The ultimate equipper of his team was Jesus! Equipping is the major thing that jumps off the pages of Jesus’ story from the Bible, and from writers who help us use his example in our lives and work. Other than, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:16), what we often read are … Continue reading Guiding, Supporting and Coaching

Leaders of many faith-based organizations cringe at the very thought of receiving grant funds or incorrectly assume that they are not eligible for grant funding. I believe the reason so many view receiving grant funds negatively is that there are misconceptions about grant funding. Often, when grant funds are discussed, it is thought that what … Continue reading Grant Funding Opportunities

“And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.”      (Psalm 78:72) King David’s leadership legacy is inspirational. Building on a heart of strong character and high values, he developed the skills to lead his people well. But it takes intentional effort to build that integrity of heart and skillful … Continue reading Your Leadership Legacy

In terms of technology, we are truly privileged to live in this new cyber world we’ve designed. We’re now at a point where we don’t ever have to leave our homes, with no effect on our quality of life. From asking Alexa to turn off the lights to tapping our smartphones to get the latest … Continue reading Cyber Guardians

President John F. Kennedy inspired a generation with his Inaugural Address on January 20, 1961, “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” Kennedy shifted the focus from receiving to giving and, in doing so, motivated hundreds of thousands of volunteers to give their lives … Continue reading Thriving Donor Relationships

My first Taylor University board meeting started as anticipated. A fresh cup of hot coffee, black and strong. A prayer for the outcomes and leading of the Spirit over the next two and a half days, and then roll call. We’re all here. I’ve read the material provided, have my notes and questions prepared and … Continue reading On Mission

If we were to step out of our own narrative and look at our organizations through the questioning eyes of a dispassionate but informed observer, what do we see and to what conclusions might we come? What is the net gain of all the energy, sacrifice and giving? I realize it is not particularly novel … Continue reading A Tectonic Shift

Why should someone donate to your ministry? How you answer this question—and if you’ve ever asked someone for money you’ve already answered it, whether consciously or not—says a lot about how you communicate with your donors and the type of relationship you have with them. If you tell your donors that without their support your … Continue reading Know Your Why

Remember Circuit City? “Where service is state of the art”? Dark, cavernous consumer electronics stores with red carpet and nearly-impossibly- knowledgeable salespeople? Ring a bell? Not if you’re under 30, because Circuit City — one of Jim Collins’ “great” companies in his bestseller Good To Great (Harper Collins, 2001) — declared bankruptcy in 2008. That’s … Continue reading Innovate To Great