Who inspired you to be in ministry? It’s a question many of us can answer, but how often do we stop to consider if we have passed along the same gift?
All tagged formation
Life Leaves a Mark
Loving God, we gratefully receive your gift of life. Mysterious Spirit, we welcome the new life you are growing in us.
Who Will Show the Children?
What will spread the love of Jesus more effectively than a sermon, is a hug, validation, a knowing that someone has the time for you.
Envisioning the Dream of Ministry
We must have a vision of possibilities for the future. Local congregations ought to consider how they are helping others develop a vision for ministry.
3 Steps to Keep Your Children's Ministry Clique Free
My focus for this post is not why cliques are created, but how to dismantle a clique and how to create a culture in your ministry where bullying and cliques are unacceptable.
Passing on Faith
Teaching our children to follow God is one of the most profound tasks we are given; indeed, it is our primary mission field.
Is It Too Late to Turn Back? Reflections on the Difficulties of Change
You brace yourself for the change, you rally the forces, you organize every detail, and you convince yourself that you have created a foolproof plan for a perfect and seamless transition.
From Itchy Dresses to Funeral Homes: Growing up with Easter
I learned about Easter as I watched people emerge from the shadows of the darkest nights of their lives, into another day.
Soul Care in the Wilderness: A Preacher’s Journey
I learned how to take care of my soul in the wilderness of small town and small church ministry.
Christ our Common Ground
If we look at the world around us and think that there is no way that we could ever find unity in Christ with our political opponents, or people who frighten us because they come from half a world away.
Blue Skies, No Rainbows (Part 1)
We are only strong because our relationships have withstood conflict. And we can only grow from the conflict if we are willing to engage. So the choice is ours: engage or withdraw.
Reframing Depression
We must debunk these myths in order to understand depression more fully. Only then can we intervene in ways that will truly be helpful.
Healthy Responses for Church Leaders: Preserving (not Creating) Unity and the Bond of Peace
Churches of Christ haven’t had a hard time wanting Christian unity, but we have had a difficult time keeping it.
You Mean I Have to Go Back Next Week Too?
It is--and always has been--a problem. But I do think we can be more intentional with our new disciples in order to help them understand what God expects of them.
Unclean Hands, Bodies Intact
Let God cleanse you now. Yes, it will be painful. Yes, it will get messy. But your life will be better for it. Remember that all faithful believers must beat their bodies into submission, like an athlete.
Differing from Ourselves
Every person considering life in Christ does so with a host of competing group loyalties and social expectations bearing down on them.
Healthy Responses for Church Leaders: Human Beings or Human Becomings?
Growth is movement. Growth is dynamic. Growth is process. Focus on cultivating healthy processes, and the content will improve.
Siburt Institute: Mission Revisited
We are grateful for the ways God has blessed the life of the institute, and we are hopeful for what lies ahead!
The Race
Despite our intention for God to be at the center of our lives, we often lose sight of what truly matters and find ourselves running toward things that are tangential to the true goal, or even worse, completely opposite from it.
Fluffy Hair Prayer
“I’m ready for God to use me in a very different way, and I have no idea what that will be.” That seems like an appropriate prayer for all of us as we fluff up our hair.