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Archive for the ‘Navigate Cultural Change’ Category
You are a Leader
By: Jock Ficken
Remember the joke? It’s an old one. I heard it again twice in two months, in Ethiopia and then in Columbus, Indiana. Two guys are walking barefoot in the forest. They meet a bear planning his lunch. One guy starts to put on his running shoes. The other explains: “You’re never going to outrun the … Continue reading
3 Non-Negotiables for Congregational Change
By: Jock Ficken
Every day, leaders wake up knowing that their congregation must navigate change or distance itself from being a vibrant community with wider influence. Here’s the problem: Inertia wakes up even earlier every day and has already resolved to fend off any feeble attempts at desperately needed change that would challenge the status quo. So, here … Continue reading
What You Can Do if You Think Your Church is Failing
By: Jock Ficken
80% of U.S. churches… Worship less than 100. Face steady to rapid decline. Possess collective memories of being 2 times or 10 times larger. Leaders and members are taunted with the whisper that they’re failing. Usually today’s realities were set in motion years earlier by… A stubborn refusal or inability to make necessary changes for … Continue reading
Why We Can’t Stay Here
By: Jock Ficken
Leaders articulate vision! They offer a preferred future. They also articulate WHY WE CAN’T STAY HERE. My early leader years? Lots of vision! I ignored WHY WE CAN’T STAY HERE, and then I couldn’t understand why nobody wanted to leave…HERE! I was like Moses trying to convince the Israelites to exit Egypt before anyone realized … Continue reading
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
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