Ministry leaders would agree in principle that character is important. Yet in reality, many leaders and organizational systems allow the other legs of trust, competence and communication, to stand in for character. But while doing so may result in short-term success, eventually an individual's true…

Tom's situation is not unique. In my work with churches and ministry leaders, I have frequently discovered an underlying current of mistrust within the organization, a current that subtly but surely erodes a church's foundation. Trust is critical...

Throughout my years as a ministry leader, I've had the opportunity to enlist dozens of volunteers for the Kingdom's work through my church. And every time—whether it's a prospective youth volunteer, small-group facilitator, or clean-up crew member—I hear the same response: "But I'm not a…

Yet Steve hesitates to call himself a leader. Why? To Steve, a "leader" is a lone ranger, an outspoken general who calls the shots from an insular position at the top of an organizational hierarchy. Instead, Steve would prefer to call himself an "influencer."

In February last year, my best friend flew down from the Midwest for a delightful, week-long visit. While she was here in the Carolinas, I introduced her to one of my most favorite experiences in the world: a Division I college basketball game. The home…

As a pastor's wife and ministry leader, I'm used to getting all sorts of weird questions and comments about the ministry lifestyle and being married to a pastor. (Most recent: "Shouldn't you be making a casserole right now?") But one of the more intriguing comments…

When I worked at a camp in northern Wisconsin, my fellow staff members often told a story about a cat that had lived on the campgrounds for many years. When the cat died, one prankster decided to have the cat stuffed, then placed it in…