“It’s the economy, stupid” is an often-quoted phrase that was coined by James Carvil in 1992. Carville was a strategist in Bill Clinton’s successful 1992 presidential campaign against incumbent George W. Bush. His phrase was directed at the campaign’s workers and intended as one for them to focus on in order to keep the campaign on message. Clinton’s campaign advantageously... 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
Several years ago, my Leadership Coach and mentor remarked, “Jim, you are a 10 deep and a 10 wide.” Caught somewhat by surprise I asked him to unpack that further for me. He went on to say that I had the ability to think both deeply and broadly, to see both in detail as well as the big picture, to... Continue Reading
Most church leaders are familiar with the church life cycle diagram and find it helpful to chart where their church is on that cycle. An equally helpful cycle illustration is called the Adaptive Cycle. The Adaptive Cycle is a model of God designed natural patterns of change found in ecosystems, social systems, businesses, civilizations, organizations, and even churches. It consists... Continue Reading
Most of us don’t have a pre-determined process in how to discern the will of God for our lives when considering a significant or potentially life altering decision. We pray and search Scripture, seek Godly counsel and hope for the best. That’s not necessarily a bad approach and admittedly, decision making and discernment of God’s will may vary from person... Continue Reading
Several readers have remarked how my blog on Social Ministry and Social Justice was helpful to their understanding and application of these two prevailing expressions of church ministry. In this article I want, with the help of a metaphor from Richard Rohr, to further unpack the subtleties of social ministry and social justice. In my experience there are at least... Continue Reading
Today there are many definitions for vision and strategic planning but for the purpose of church based planning the definition I prefer is: “The process of determining the visionary direction of the church or ministry and then breaking down that overall direction into broad objectives, that are then divided into smaller measurable goals and ultimately to specific tactics.” And, just as there are... Continue Reading
It is at times when problems seem insurmountable that churches and organizations most need to focus on a positive vision for the future, rather than merely avoiding a negative one. Behavioral research has shown that when groups focus on solving problems, they soon become depressed and anxious, but when they formulate plans by working backward from a positive future they... Continue Reading
According to Gallup’s recent State of the American Workplace report, only 22% of U.S. employees strongly agree that their company’s leaders have a clear direction for their organization. My guess is those numbers are similar for churches as well. Certainly most church leaders spend significant time and resources defining and communicating their church’s vision. So, why then do so many... Continue Reading
When our church began considering a multi-site strategy, as Executive Pastor I was the point man in the research and implementation. One of the initial steps was to hire a religious researcher and statistician. He expertly provided insights into where to locate our campuses using a sophisticated demographic mapping tool. His contention was that “like reaches like.” His research showed... Continue Reading
Ford Motor Company’s CEO, James Hackett, says he likes to think in the abstract and often considers problems along three time dimensions simultaneously, the “Now,” the “Near” and the “Far.” Likening the view to a bull’s-eye with those words in concentric circles his job, he says, is to manage and lead Ford in each of those circles to ensure success.... Continue Reading
In the article, Understanding Paradigm Shifts As A Church Growth Strategy, we defined a paradigm shift “as a change in thinking and acting that results from a challenge to one’s underlying assumptions.” And, we noted that not all church paradigm shifts are of equal value or impact. Some are micro-shifts, where the impact is localized and limited, while others are... 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