In recent posts we have been sharing the importance of character in interviewing and how to interview for character. Another way to interview for character is by taking a forensic approach to examining candidate resumes. Unfortunately, ministry candidates are just as likely to be untruthful on their resumes as those applying for secular jobs, so be careful in giving a... Continue Reading
In our last two articles, Why You Should Consider Hiring For Character and The Most Important Character Traits In Church Hiring, we looked at the importance of character in hiring church staff as well as some of the most important character traits to consider. In this article we look at how to interview for character. My experiences and research, including more... Continue Reading
In our last post, Why You Should Consider Hiring For Character, we defined character and looked at the reasons every church should have a strategy for interviewing for character. In this article we will describe the character traits you should consider when hiring for a ministry position. Over 4,000-character traits have been identified by psychologists, social scientists and researchers. These... Continue Reading
Many important things must be assessed when interviewing potential candidates for ministry positions. The most obvious are education, skills, accomplishments, and transferable experience. In hiring for ministry positions a couple of other areas are vital as well, such as calling and chemistry. Increasingly there is agreement that character is of vital importance as well. Maybe even more so in today’s... Continue Reading
“The church that plays together, stays together.” That was the mantra of an entire generation of Church Recreation Ministers. Not only was it a mantra, but it was also a reality. Back then we called it “fellowship,” later “community,” and now “connection.” Whatever you call it, church recreation provided it and today’s church doesn’t have it. Church recreation as a... Continue Reading
In our last post What Are Spiritual Disciplines And Practices? we defined spiritual practices and stressed their impact and the importance of having a variety to draw from. In this post we will share some sources for spiritual practices as well as provide a link to 20 specific spiritual practices to consider adding to your spiritual growth regimen. It wasn’t... Continue Reading
A hard reality that is becoming increasingly prevalent is that the church has largely been preoccupied with religious ideas, doctrines, and dogma, what is wrong and what is right. And evidence points to the fact that religion centered on nothing more than biblical belief has not worked when it comes to living the teachings of Jesus. That is because when... Continue Reading
When you hear hoof beats, think of horses, not zebras” has been a popular medical proverb since about the 1950s. Zebra is a medical slang term for a rare or a surprising diagnosis. The saying means then that one, such as a doctor, should look for the common or probable cause first, rather than the rare or exotic. That the most... Continue Reading
If you are like me, you have spent the better part of your ministry career living with some level of guilt about not observing Sabbath, at least in a traditional and legalistic understanding of Sabbath. Like most ministers, throughout my ministry I have worked a minimum of 5 days and more times than not 6 or even 7 days a... Continue Reading
Recently I met with a group of church educators and the topic of discussion was soul care. Soul, not in the sense of that part of us that is eternal, but rather that part of us that is our spiritual essence that longs to be in relationship with God. The group concurred that one of their biggest challenges was to... Continue Reading
Dr. Wayne Grudem, noted biblical scholar, professor, and author, shares an experience that may provide insight into what seems to be an epidemic of moral, ethical, and leadership failures of prominent Christian pastors, denominational leaders, politicians and church staff. While working on the translation for the English Standard Version of the Bible, Grudem along with dozens of scholars worked round... Continue Reading
One of the leading reasons people give for leaving the church is the behavior of Christians. When Christians are viewed as hypocritical, self-righteous, judgmental, lacking compassion, unloving or no different from the world then the church suffers. These behaviors by people who profess to be Christian point to a lack of emphasis on personal spirituality, soul care, and the inner... Continue Reading
Jim is a Church Organizational Leadership and Management Coach, Consultant and Trainer. Throughout his career Jim has demonstrated a passion for showing Pastors and Ministers how to use organizational tools for church and personal growth and health.
More About Jim“For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ.” Colossians 2:5