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PLI is devoted to empowering leaders for wider influence for the sake of the gospel in their communities and effective leadership in their ministries. Learn more about our vision and process here.
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Archive for the ‘Leadership’ Category
20 More Reasons Your Pastor Might not Finish Well 40 Years from Now
By: Jock Ficken
For 20 years PLI has been a big fan of pastors and their spouses! We’re eager to invest in them, to see their congregations vital and reaching people with the Gospel of Jesus. It might seem counter-intuitive to make a list of 20 reasons your pastor may not finish well 40 years from now and to … Continue reading
20 Reasons Your New Pastor Might not Finish Well 40 Years from Now
By: Jock Ficken
20 years ago PLI began with a simple equation… When pastors and spouses become better, healthier leaders The people they lead benefit, and The congregation has greater capacity to reach people with the Gospel of Jesus. Explore how the 1,000 Young Leaders Initiative can partner with your organization to extend the reach of the gospel … Continue reading
5 More Things I Got Right as a Leader
By: Jock Ficken
Last week I shared 5 things I got right. Here’s 5 more that come to mind. After 5 things I wish I had learned sooner My 5 biggest mistakes. 5 more things we got right: 1 – WE DIDN’T RUN WHEN THINGS WERE DIFFICULT. Leaders need to lead for the sake of the Mission of … Continue reading
5 Things I Got Right as a Leader
By: Jock Ficken
Gail and I served in a Chicago-area congregation for 25 years. We arrived on the 125th anniversary. Left at the 150th anniversary. I already shared 5 Things I Wish I had Learned Sooner and My 5 Biggest Mistakes. Here are 5 things we got right as leaders: 1 – LOVED THE PEOPLE. We listened to the stories. Lots … Continue reading
My 5 Biggest Mistakes
By: Jock Ficken
Last week I shared 5 things I wish I had learned sooner. Here are my 5 biggest mistakes as a congregational leader: 1 – INVEST IN LEADERS. I didn’t consistently invest in leaders. Didn’t disciple them to be better women and men who followed Jesus. Better leaders. More character and faith. Greater competency. I encouraged … Continue reading
5 Things I Wish I Had Learned Sooner as a Leader
By: Jock Ficken
Here are 5 Things I Wish I Had Learned Sooner as a Congregational Leader: “Leadership Essentials is the first place in my entire life I saw a healthy way to deal with conflict.” – Leader in New England “What you celebrate you accelerate.” Here are Three Questions… Which of the 5 did you learn quicker … Continue reading
5 Facts about Congregational Leaders
By: Jock Ficken
Five facts about congregational leaders. Most leaders overestimate what can be accomplished in 3 months and underestimate what can be accomplished in 3 years. Most leaders avoid the single, large, “this we must do” challenge and distract themselves with familiar, sometimes unproductive work. Most leaders could better connect with unchurched people by inviting them into … Continue reading
This We Must Do! 3 Simple Questions to Answer
By: Jock Ficken
Most congregational leaders and leadership groups lack FOCUS. The urgent constantly distracts from the important. Clear, singular focus: “This we must do!” See the note to the right about the church in one region of Tanzania has focused on seeing the witchdoctors converted to Jesus. “This we must do!” So, here’s a simple tool: Do … Continue reading
3 Do I Have What It Takes? Part 3
By: Jock Ficken
When you do the hard work of self leadership you end up doing more of… the stuff that stirs your soul. the stuff that you want to spend the rest of your life doing. the stuff you’re flat out uniquely good at doing. You beat back the natural, creeping, “Do I Have What It Takes?” … Continue reading
Do I Have What it Takes? Part 2
By: Jock Ficken
When someone starts a small business, the organizational chart looks a bit like this. Many church leaders function the same way! The vast majority of congregational leaders have similar org charts and “me” in boxes where they don’t fit. Too many times we’re “filling slots” because “somebody needs to do it.” And no one has … Continue reading
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