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Archive for the ‘Navigate Cultural Change’ Category
Stating the Obvious about Discipleship Today
By: Jock Ficken
Nehemiah stated the obvious: The walls are broken down. Jerusalem is at risk.Noah stated the obvious: Repent; it’s going to rain.Nebuchadnezzar stated the obvious: I’ve got the world by the tail. (But it was a short-sighted assessment that led to his demise.) Here’s my attempt at stating the obvious about discipleship in today’s churches. Most … Continue reading
6 Ways to Capture Hope and Courage
By: Jock Ficken
How to Capture Hope and Courage when Both are in Short Supply If you want the people you lead to experience new hope and new courage, it starts with you. It always starts with the leader. Simple Truth: If you want to see a transformed ministry, it starts with a transformed leader. Ask any of … Continue reading
Opportunity Often Exists on the Far Side of Adversity
By: Jock Ficken
Gail and I just finished reading the story of Joseph in Genesis. It’s a great example of how opportunity often exists on the far side of adversity. Joseph is set up with his brothers as his father’s favorite Lacking humility Sold into slavery Wrongly accused of rape Forgotten in prison All of this happened before… … Continue reading
The Most Popular Blog Posts of 2020 – COVID-19, Racial Reconciliation, & Church Finances
By: Jock Ficken
Our world needs innovative, adaptive, faithful leaders! Thanks for being one of them. It’s no surprise that COVID-19, racial reconciliation, and church finances captured the most attention on our blog in 2020. We shared the “best practices” we heard you and your leadership peers getting right in the long road of the pandemic. Read “11 … Continue reading
Proximity, Racial Injustice, Mission, and the Incarnation
By: Jock Ficken
Last month I read Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. It’s a compelling read. If you want your notions of racial injustice, poverty, and the criminal justice system challenged, Stevenson will do it. He makes the case for proximity! If we’re going to genuinely address the current divisions, perceptions, and inequalities within our country, we have … Continue reading
An Unreached Mission Field
By: Jock Ficken
In 2034, for the first time in U.S. history, there will be more Americans over the age of 65 than children under the age of 18. (My friend, Dr. Mike Gibson, tipped me off to this fact.) So, what if you and your congregation identified it as a “larger than you realized,” unreached mission field? … Continue reading
Gathered and Scattered
By: Jock Ficken
Remember when we all shut down and scattered back in March…for two weeks? Remember when whatever it is that you lead adjusted…adapted…zoomed…went online…got creative? And remember when you started talking about “going back to normal?” Do you remember the first time it occurred to you that “back to normal” would not be “normal”—maybe similar but … Continue reading
Letting Go of the Single Voice to Reach the Many
By: Gail Ficken
Many of you know that I grew up in suburban Washington, D.C. Our neighbors changed based on who was ushered in by the most recent presidential election. To say that “I work for the government” was oftentimes code for CIA or FBI, or someone who wanted to appear important or mysterious. As a child I … Continue reading
3 Fundamental Problems Facing the Christian Church in the U.S.
By: Jock Ficken
Last year, pre-pandemic, we proposed that the 2030 church landscape in the U.S. will look dramatically different—mostly gone as we’ve known it! You can download the epub or a PDF. There are 3 fundamental problems facing the church in the U.S. Allow me to simply name them today and talk about doing something with them next week. … Continue reading
What are you Called to Become?
By: Jock Ficken
Once we come face to face with the selfless sacrifice of Jesus Christ, it prompts us to respond…to take selfless steps of our own. When we remember that we possess something in the person of Jesus Christ that can change the world, it shatters consumer mentality and we start to say: I’ll do whatever it … Continue reading
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