Is your church stuck? Do you find yourself in the tension of organizational structure and relational equity? Once you decide to focus on these seven things, you can begin to work and develop them as you go forward. The blend of organization and organism embedded in each of these areas will keep you growing in numbers while also growing in depth of relationship and commitment to Christ.

Do you manage your time well? Time management is a key component in effective leadership for pastors. Unfortunately, this is an area that many pastors struggle with. The nature of ministry is relational and entrepreneurial; these are often tensions that pull at one another. Is it possible to get things done and develop relationships with people? Here’s a look at how you can excel in managing your time.

How do you handle conflict? Conflict is not easy, and many pastors would rather not engage in it. However, learn to exercise your leadership muscles in these ways and watch the unity grow in and amongst those you lead.

How well can you lead changes in your church or ministry? Organizational change is inevitable. Unfortunately, it’s not easy. The true test of any leader is their ability to lead change in an organization. Pastors must lead change. They must lead it well. Here are five things you can do to lead change well.

What does the latest Census data reveal about the Canadian Church? The Canadian Census for 2021 was released recently, and the insights into Religion, Christianity and the Church in Canada are insightful. Although it’s not a positive picture overall, church leaders must press into this data instead of ignoring it; allow the information to challenge you to innovate, create and re-imagine ministry in Canada in these coming years.

What can I do to help my church prevail in 2023? We can't see the future, but we can create it. Here is a reflection on ministry in 2022 and a projection for harvest in 2023.

How do we develop the people in our churches, the leaders on our teams, and the next generation? A tour of Alberta uncovered incredible insights on developing leaders in any context.

How are you training your board members? Don’t just leave your board members alone to try and figure it out themselves; start intentionally training them NOW. Remember, the success and effectiveness of this leadership team will benefit your church for years to come.

October is Pastor Appreciation Month. How can I show appreciation to my pastor? Here are five ways to appreciate your pastor during the month of October.

Is the church a club for Christians, or is it a force for Kingdom expansion? When Jesus said, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not stand against it” (Matthew 16:18), was He thinking of a Sunday AM service with 40 minutes of singing and 40 minutes of preaching? Was he thinking of an audience listening to one person talk at them?

Would you consider your church relentlessly outbound? Most Canadian churches are not relentlessly outbound. Most church budgets are focused on staff salaries and building costs. Most pastors and staff spend the majority of their time with Christians. We’ve turned into “Christian Training Centres” or “Clubs for Christians” rather than a Missional Movement; a force of Christ-followers on a mission to reach a lost world.

How does vitalization benefit the ministry of a local church? The experience of vitalization in local churches is unique to each church, but the outcomes add fruitfulness to faithfulness in all; two congregations located on two sides of the country, two vitalization experiences, and two similar outcomes after following very different pathways. The pastors share their journeys leading established, traditional congregations into the outbound mission.

What steps can a pastor take to lead a congregation into missional efforts? Cornerstone Community Church is a testimony that small churches in small communities with small budgets can have ‘big vision’ and big expectations in a big God with incredible results.

How can a pastor in a rural community with a small congregation make a meaningful difference? You believe a church community is a good thing, but many people in your small town think churches are a waste of real estate and a tax burden. Tony Warriner shows how to see opportunities to make your church a light for the community and a champion of the gospel.

What you give your time to shows what you value. Worship and preaching occupy most of the time most of Sundays that Christians gather. What if an occasional Sunday throughout the year was used to lift the value of sharing the gospel in your community? All it takes is a little inspiration to create momentum.

How can a pastor lead change in a traditional church? Evangel Church was one of the most traditional churches in its District. Inward focused. Isolated from the local community. Twenty years later it is one of the most outbound, community-engaged churches in the District.

I hope to see a movement of churches in Canada across denominations go from plateaued and declining to thriving by reaching lost people in their locale. I pray for an enormous increase in Salvations across Canada with reports of life transformation by the Gospel. I long for churches that make disciples who make disciples who make disciples.

How can we equip volunteers for success? Sometimes we’re afraid to offer training to our volunteers. We tell ourselves people are smart and don’t need anyone to boss them around anyway.