety is based on performance. If we do well, if we are successful, we are esteemed and valued. Even in the church, maybe especially in the church, our worth is often measured by performance. How many attended? How big is your budget? How many…
Read MoreI Got Nothin' – What's a Steward Leader to Do?
By Dr. John R. Frank, CFRE As I was preparing to write this blog I thought to myself, “I got nothin’.” I was empty. I had no thoughts running around my head to share and start someone thinking. And then I put myself once again in the place of a leader who desires to be…
Read MoreAre You Walking With God?
In April 2014, Pastor Francis Chan addressed Christian leaders assembled for the Christian Leadership Alliance (CLA) national conference in Dallas (CLA Dallas 2014). Prior to going on stage to address attendees, Francis Chan sat down with CLA President and CEO Tami Heim for a backstage interview. Here is an excerpt from that video interview as…
Read MoreWhen Stewards Fall: Restoration
By Howard Rich When I think about the ups and downs, the successes and the failures of my life, I sometimes think of the Apostle Peter. He was one of the inner circle, witnessed the transfiguration, professed Jesus as Christ, and walked on water with the King. Those were some of his better moments, which…
Read MoreLessons for Leaders: Generosity
By Wayne Pederson I’m trying to be a more generous person. It’s a challenge for me because we grew up dirt poor. We had to be extremely careful with how we spent our money. That mindset has carried over into adulthood and management. But generosity is one of our organization’s core values. We give things…
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