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Posts Tagged ‘Develop Personal Character’
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
Benefits of Pruning
By: Jock Ficken
It’s no secret that the Church in the U.S. is struggling and declining; it’s been well-documented in many places. And it’s no secret that this places enormous pressures on pastors and their families and their congregations. But… What if much of what is happening in the church is a season of pruning? And it’s a … Continue reading
Identity – Capturing Freedom to Lead and Live
By: Jock Ficken
Every person I know risks fastening their identity to the wrong thing. That’s alarming given the fact that identity might be the most fundamental of leadership building blocks. The Flourishing in Ministry study funded by the Lilly Foundation in 2019 interviewed thousands of pastors. Their results showed that placing your identity in the wrong thing … 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. (If #6 intrigues you, … Continue reading
10 Tips for Young Leaders
By: Jock Ficken
If God chooses to usher in a next great season of mission and vibrancy across U.S. churches, He likely will use the young leaders…the filled-with-the-Spirit Joshuas (Deuteronomy 34:9) of today. A few years ago, I shared the following 10 tips for young leaders. A couple of these are more relevant for pastors, but most of … Continue reading
Quick + Crowd = Greatest Impact?
By: Jock Ficken
What’s the quickest way to the greatest impact? For the sake of the Mission of God? Maybe “quickest” and “greatest” are not compatible when it comes to impact. Leaders often equate “quickest” plus “crowd” with “greatest impact.” Particularly if “crowd” was modified with larger or bigger! There’s a growing uneasiness among leaders with this equation: … 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
Impact Through Authenticity
By: Kyrie Klopke
We all desire authenticity, yet it’s hard to find in our culture today AND — dare I say? — even harder to find among Christians or in the church. It’s difficult to share Jesus with your friends or co-workers without coming across as judgmental, hypocritical, or religiously irrelevant. So how do you live an authentic … Continue reading
Identity! Capturing Freedom to Lead and to Live
By: Jock Ficken
Every church leader I know risks fastening their identity to the wrong thing. Identity might be the most fundamental of leadership building blocks. The Flourishing in Ministry study funded by Lilly Foundation interviewed thousands of pastors. It’s one of their four fundamentals to avoid a lifetime of life depleting ministry. True for the rest of … Continue reading
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
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