Category: Church Leadership

“I can’t get in schools. It’s a no-go in our town.” I have heard some form of this phrase a million times. Go to any gathering of youth workers, ask about public schools, and someone will say it. Guaranteed. “I’ve never had a school say no.”

Researchers in Sweden have found a link between kids who get in trouble and kids who grow up to become entrepreneurs.

Hiring a staff member is not Moneyball. That’s what Google has learned. Adam Bryant of the New York Times sat down with Laszlo Bock, Google’s SVP of People Operations and asked what they’ve learned at the Goog about hiring people. (source) The ability to hire well is random. Forget brain-teasers. Focus on behavioral questions in…

We exist for all people to know Jesus. That’s an oversimplification for most church vision statements. On paper, they are for all people. But in a brick and mortar reality, churches make decisions every day which largely determine who they reach. The Vision Compromise

Do you have friends? Maybe that sounds like a weird question. But the truth is that I know a lot of people who really don’t have many friends. Friends with whom they can be really, truly honest.  Friends with whom they have shared significant stuff. Friends with whom they’ve known a long time, through the…

@mclanea #MoodyPC is primarily intended for #pastors. #refocus #refresh #equip church leaders. Praise God for other conferences #Heprovides — Moody Conferences (@MoodyConference) May 15, 2013 Some backstory… 11 years ago this week I graduated from Moody Bible Institute. The moment of walking across that stage, shaking Joe Stowell’s hand, and knowing that I had done it,…

I’m always impressed how much retail space exploits psychological advantage to prepare people to spend money. I can run into a corner store and quickly grab the 5 items I need. But the same 5 items in our local grocery store? It’s at least 15 minutes as I walk from end to end of that…

I think most would agree that the church is one of the last places around that you’ll still see the primary/sole mode of teaching/transformation be a lecture-style sermon, monological preaching. Folks in education have been experimenting with different forms of pedagogy for years, and have moved past the “talking head” format for quite awhile now.…

While I totally miss being on staff at a local church– there’s one thing I don’t miss at all. I don’t have to filter my interactions with students through the grid of “what I’m supposed to say because I work at this church.” 3 Easy Examples

Enslaved as a child, Patrick spent a lifetime building the Christian church in the land of his former captivity. As we prepare for St. Patrick’s Day, let’s reflect on his words.