Ministry Leadership

When I was called to pastor my first church, I was certain of only one thing—I was in over my head! This small church had nearly closed its doors. They were running about 35 on a Sunday, were steeped in tradition, and I was bi-vocational. I had a dream of revitalizing our church to become a healthy, evangelistically effective church that was fulfilling the Great Commandment and the Great Commission but wasn’t sure how to do it. The D.R.E.A.M. Church shares the strategies that our church and thousands of others have used to experience healthy, long-term growth.

Most pastors pray for a healthy and vibrant church, but many find themselves frustrated because they lack direction and feel as though they are spinning their wheels. They struggle to correct unhealthy patterns or do not have fresh vision for their ministry. John K. Jenkins can relate. The first church he attended is best described as a shack with a bell and a steeple. When he accepted his first senior pastoral role, he ministered to 35 people on a good Sunday. Today, Pastor Jenkins welcomes more than 11,000 worshipers to Sunday services, and thousands more participate virtually.

The market is flooded with books, conferences, and workshops on how to be a better leader. In most companies, leaders are noticed and applauded while followers are often viewed as weak and passive. However, Scripture tells us a different story; although leadership is valued and respected, being obedient followers of Christ is at the very heart of faith. In The Call to Follow, Richard Langer and Joanne J. Jung teach listeners that "followership" is essential to both organizational and spiritual flourishing.

Why does a contented, satisfied life feel so evasive? What deep hungers drive the reckless purchasing habits, out of control accumulation, and crazy consumer lifestyle for so many of us? And why are we often driven more by what our neighbors own than what will truly make us happy? For many in the recent economic financial crisis a series of lifestyle adjustments became necessary as hours were slashed at work and paychecks diminished. Vacations were simplified or canceled, even important purchases had to be delayed and any extras were put on hold.

Many leaders like the concept of having a team. Unfortunately, some church leaders function more as an owner rather than a team member. Seventy helps church leaders fulfill their role in building, developing, and working with teams. It offers insights into the challenges of doing ministry as a team and practically addresses how to overcome these challenges. If you care about the church, believe in apostolic ministry—following the apostles’ example—and want to experience the book of Acts in the 21st century, this book is for you. Everyone needs a team.

In the fast-paced world of ministry, every lead pastor dreams of seeing their church surge forward, fueled by purpose and passion. Just like a precision-engineered Formula 1 car hurtling down the track, your church has the potential to achieve remarkable speed and impact. In XLR8, lead pastor and author Michael Murphy harnesses the thrilling metaphors of F1 racing to lead you on an exhilarating journey toward accelerating your church’s growth.

Fidèle à son approche collaborative et interdénominationnelle, le WET a proposé à treize théologiens de discerner le vrai du faux derrière ces phrases que l’on a l’habitude d’entendre… ou de dire. Confrontons notre jargon à la vérité de l’Évangile et parlons mieux!

Speakers often use the words vision, boldness, and influence to describe the characteristics of effective leaders. In The Most Excellent Way to Lead, Perry Noble makes the case that the heart of great leadership lies elsewhere. Perry, despite being voted least likely to succeed in high school, beat the odds against him. Today, he inspires 3,500 people every weekend to live for something greater than themselves. He credits this achievement to the leadership principles he has learned from the Bible.

A movement is rumbling through the body of Christ - a revolutionary army of people giving hope to a hurting world through practical, personal acts of service. In Servolution, Dino Rizzo shares the story of his relentless pursuit of ways to bless the lost, poor, and hurting people of his community in Jesus' name. You'll be amazed and inspired by the incredible ways God has used Healing Place Church to meet the needs of thousands of people.

Many are perplexed by the significant shifts in our world today. Things are changing in politics, economics, and the very fabric of our society. Will the church lag behind, battered by the winds of change, or be the true pioneer God has called her to be? The Christian Church needs a reformation as far reaching as 500 years ago. Do we see the need for revival and are we willing to pay the price of leaving behind the familiar to prepare new wineskins for new wine?

Do you pray for your pastors? Do you encourage them? Do you have realistic expectations for them? The office of pastor is simultaneously a rewarding and draining position. Pastors today have immense pressure on their shoulders and they need the support of their congregations. Peter Orr has written Fight for Your Pastor as an exhortation for church members to stand behind their pastors through the difficulties of ministry. Orr specifies ways in which congregations can be intentional in caring for church leaders, including prayer, encouragement, generosity, and forgiveness.

For every person who has felt lonely or isolated, The Sacred Us explores a new way of living through the practice of biblical community. In a world that celebrates individuality and autonomy, too many of us struggle to form deep, meaningful relationships. Loneliness is the norm, rich friendships are rare, and the church is no exception. We long for real community but often don’t know how to get there. What will it take to develop healthy friendships?

Originally written in 1656 and endorsed by generations of leading pastors as an essential book on the work of ministry, this abridged version of The Reformed Pastor presents the best of Richard Baxter’s timeless advice in simple, modern language that’s more accessible to a new generation of church leaders.

Sound interesting? The author thinks so too! Listen to Leadership Explosion and learn about churches develop strong leaders!

In The Shepherd Leader, pastor and professor Tim Witmer laid out seven elements of an effective shepherding plan, showing church leaders how to minister to their congregations in practical, pastoral ways. Now, in this stand-alone but complementary volume, he gathers seven church leaders to show how they and their churches have addressed specific shepherding challenges in innovative ways.

Today's young people stand on the brink of unprecedented opportunity and influence. The problem is, many feel misunderstood and dismissed by older generations. Frustrated, they seek answers for how they can effectively influence change in the world when the gaps between generations grow wider and our shared experiences fewer. They want to make a difference, and they remain open to influence from adults who are willing to help them learn what they'll need to succeed.

Christians face relentless attacks from an ungodly culture, a formidable adversary, and our own fallen natures. Yet we cannot afford to surrender to these very real enemies. Just as survivalists use 10 specific strategies to overcome threatening situations, Courageous explains 10 biblical strategies for surviving - and thriving - in a world that is hostile to our faith. As A. W. Tozer said, "A scared world needs a fearless church." Courageous is a clarion call for Christians to boldly live out their faith.

Christian men are uniquely called by God to fulfill two important roles: Lead their families and lead the church. How this is achieved is also unique: A delicate balance of being a bold leader and a humble servant, with love for God and others at the heart of it all. Written for Christian men in every culture and filled with biblical examples and reasoning, Russo offers twelve practical ways for Christian men to LOVE, LEAD, SERVE.

The Mentoring Project’s flagship mentoring resource is its field guides. These long-form pieces provide practical guidance on various aspects of life as a Christian, like finances, purity, technology, work, and more. Written by pastors and other Christian leaders, these field guides provide a biblical framework for mentors and mentees to discuss these topics and grow together.

En una de sus más poderosas obras, el pastor Francis Chan profundiza en las verdades bíblicas, reflexiona sobre sus propios sueños y fracasos, y comparte historias de gente común que Dios está usando para cambiar el mundo.