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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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Life is better connected. Connect with others to experience life-giving community and build authentic relationships. We have several learning communities. Find the best fit for you.
Resources
We provide a number of resources and materials to educate both our participants and the general public on effective leadership principles.
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Blog
A Simple Solution for Reaching People
By: Jock Ficken
“So, did you grow up around here?” I was in North Dakota. Gail and I were driving home from vacation. (Beautiful drive!) It’s a question I often ask when meeting waiters, hotel staff, folks pausing long enough for a brief intersection of stories. It’s a chance for me to listen to a bit of their … Continue reading
Pioneering a New Future
By: Jock Ficken
There are pockets around the United States where it still feels like not a lot has changed. Gail and I were in one of those pockets last week near St. Louis at a large PLI congregation. “We had our largest attendance at Christmas that we’ve ever had! Last month!” Not many leaders are saying that … Continue reading
The Real Measure of your Leadership
By: Jock Ficken
What if the real measure of your leadership was not all that was accomplished within your span of influence (count: worship attendance, offerings, buildings and programs built, etc.), but the “successes/successors,” the congregational “heroes,” you mentored? Successors who might shine as bright or brighter than you and might become the future leaders/mentors the church will … Continue reading
Where is God Leading you Next?
By: Jock Ficken
I asked a bunch of younger leaders to do the difficult, to challenge some “landing pattern” pastors and spouses and others who have served so well for so long to not squander what might be their largest legacy in helping the Church set sail toward a new season of great mission vibrancy. This “landing pattern” … Continue reading
Are you in a Landing Pattern?
By: Jock Ficken
Here are two realities: Reality 1: The United States is one of the largest mission fields in the world. Reality 2: Large numbers of pastor-leaders (spouse-leaders and lay-leaders too!) will retire in the next 3… or 5… or 7 years. They’re all flying toward a landing pattern transition. (Or they’ve already landed.) The popular view … Continue reading
Grit Your Teeth and Get in the Local Mission
By: Jock Ficken
So many—pastors, churches, women, men—who intentionally enter some slice of their community to represent Jesus and respond to the mission of God start by gritting their teeth and finally giving it a try. They’ve heard about it, talked about it, prayed about it, but never did anything about it. There is a lot of talk, … Continue reading
2 Prayers for the Mission Field
By: Jock Ficken
The Prayer Dr. Robert Newton, former missionary to the Philippines, former district president and PLI Board member, explained that when they were missionaries in the Philippines they would kneel down, hold hands and pray the essence of these two prayers as they prepared to enter a village. We have now come with the One … Continue reading
Do the Important Stuff
By: Sherrah Behrens
“WOW! THERE MUST BE SOME REALLY GOOD STUFF HAPPENING HERE!” That was the response of a couple of leaders attending the conference our congregation hosted some years ago. Several years earlier we had jumped to a multiple campus ministry and had now built the first phase of the new campus where the event was being … Continue reading
To the Little-Known Leader
By: Jock Ficken
Most ministry leaders are not well known outside their local setting. Their fame is not widely traveled. Their stature is the product of wise decisions and godly behavior. They lead with character. They live with hope. They set their sights on what needs to get done…even when it’s difficult. No excuses! Just simple resolve. They … Continue reading
Celebrate God’s Work around the World
By: Jock Ficken
Please allow me to use this space to do more of an update about PLI and its work than I would usually do in this space! Last week, PLI was training in: Ghana with our first trained trainer from Uganda on the team! That means this leader has been through a Learning Community and then … Continue reading
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