Once upon a time I enjoyed surfing. Not that I was ever good enough to call myself a surfer but I did catch quite a few waves. It was the small ones that confounded me. Foolishly brave, I actually rode a few “freight trains” while struggling to catch their smaller siblings. Friends would quickly catch…

Discouragement kills vitality. Leadership is a noble calling that often comes with its share of challenges, and one of the most formidable adversaries a leader may face is discouragement. Discouragement can creep in unexpectedly, casting doubt on your abilities and purpose, whether you’re leading a Revitalization, church plant, a team, a company, or a community….

I recently had my apologetics turned upside down by a book that I read dealing with, of all things, near-death-experiences. I’ve always written NDE off as a folklore or psychotic episodes – until my brother had one. This was two years before he went to be with Jesus and after him lying in a coma…

Exponential Orlando is the largest annual gathering of church planters in the world, and NewBreed is excited to be leading a pre-conference session, workshop track, as well as sponsoring. With such extensive involvement, we are looking forward to changing the conversation around church planting. Rather than merely starting worship services, we need to plant first-century…

Do you find yourself judging other ministries? I do. The confusion seems to arise from the tension between form and function. Some leaders seem to “worship” their church programs which unjustly offends me. It’s Jesus’ church and scripture warns us against our personal judgement of others. However, that judgement can be useful if we’re wise…

From Ray Bradbury to Church Decline: A Journey of Discovery A Daughter’s Assignment Sparks Reflection on Revitalization  It all began with my daughter’s high school English assignment. She came to us one day, her heart heavy with homework and her mind buzzing with questions about Ray Bradbury’s “There Will Come Soft Rains.” As she explained…

The Exponential Global Conference is officially SOLD OUT! If you have tickets, we’re so excited to gather with you and see how God moves in incredible ways. This year’s theme, Good, Great, Greater, reminds us of Jesus’ call to experience “greater things” and live out a flourishing life. Don’t miss out on the pre-conference options,…

Calling can certainly be a loaded word. Perhaps others have used the term calling well, to explain what compels them. Or, it’s been used poorly, selfishly, as an excuse not to show up for others, or even as a form of manipulation to get those who feel called to work more for less (less pay,…

Jesus sent his disciples into the field in pairs. This underscores the need for ministry partners. Our first church plant was a partnership, with my wife and I being the only partners. It worked but took a toll on our home life. In Bible college, I was taught to avoid personal friendships with church members…

This article originally appeared on The Church Vitality Network. Used with permission. After shepherding God’s flock for over a quarter of a century, my heart aches when I see the many trials that can lead pastors to abandon their calling. Though disheartening, these situations are regrettably all too familiar. From financial mismanagement to moral failures,…