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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.
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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
Mentoring Leads to Life-Enriching Leadership
By: Jock Ficken
Every church leader needs mentors, coaches, guides to flourish. (For short, we’ll call them mentors.) Remember this? Think of “3” as spiritual apathy and distrusting of church leaders. Think that your leadership task gets increasingly difficult with every widely reported sexual misconduct and cover up noted last week. The Flourishing in Ministry research among thousands … Continue reading
There’s Still Good News in Your Congregation!
By: Jock Ficken
There’s still good news in your congregation! Of course there is… right? The Bible is being taught. The Gospel is being proclaimed. The Sacraments are being administered. Plus, you and other folks like you are living out that good news as a response to the sacrifice Jesus … Continue reading
Flourishing in Ministry…It’s all about Relationships!
By: Jock Ficken
Is your ministry life-enriching or life-depleting? Congregational leadership can flourish…be life-enriching and not life-depleting…when four types of relationships are well according to Bloom’s Flourishing in Ministry project. While this was a clergy study, you’ll find easy application to whatever your role. We termed it “Collegiality” last week. Here are the four critical relationships: Family and … Continue reading
Are you Flourishing?
By: Jock Ficken
From my perspective the stakes are high! In the next few weeks of summer… New pastors will begin their ministries with anticipation. They will be… life-enriching for some, life-depleting for others. Older pastors will retire. They will have been…life-enriching decades for some, life-depleting for others. Another group? They will quit. Prematurely retire. Change careers. They … Continue reading
Necessary Endings
By: Jock Ficken
I don’t do endings well. As a leader I tend to perceive ending something I’m leading as tantamount to failing…especially if it’s a big thing. How ironic to talk about necessary endings after Dare to Dream Again and Sharing Your Dream. Here are 4 keys to remember with Endings: Endings can (should?) create opportunity for what’s next. Endings are natural … Continue reading
Advancing the Dream…4 Things to Remember
By: Jock Ficken
Dreaming new dreams in the ministry of a congregation is the first thing to disappear when a congregation starts to decline and the first thing to reappear when it leans toward a new future or a new season. (Lots of churches trying to “survive” would benefit greatly if they simply started to dream again!) Dreaming is a big thing! … Continue reading
Making Courageous Choices
By: Jock Ficken
Most congregations fail to appreciate the impact that their current decisions (or the lack thereof) will have on future ministry. Many of the churches helplessly skidding down the decline side of the curve chose not to take on their greatest challenge some years earlier. (Read last week’s post, Rebirth and Renewal.) Some of these congregations … Continue reading
Rebirth and Renewal
By: Jock Ficken
Congregations have life cycles, just like people. Birth Growth Decline Death …or… Renewal or Rebirth No secrets here… most congregations are on the decline side of the curve. Few have imagined how many churches will die in the next decade. So, let me speak to what I hope is a growing group of courageous champions. … Continue reading
An Inspiring Leader
By: Jock Ficken
This week we have learning communities in Panama City, Florida; Denver, Colorado; and in a country in Eurasia. Join us in praying a blessing upon each of the participants. Bob Buford died last month. 78. CEO of Buford Television Founder of Leadership Network Author of Halftime Tireless champion of church leaders Lost his only son … Continue reading
Don’t Go It Alone
By: Jock Ficken
These simple words were spoken to a room full of young pastoral couples. They were well seasoned words marked with wisdom, insight and experience! Here’s the essence. See if there’s a good word or two for you today! “Don’t go it alone! “People…leaders…get off track when they go it alone. “They become legends in their … Continue reading
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