We toss the word hero around quite a lot in our society today. Sports stars are labeled heroes. Actors portray heroes. Hollywood blockbusters feature superheroes. On patriotic holidays we speak of the heroic acts of soldiers. When a daring rescue happens, we proclaim first responders as heroes. As someone battles […]
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Youth Sundays Energize Churches
The excitement was palpable. This past Sunday, as I walked into the sanctuary, the crowd bubbled with anticipation. Smiles abounded. Voices projected. Seats filled up. Visitors poured in. Comments revealed the eagerness for the service to begin. And it carried over into worship. As the first song started to play, […]
Bible Study , Christian Leadership , Evangelism , Ministry
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Scripture Matters
Apparently, Rob Bell is back to some old tricks. Bell, the former pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church and now a host of a show on Oprah’s television network, recently appeared on a show hosted by Oprah Winfrey herself. In his appearance to promote his new book on love, Bell, […]
Christian Leadership , Family Stuff , Featured , Ministry , Stories , Student Ministry
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The Truth about Fifty Shades of Grey…
This post originally appeared on the Author’s Personal Blog… A few years ago at a church sponsored event, I noticed several young ladies and women who had distanced themselves from the crowd. While most of the people stayed in a rather central location and talked, these women, ranging from age […]
Ministry , Money , Rural Ministry , Technology , YM For Cheap!
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A Unique Fundraising Idea
I have a fundraising idea that’s a bit out of the box. I’ll warn you that it is not conventional. It’s not exactly easy either. But, if done right, it could net your youth group a good amount of money and cost you almost nothing to do it. Willing to […]
Christian Leadership , Ministry , Rural Ministry
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Is It Too Late?
The church is dying. Literally. I don’t have a plethora of stats to back this up, at least not on the rural level. I just use my own two eyes. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist (or a statistician) to see that rural churches are aging and younger people just […]
Evangelism , Ministry , Missions , Student Ministry
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What’s the Point of Arguing?
Recently, I read this article about Bart Campolo. He’s the son of author and preacher Tony Campolo. Bart, who originally followed in his father’s footsteps, now serves as the Secular Humanist chaplain at the University of Southern California. He does a lot of the pastoral care pastors do for churches, […]
Ministry , Money , Resources , Rural Ministry
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A New Perspective on Budgets
So, I’ve been away from MinistryPlace.net for a while. It was sort of by choice. You see, I’ve had a lot of changes in the past few months. We had a new baby. I moved six hours away. I started my senior pastor position in Illinois. I began my work […]
Christian Leadership , Ministry , Rural Ministry , Stories , Student Ministry
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A melancoly kind of day
Forgive me. I’m a bit melancholy today. You see today is my last day as a youth minister. I will continue on in ministry, but I will serve as the lead pastor of a church. I look forward to that challenge. It is what God has called me to do. […]
Christian Leadership , Ministry , Stories , Student Ministry
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Transitioning: When to Tell the Pastor
So you’re about to leave your church or are searching for a new position. If you’re like me, the next question that pops into your head is this: when do I tell my pastor? Let me share with you a story. A few years ago in my job search, I […]
Christian Leadership , Ministry , Rural Ministry , Stories , Student Ministry
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When God calls, you have to listen
So, big news in my world: God has called me to be a senior pastor. Now before you throw tomatoes at me and swear I’ve turned to the dark side, I want to share my story. There may come a time when God will call you to a different ministry […]
Ministry , Rural Ministry , Stories , Student Ministry
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The Grass Isn’t Always Greener
A youth ministry friend of mine once gave me great advice: the next church’s grass isn’t always greener. He spoke from experience. Having been in youth ministry for several years in a bi-vocational status, he finally landed a full-time position. He loved the idea of working just one job, but […]