Where did all the “gospel-centered” folks go?
A few years ago, it seemed like every pastor I knew was harping on “gospel centeredness.” Nowadays, I don’t see or hear as much passion about the gospel. In this post, I describe why this is understandable, but a little concerning from a discipleship standpoint.
What the American Church Can Learn from the Immigrant Church
Last week, our church staff held an inspiring live zoom interview with Tim Keller. Keller said, “Immigrant churches might be holding the key to the future in America.” This struck a nerve because I grew up in an immigrant church. In this post, I share 3 things.
3 Differences Between A Theologically Driven Church vs. An Ideologically Driven Church
In an article entitled, “The Coming Church Split (It’s Not What You Think)” Carey Nieuwhof made observations about four divergent roads churches will face as we move into the future. I read this article over a year ago and have kept thinking about his fourth and final point: “Ideologically Driven Versus Gospel-Driven” churches. In this post, I share 3 observed differences between these two churches.
So I Teach a Class On Race At My Church…
Teaching on race in a church context is not something I ever vied for. But the other day, I gave a 40-minute lecture on race followed by a brief question & answer section. These are a few of my reflections as I drove home after.
Why Your Church Needs Introverted Leaders
At least one-third to half of the people are made up of introverts. And while the church desperately needs extroverted leaders (the church is a gathering of people after all), there are a few reasons why I think every church needs introverted leaders. I share a few of these reasons in this post.
“My church’s teaching model is video and live hybrid. Here’s why I love it.”
My church people receive God’s Word through a combination of live or video teaching on a given weekend. I never thought I’d be part of a church (much less the lead pastor) that utilizes this hybrid model. But the bigger surprise for me has been why I’ve grown to love this model so much. This post details these reasons.
I’m Launching a Church This Weekend. Here’s Some Backstory
What started out last year as a localized gathering to serve God’s people makes the transition as an official congregation this coming Sunday. In this post, I share some personal backstory and subsequent learnings from the last 15 months.
Why Your Pastor Is Busy
Does it ever seem like your pastor or team of pastors is busy? I mean, what do they do all day anyway? Don’t they just read the Bible, pray, and send out an email or two? In this post, I point to the complexities of the pastoral role through the many hats they wear and what that means for pastors and their people.
Here’s How To Know If the Church You Attend is Missional
How can I know if my church is missional? The answer lies not by looking at your church’s vision or mission statement (no matter how beautifully crafted). It’s also not by pointing to your church’s outreach events (though they can be helpful). I believe there is a more surprising and sure indicator for whether your church is missional.
Why Pain (Inflicted by Another Leader in Ministry) Can Be a Gift for a Church Leader
One of the greatest pains in ministry is the pain inflicted by our partners and teammates in ministry. You’ve heard the stories. What good could come of it? In this post, I highlight an invaluable embedded gift under the crucible of this kind of leadership pain.
To All My Former College Students
In this post, I share an open letter to the many college students I was privileged to shepherd over the last 7.5 years of college ministry. This is a letter of thanks, gratitude, and a reminder to think about God’s grace.
What I’ll Miss About College Ministry
One of my mentors once told me to stay in college ministry for as long as possible. I took his advice to heart and I’m glad I did so. The last 7.5 years of college ministry were some of the most rewarding times of ministry in a local church context. In this post, I share 7 things I’ll miss about college ministry.
Why I Believe How A Pastor Transitions May Be a Microcosm of One’s Ministry Tenure
I’ve often heard the quote, “It’s not how you start, but how you finish.” But what if what happens in the middle serves as indicators for how one starts and finishes. In this post, I explore why I believe the manner and way in which a pastor transitions serves as a microcosm of how one operated during one’s ministry tenure.
Learnings from Church Planting in a Pandemic
I’m currently a witness to two things happening simultaneously: The development of a baby boy and the development of a baby church on the other. 2020 has been a crazy year so it only makes sense for these two births and subsequent development to happen in the same year. In Part 1 of 2, I share some of the learnings I’ve gleaned from church planting.
10 Learnings From My First Year
A year ago, I transitioned into a multi-ethnic megachurch after spending the majority of my life at ethnic-based churches. It was one of the most challenging and rewarding years of my life. It’s safe to say I learned a lot. In this post, I highlight some of my biggest learnings.
Facebook Live Tips for Ministry (From an Oscars Producer)
As the Covid-19 season continues, many ministry leaders are turning to online platforms to continue their ministry. One of these platforms will be Facebook Live. While there are obvious ways to best utilize Facebook Live, a producer for the Oscars gave me a few helpful tips for consideration.
Why I’m Humbled as a Church Leader In a Time Like This
During this unique season of covid-19, I find myself humbled greatly as a church leader. In this post, I share 3 ways I’ve been humbled.
5 Reasons Bi-Cultural Church Leaders Don’t Get Hired
Would the Apostle Paul get hired today? I’m not so sure. Why is it hard for some bi-cultural church leaders to get hired? In this post, I give 5 reasons why bi-cultural church leaders don’t get hired.
Why the American Church Needs Bi-Cultural Leaders
Moses, Daniel, and the Apostle Paul walk into a bar and ask the bartender what the 3 have in common. You might say they were mightily used by God at crucial moments in history. But the other common denominator is that they were bi-cultural leaders. In this post, I share why I believe the American Church needs bi-cultural leaders.
Marriage, Ministry, and My Biggest Mistakes
Ministry is a blessing. It can strengthen a marriage. But ministry will also place stressors on a marriage. Here are 4 mistakes I made as a married person in ministry.