Posts Tagged ‘Alec Hill’
The Accidental Mentor By Alec Hill
Five Lessons Learned by Becoming a Mentor The path to becoming a mentor can be accidental. In 2016, I faced a challenging situation. Following a bone marrow transplant, my long-term disability benefits were running out. Given my illness, I still needed six more months of living in quasi-isolation and could not return to the job…
Read MoreIs Strategic Planning Bad? By Alec Hill
Strategic Planning: The Pros and Cons I recently had the privilege of interviewing an old friend, Roger Parrott, on a Wheaton College podcast, specifically on the topic of strategic planning. The focus? Why ministries ought not to engage in traditional strategic planning. In his new book – Opportunity Leadership: Stop Planning and Start Getting Results,…
Read MoreDifferent Perspectives on Time By Alec Hill
Each Generation Views Time Differently Most young adults see the future and time as having a long trajectory. Looking ahead to a seemingly endless time horizon, they prize having novel experiences, meeting new people, and learning new things. Priorities include exploration and achievement. By contrast, those of us who are older tend to live more…
Read MoreUnderstanding Post-Traumatic Growth By Alec Hill
The Beautiful Truth About Post-Traumatic Growth There is a beautiful truth about post-traumatic growth that might be easy for many to miss. A decade after the Vietnam War, a Yale University research team interviewed American pilots who had been prisoners of war. Despite horrific conditions, 61% reported that they had actually benefited from their…
Read MoreWonder By Alec Hill
We all need wonder in our lives. Wonder makes us gasp, causing us to say, “oh my.” It may be experienced while walking on a shoreline, watching a newborn enter the world, or listening to incredible music. As ministry leaders, we sense wonder when our mission is fleshed out before our eyes. This may…
Read MoreDownsides of Moral Convictions By Alec Hill
Moral Convictions Drive Behaviors Moral convictions are good. They drive us to feed the hungry, evangelize the lost, protect children, and correct past wrongs. This is particularly true when we sense God’s call. The apostle Paul spoke of being “compelled” to share the good news. Martin Luther King Jr. felt that he had no choice…
Read MoreTo Conceal or Disclose By Alec Hill
Conceal or Disclose: When Keeping a Secret Can Be Good or Bad It takes wisdom to discern the right time to conceal or disclose sensitive information. When I became InterVarsity’s president, my intent was to be fully transparent. No secrets. But overtime, I began to rethink my approach. I came to see that some secrets…
Read MoreCreating a Sabbath Culture By Alec Hill
Five Practical Ways to Create a Sabbath Culture Creating a Sabbath culture leads to transformation. When I joined InterVarsity, I was overwhelmed by the piety of my fellow staff. They prayed diligently, studied scripture fervently, and took solitude retreats regularly. But there was one area that was seriously amiss – an almost cavalier disregard of…
Read MoreMinistry Bullies By Alec Hill
The Reality of Encountering Bullies in Ministry Recently, I drafted a list of bullies whom I’ve known over the years. Schoolyard ruffians were easy to recall. They were usually big, not-so-bright, and angry at the world. Workplace bullies came next. Generally more intelligent and subtle, they used psychological and emotional intimidation rather than fists. Webster…
Read MoreConfessions of a White Leader By Alec Hill
My Confession as a White Leader I’m a white boomer who has had the good fortune of leading two ethnically diverse teams. The first, as a regional director for World Relief, involved resettling 1,000 refugees a year. The second was as president of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. During my 14 year tenure, staff of color increased…
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