Ministry Leadership

Many church people and leaders feel like exiles in their own land. We are facing tremendous challenges. And, just as for those who came before us, the challenges are also opportunities. If we adapt to our new environment, as people and as the body of Christ. Gardens in the Desert offers local and denominational church leaders a practical, inspired scripture-rooted vision for how we can do this—how we can become God's church now for God's intended future. Michael Adam Beck and Ken Carter draw from Jeremiah 29 to provide wise guidance for leaders and churches seeking to adapt and thrive.

We hear all to often that someone has decided to leave the Evangelical Christian faith and to join the Church of Rome, or Eastern Orthodoxy, or High Anglicanism. The lure is liturgy and tradition, and since the Evangelical and Reformed churches so often have such poor worship, it is not hard to understand the pull exercised by those churches that have a heritage of formality, sobriety and beauty. This cure, however, is far worse than the disease.

The world has changed. The changes around us present daunting challenges to the church, and we minister in places we have never been in before. But there are no one-size-fits-all solutions because every church needs to attend to its specific situation and calling. We need to listen for not only what to do but also what not to do. In a world screaming in a thousand directions for our focus, it's essential for us to become attentive to God, our congregation, and our community.

Formed to Lead shows leaders how to examine how embracing humility can enhance leadership effectiveness; explore the connection between spiritual discipline and strong leadership qualities; learn strategies to overcome common leadership challenges by drawing from Jesus' example; and reflect on personal leadership journeys through guided discussion questions.

Dr. Ashley Denton's book on Christian outdoor leadership is the first of its kind. It is a foundation resource for students of outdoor leadership, wilderness ministry, and outdoor education. According to many listeners, it is an audiobook that is ideal for youth workers, pastors, outdoor enthusiasts, and those who desire to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ through solitude or adventure in the outdoors.

Neither "everything's fine" nor "burn it all down", Stringer offers a thoughtful appreciation of evangelicalism's history, identity, and strengths, but also lament for its blind spots, toxic brokenness, and complicity with injustice. From this complicated space, we can move forward with informed vision rather than resignation and with hope for our future together.

Many people today think the most effective means to reach this postmodern world for Christ is for the church to become more attractive and relevant to the culture. It must reinvent itself, adjust its gospel message, be less dogmatic, more therapeutic, tolerant, and entertaining. It must pander to the culture, take up its social causes, even conform to it - but never oppose it. Yet such a position is totally foreign to scripture and therefore mitigates the power and blessing of God.

“Meester Volansky, how you say in English? In Ukrainian, we say it like when person live in house. Jesus is my house. I live in Him . . . Because Jesus is like my house . . . I has hope!” Where did Diana get her hope? Somehow, despite the horror of the moment in which the Wolansky family found themselves, and despite whatever horrors Diana had faced in her past over her own children, she seemed to have enough hope to calm everyone else down and to take charge of the situation. Where did she get that capacity? Could Petr and Jen find this type of hope to endure?

An engaging and timely guide to preaching with passion from minister and professor Lucas Hergert. Done well, preaching engages mind and heart, soul and body. Passionate preaching offers more than discussion about topics held at a distance; it claims a stake in them. This is especially true right now, as progressive preachers must address today’s social issues with power and conviction. But how does a preacher ensure the congregation not only receives but also feels the message?

With its play-on-words title that points to the familiar biblical metaphor around shepherds and flocks of sheep in need of attentive care, David McCauley's You Don't Know Sheep provides road-tested insight for some of today's most perplexing faith-based leadership issues. You Don't Know Sheep offers new perspectives; solutions to problems you've been wanting to fix; and the good-natured realization that leading people successfully requires wise shepherding—starting with a shepherd who knows the way.

Código de honor es un libro que explora la importancia de construir una cultura de honor en el liderazgo. El libro reconoce principios como el respeto, aprecio y coraje como parte fundamental para el liderazgo en cualquier contexto, incluyendo el entorno de la iglesia. Brinda ideas y puntos de vista que pueden ayudar a los ministros a construir una cultura de honor en sus congregaciones, promoviendo relaciones saludables, confianza y liderazgo efectivo en el contexto de la fe.

Drawing on decades of ministry experience, Gillian Cameron offers listeners tried and tested insights that will help build the leadership capabilities of a new generation of Christians. In revealing the importance of the table for a leader, Gillian highlights the principles Jesus used to disciple and grow the people around Him. Listeners will learn how to identify potential leaders, unlock the supernatural in ministry, embrace the power of innovation, lead through seasons of pain, inspire a shared vision, and keep Jesus at the center. Be empowered to grow authentic, confident leaders.

A missional gap exists in the United States, and other places in which the gospel is widely accessible as well. For the US alone, 44 percent of the population qualifies as “post-Christian,” and we have the fifth largest non-Christian population in the world. In Unwavering Resolve, Dave Robinson, executive director of Cru®’s US Church Movements ministry, labels the United States as a rejected access nation—possibly the first in the history of Christianity.

Filled with real-life stories from the authors’ own experiences, Teach a Man to Fish provides churches and missions organizations with a blueprint for helping people help themselves in order to create lasting change and long-term sustainability and independence.

Repentance is one of the core tenets of the gospel, but what does it truly mean? Understanding the principle of repentance at a deeper level is often overshadowed by the simplistic reciting of the five-step process of repentance: (1) recognition, (2) remorse, (3) confession, (4) restitution, and (5) forgiveness. But repenting is so much more than a checklist step in the process to get on the righteous path.

This book is your first resource when you need to know how God can help someone through life challenges! Scripture Resources for Counseling compiles decades of ministry leadership into an easily accessible reference that can be used by any Christian believer. More than 800 Bible texts support Nora Fozard’s experience-based wisdom for helping people through life challenges. Her godly wisdom is gathered into brief discussions of dozens of contemporary topics, then offers you prayer and conversation guides for Word-based, Spirit-led counsel of people in need.

In a world marked by rapid change, shifting values, and so many different voices, the Church finds itself at a crossroads. "A Church in Flux: Building on 'The True Foundation'" you're on a journey of rediscovery. This book peels back the layers of tradition, human doctrine, and worldly noise that have obscured the truth of the gospel. It's a call to return to the unshakable cornerstone of our faith, revealed in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Steven R. Mitchell, the author of “God Help Me!” and a Vietnam war veteran himself, possesses a remarkable life story that is as compelling as the novels he writes. Born and raised in a small town, Mitchell grew up with a strong sense of patriotism and a deep admiration for those who served their country. Inspired by these values, he enlisted in the military at a young age, embarking on a journey that would forever shape his life.

A church's culture is the launchpad for everything a church does, the starting point for every ministry. If the culture is "off," everything else will be out of kilter. Church Culture equips every pastor and leader with the tools necessary for culture change. Authors Ozier and Thibodeaux, both experts in this area of church leadership, teach the basic concepts so listeners can understand what culture is and why it's so crucial. Even more importantly, they provide a step-by-step process leaders can use to diagnose and gently shift the culture in their church.

The Hybrid Congregation explores how technology has become an integral part of our daily lives and how it is impacting religious practices in unexpected ways. With the rise of online platforms, including social media and video conferencing tools, the concept of a physical church space is being redefined. The virtual world is now an extension of our physical reality, blurring the lines between what is considered "real" and what is not.