Posts Tagged ‘Alec Hill’
Downsides 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…
Read MoreLife After A Transition By Alec Hill
Rebuilding Our Work Life After Transition When Bob Lane left the presidency of John Deere, he described his transition as moving from a “core” job to a “portfolio” of jobs. He defined the former as his executive role and the latter as the variety of tasks awaiting him in the future. “I’m adjusting to…
Read MoreAmbition – A Dirty Word? By Alec Hill
The Truth About Ambition A confession: I was born ambitious. From my earliest memories, I always wanted to be more, to do more, and to win. This trait showed up in sports, pursuit of grades, running for class offices, and even where I ranked as a trumpet player. My drive had both positive and negative…
Read MoreBreaking Down Persistence By Alec Hill
The Power of Persistence We can learn much from those who harnessed the power of persistence. I am reminded of an unlikely hero named Ed Drake. In 1859, Ed was an unemployed 38-year-old drifter. But he had a big idea. He wondered whether it would be possible to drill for oil with the same technology…
Read MoreVicarious Suffering By Alec Hill
Lessons in Vicarious Suffering ”I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.” Writing from prison, the apostle Paul inked this statement and it has puzzled theologians for centuries.…
Read MoreThe Contentment Cycle By Alec Hill and Leighton Ford
Where do you find yourself in the contentment cycle? Over the course of our two lives, contentment has often flowed easily – including leading fruitful ministries. But at other times, contentment has proven to be frustratingly elusive. Almost nigh impossible. In his letter to the Philippians, the apostle Paul addressed this subject head-on. Rotting in…
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