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Archive for the ‘Navigate Cultural Change’ Category
The Christian Church in 2030
By: Jock Ficken
For Gail and me, here’s our sobering reality: By 2030 the Christian landscape in the United States will be mostly cleared. Historic denominations will be a whisper of what they once were…by 2030. Congregations gone. Many more will be simply shadows of what they once were…by 2030. The Christian “footprint” of the people of God will … Continue reading
What if You Sent off a Couple R & D Pioneers?
By: Jock Ficken
Most churches are trying to preserve what they have. Trying to avoid losing ground too quickly. Even though they know that continuing to do what they’ve been doing is not going to get them to where they need to go! They keep trying to marshal the energies to maintain. (I did this in our multi-campus … Continue reading
Part-Time Pastor Pete and the Hand of God
By: Jock Ficken
Let me tell you about an incredible, self-effacing man of God nearing retirement. I’ll call him part-time Pastor Pete. He and his church will remain anonymous. Part-time pastor Pete joined PLI’s Discipleship to Missional Community and introduced himself: “I’m not quite sure why I’m here. I guess I thought I owed it to myself and … Continue reading
What’s the Expiration Date?
By: Jock Ficken
Ever reach to the back of the refrigerator and pull out the pickles or the yogurt? Past the expiration date? Too late. Done! Throw it away? Now…what do you think might be the expiration date on your congregation? If nothing changes? What about your denomination? Or your network of churches? Write down an expiration date … Continue reading
You’re a Leader
By: Jock Ficken
Remember the joke? It’s an old one. Ironically I heard it again when we were in Ethiopia in February and Columbus, Indiana, in March. Two guys are walking barefoot in the forest. They meet a bear that’s planning his lunch. The one guy starts to put his running shoes on. The other explains: “You’re never … Continue reading
You Can Keep Unlocking the Doors, or…
By: Jock Ficken
Ten or 15 years from now, there won’t be much left in most of today’s churches…or in most church bodies. Look at what’s unraveled in the last 5 years. The believers coming behind us don’t want to inherit much of what we want to give them. (Ask them!) Look at your own denomination…do you sense … Continue reading
Grief
By: Jock Ficken
Leaders mostly miss that when a congregation navigates any type of change, people in their congregations experience a sense of loss. Loss of… The familiar What to Expect “I know how to navigate this world.” OR…AND—this is true for many of us as leaders today in our mission field culture—loss of a sense of… Power … Continue reading
The #1 Big Challenge to Change in Your Congregation
By: Jock Ficken
Most churches long to have wider influence—not a shrinking influence—in their communities. But getting there is difficult! It’s even more difficult now than it was 20 years ago when PLI started training leaders to navigate the waters of change for the sake of the Mission of God. Shuffle the Sunday schedule. Drop a program. Add … Continue reading
Look Into the Future
By: Jock Ficken
As a leader…think women and men here…it’s your job to be looking out into the future of your congregation, your ministry, your organization! Seeing the bigger picture Looking at your stated mission. Have we drifted? Are we aligned? Thinking more than most 20 years ago PLI’s founders saw the big picture and started to train … Continue reading
PLI’s 20th Anniversary in 2019!
By: Jock Ficken
Last week I noted the obvious…a lot has changed in the last 20 years! I’m not sure any of us really saw it coming. Certainly not coming so abruptly. And, when we don’t know what else to do we either… Give up. Lose hope. Just go through motions. Do what we’ve always done. Faster. Harder…with … Continue reading
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