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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
Get In The Game
By: Jock Ficken
Get yourself in the mission game if you’re not there already! Don’t wait for all those folks to one day wake up and decide they should ask you about Jesus. (You’ll wait a long time.) PLI Entry Paths It was incredibly difficult when I started down this path. I didn’t know how to have a … Continue reading
Can we say Thank You?
By: Jock Ficken
Allow me to say Thank You to you for leading in your role. Thank you for serving and caring for your congregation and people that don’t know Jesus and for whom Jesus extended His arms on the cross and died. Let’s be honest. Leading is difficult. Oftentimes lonely. So, simply, for who you are and … Continue reading
4 Mistakes I Made as a Young Leader
By: Jock Ficken
4 Mistakes I Made as a Young Leader… Or, 4 “Do Overs” I’d like to have back! NOT ANCHORING MY IDENTITY AS A BAPTIZED CHILD OF GOD My identity was too connected to how how well I was performing at work. Numbers were up?… No major conflict?… I was on my game?… Great. Any other … 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
Acceptance. Grace. Forgiveness. For You.
By: Jock Ficken
Maundy Thursday today. “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Matthew 26:39) Good Friday tomorrow. “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matthew 27:46) Easter! Sunday! The resurrection of the Son of God who…suffered … 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
3 Do I Have What It Takes? Part 3
By: Jock Ficken
When you do the hard work of self leadership you end up doing more of… the stuff that stirs your soul. the stuff that you want to spend the rest of your life doing. the stuff you’re flat out uniquely good at doing. You beat back the natural, creeping, “Do I Have What It Takes?” … Continue reading
Do I Have What it Takes? Part 2
By: Jock Ficken
When someone starts a small business, the organizational chart looks a bit like this. Many church leaders function the same way! The vast majority of congregational leaders have similar org charts and “me” in boxes where they don’t fit. Too many times we’re “filling slots” because “somebody needs to do it.” And no one has … Continue reading
Do I Have What It Takes?…The 3 Reasons You Question Your Ability to Lead
By: Jock Ficken
Do I have what it takes to lead? It can hit leaders at most any age, most any season. It has hit me… My early years…when harsh realities met naive overconfidence. Conflict. Unreasoned conflict. Obstacles. Major milestone moments. The pit of self doubt. Lacking confidence. Alone. Isolated. Or, ironically, everything can be going great. … Continue reading
Is Anyone Out There? Does Anyone Care?
By: Jock Ficken
Do you ever wonder who really cares about you? What you’re doing? The sacrifices you’re making in your congregation so people can grow…be discipled…come to faith? And especially…if you’re the spouse? (I don’t mean that in an impersonal way.) I’m guessing what you do is at risk of being underappreciated. Maybe unthanked. Especially the sacrifices … Continue reading