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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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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
Unlikely and Overlooked Leadership for Challenging Times
By: Gail Ficken
Gail Ficken shares some thoughts on leadership for these challenging times. It’s a crazy, unprecedented time. For some reason, God has pushed pause on everything we know as “normal” in the church. These days can crush HOPE. They can squeeze out COURAGE. So it’s a season for pioneers, for people willing to assume the challenge … Continue reading
Hope & Courage Drive Transformational Leadership
By: Jock Ficken
Hope and Courage! They’re the fundamental octane for leading through disruptive change and adversity. New Hope leads to New Courage! They drive transformational leadership. You need it as a leader! You need to deliver on it as a leader in your congregation. For Gail and me, this is so deeply embedded in us. It’s how … Continue reading
6 Simple Ways to Inspire Hope and Courage
By: Jock Ficken
The pandemic has accelerated change in every one of our congregations. And, it’s opening new doors. Simple Truth: If you want to see a transformed ministry, it starts with a transformed leader who builds on the blocks of Leadership Essentials. It starts with you as the leader being infused with fresh hope and courage. It … 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
5 Solutions to Pandemic Inadequacy and Insecurity
By: Sherrah Behrens
Is pandemic conflict and uncertainty making you feel inadequate? Insecure? Let’s be honest. Pandemic conflict and uncertainty is taking a toll on the best of congregational leaders. Hope is maybe on the way but it’s still a ways away…if you’re thinking vaccines. You’ve probably identified with Elijah’s “I’m the only one left.” OR Abraham’s “Sovereign … Continue reading
Thank You
By: Jock Ficken
If you read this blog regularly, there’s a high probability you made a financial gift to PLI last month or sometime last year. Whether you did or not, I want to say a simple, heartfelt thank you for caring about other leaders. I thought I’d let four other leaders say “thank you” in their own … 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
The Clock is Ticking
By: Jock Ficken
The clock is ticking down on 2020. Most of us would say that it couldn’t come too soon. And most of us would say that while taxed and tired, our faith has been strengthened and we’ve been reminded that God can be trusted to protect and provide. Thanks for leading and following Jesus with integrity … Continue reading
4 Memories of Leading at Christmas Eve
By: Jock Ficken
A blessed Christmas Eve 2020! 2020 is its own unique adjective for Christmas this year. It’s an understatement to say that no matter where you are, celebrating the birth of Jesus is different this year. Here are 4 memories I have of Christmas Eve: 1. I remember our first Christmas Eve together. (My favorite.) Gail … Continue reading
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