Spring 2025 | Seek First

Talking Leadership

Seeking First God’s Kingdom

Christian Leadership Alliance President and CEO Tami Heim recently interviewed Dr. Albert L. Reyes, President & CEO of Buckner International. Reyes will serve as a main stage speaker for The Outcomes Conference 2025 in Dallas, April 29 – May 1.

By Outcomes Magazine | Buckner’s Dr. Albert Reyes reflects on his leadership journey.

Thought Leader

Prioritizing God’s Will

Being in alignment with the kingdom of God means prioritizing God’s will and understanding that his purposes matter most. This principle has not only defined our leadership but has also led us to remarkable moments of divine provision.

By Dr. Abraham Jaquez | Pursuing educational transformation.

Lead Story

Christ’s Yoke and a Leader’s Care

“Take my yoke upon you." I – we – always have a yoke. We might put one on ourselves. We might accept yokes from the world around us. Or we might take on Christ’s yoke, entrust ourselves to him, and then find true rest.

By Michael Martin | Insights from ECFA on leader care as ministry care.

Biblically Speaking

Seeking Christ First

Success according to the culture is determined by having more. More accomplishments, more money, more fill in the blank. In the kingdom however, success is defined as doing the will of God.

By Karen McNary | My journey along the Matthew 6:33 path.

Reflections

Where God Guides, He Provides

In 1952, they established River Valley Ranch, a Western-themed summer camp... Two Scottish pastors starting a cowboy camp… in Maryland. Not exactly logical. But they weren’t following logic, they were following the Lord’s direction.

By Jon Bisset | Seeking first the kingdom in ministry leadership.

Emerging Trends

A Bright Tomorrow

There is one trend in fundraising – one bright spot in particular that instead of anxiety, gives me hope and optimism for the future – and that is the rise of sustainable, recurring giving.

By Dave Raley | Embracing the rise of recurring giving.

Empowering People

Middle Manager to Middle Leader

Middle managers exist at all levels between front-line supervisors and top executives. A middle leader is a middle manager who demonstrates leadership competencies that influence their teams’ thinking, behavior, and performance.

By Dr. Julie Armstrong | A pathway for developing your team.

Raising the Bar

The Art of Inquiry

What if the key to transformative leadership isn’t having all the answers but asking the right questions? Thoughtful questions create spaces for people to think, engage, and connect.

By Andrew Earnshaw | Good questions are the key to meaningful connection.

Power Source

Disciplined Innovation

For Christian nonprofits, innovation begins with stewardship. Disciplined innovation invites us to think critically about unmet needs, explore creative solutions, and evaluate their impact – all while seeking God’s wisdom and guidance.

By Stewart Severino | Prioritizing kingdom values to multiply kingdom impact.

Foundations

Tending Your Vineyard

As leaders we are often called to work on the vineyards of our ministries, churches and the lives of our people, without properly taking stock of the state of our own vineyard.

By Sheila Bennett | The vital necessity of self-care for ministry leaders.

Better Boards

A Board Prayer

To help boards tap into the wisdom, strength, and resources God provides and to center themselves on doing God’s work in God-honoring ways, A Board Prayer leads board along a guided pathway of prayer.

By Dan Bolin | Turning to the true owner of our ministries.

First Person

Blessed Beyond our Prayers

If we knew in advance what was going to happen, we would typically try to avoid the difficulties of life. The likely result would be missing out on the tremendous blessings that come as a result of those challenges.

By Vonna Laue | What are you glad you didn’t know?