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What Do Congregations Want in a Pastor? Surprise! It’s Us!
If you asked a few hundred church members what characteristics they were searching for in a pastor, what do you think they’d say? You don’t have to wonder. Thom Rainer asked that question a while ago and published the top ten responses on his blog last week. When I first read the list, I smiled.
20 Years Pastoring My Small Church: The Joys
So what’s the point of it all? As hard as pastoral ministry can be, why would anyone want to stay in the same Small Church for two decades and counting? Because, as wild as the ride can be sometimes, the joys far outweigh the challenges. Here are just a few. (Today is the last of
20 Years Pastoring My Small Church: The Cautions
What now? I have 20 years under my belt as the pastor of my Small Church. 30 in pastoral ministry all together. Since there aren’t a lot of us that get to this landmark, there’s not a lot of advice about what to do next. One thing I know for sure. I don’t want more
20 Years Pastoring My Small Church: The Keys
The average length of a pastorate isn’t much over 2 years. In Small Churches, it’s lower. It’s a high-stress job, with long hours, high demands, emotional extremes and little (sometimes no) monetary compensation. But last month was my 20th year at Cornerstone Christian Fellowship. And last night my Small Church threw a party for me
Grasshopper Myth: My Church Can’t Compete With Megachurches
OK, so technically, this one’s true. My church can’t compete with megachurches. Trying to do what they do on a Small Church scale would, did, and does lead to disaster and burnout. What makes the statement a myth is that it’s built on a faulty premise. The premise that we’re supposed to be like megachurches,
Surprising Insights About Church Growth from Small Church Members
People love Small Churches. It’s pastors who have a problem with them. The Grasshopper Myth book has been in the hands of the members of my church for about a month. And I’m currently teaching through the principles of it on Sunday mornings. (They’re being recorded and will be podcast here soon.) So the feedback
The 11th Reason Pastors Quit Too Soon
Pastoral ministry is hazardous work. Study after study shows the burnout rate for people in full-time ministry is high and growing. Tim Peters tackled this issue with a very helpful post, 10 Real Reasons Pastors Quit Too Soon. As I read it, I noticed something missing from his list. And it may be the most
We’re Small Church Pastors – Let’s Wear it Well
Hi, I’m Karl and I’m a Small Church pastor. Do you wonder why I keep saying that? Maybe it was something I learned in a marketing class about branding my message? If so, I should get my tuition refunded. “Small”, “Church” and “Pastor” are three of the least marketable words there are. I say it
Be First In Line for the New Small Church Nametag Wall
Welcome to the New Small Church Nametag Wall. That is, welcome to where the wall is going to be very soon. The plan is to have it up and running by Tuesday, January 14, 2013. (Since writing this, the Nametag Wall is now up! Click here to check it out.) Here’s the idea. As a way to
