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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
Three Things that Always Take Leaders Off Course
By: Jock Ficken
In a world bent on its own course(s), you represent that “there is another king, one called Jesus.” (Acts 17:7) Thank you! You are valued and valuable! The Word of God still changes lives and the Spirit still has power. What you’re doing, what you’re leading…it’s important. Thessalonica offered OPPOSITION to Paul and to that … Continue reading
Marriage & Mission
By: Jock Ficken
“We Need Help.” I know that not everyone reading right now is married. You’ll be okay this time. I also know that if you are married and if you are a ministry leader and if your marriage is humming along right now, you are in a distinct minority. Healthy marriage and fruitful ministry can seem … Continue reading
Do the Important Stuff
By: Jock Ficken
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
Exploiting Opportunities
By: Jock Ficken
Opportunities abound for most of us, for most of our congregations. Seriously! But, most of us and most of our churches find it difficult to exploit those opportunities. A gap exists between what we say we value…and what we actually value! Leaders and churches oftentimes know it, believe it, but just don’t act on it. … Continue reading
Do You Ever Feel Like a Pretender?
By: Jock Ficken
I rode in the Batavia triathlon last month…sort of…unintentionally…for three miles. Unbeknownst to me, my 20-mile morning ride intersected with hundreds of triathletes! Cars were being waved through onto the same route as the riders. They shrugged. They smiled. They waved me onto the riding route, too. For those 3 miles I rode as fast … Continue reading
Courageous Decisions for Large-Scale Change
By: Jock Ficken
Large-scale change is all around us. Your congregation has decided to lean in to the change and adjust, adapt and improve without surrendering the ever-so-important essence of who you are. Or your congregation is dangerously flirting with the consequences. There are 3 types of decisions: Self-Serving Decision…for the sake of heritage or comfort Procrastinated Decision…for … Continue reading
Good Leaders Create Pain
By: Jock Ficken
Good leaders create pain for themselves and for those they lead from time to time. I was challenged a long time ago not to reduce my ministry leadership to the lowest common denominator where No one gets upset, It costs no one anything, Irrelevance and ineffectiveness get a passing grade. What a gift! It’s not … Continue reading
3 Questions that Could Change Your Ministry’s Future
By: Jock Ficken
Your church’s future depends largely on the people who are not yet a part of it. Many of us grew up learning to memorize answers to questions. Memorized answers to old questions are not serving churches particularly well today. Most of us never learned the art of asking good questions, let alone asking questions. Listening … Continue reading
Collapse
By: Jock Ficken
Sometimes leaders need to walk away. Protect their souls. Save their families. PLI invests deeply in leaders… Gaining clarity about who they are. Navigating change. Chaplaining loss. Discovering vision. Leveraging spiritual, relational, physical, emotional well being. These are fundamental building blocks! I’m a big believer in seeing churches that are languishing and have… lost their … Continue reading
10 More Tips for Young Leaders
By: Jock Ficken
Last week I wondered what a new season of vibrant, mission pioneering might look like with the young leaders of today out in front following God. I offered 10 tips to Young Leaders. Here are 10 more tips for young leaders. Pick the one that stirs your heart and commands your attention. *Learn more about our Discipleship … Continue reading
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