Making Disciples

Four dangers interim pastors face

I was recently delighted to hear that one of the men in the church I’m currently serving is “wild about your sermons.” I felt gratified and humbled, but only for a moment. Those momentary joys fled when I remembered that he is also wild about “Pawn Stars”, “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” and “Dumb and

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I learned to be a good interim pastor on a sailboat

A reverse Transpac from Honolulu to Santa Cruz, CA on a 32′ Westsail made me a better interim pastor. Image credit: mkperspective / 123RF Stock Photo I was on hiatus between churches when the call came. Someone had heard that I like sailing. Would I be available to help him relocate his boat from Ke’ehi

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10 things you won’t learn in seminary [Updated]

Invariably seasoned and successful pastors who train for a second vocational career as an intentional interim pastor will say, “Why didn’t they teach me this in seminary?” or “Why didn’t someone tell me this thirty years ago?” It’s not their fault. Seminaries can’t teach you everything you need to know about ministry. In fact, they

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God provides all a transitioning church needs – ahead of time!

[dc]F[/dc]inances have become a recurring problem that intentional interim pastors must help the congregation solve. Earlier in my interim ministry – which seems to have begun shortly after Noah disembarked – this wasn’t an issue. But in the last several years I’ve served churches that were either started in or rapidly expanded during the go-go

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Ministry metrics: the hard and soft measurements

The church I’m currently serving as the intentional interim pastor has the Annual Business meeting scheduled for the last Sunday in January. This past Sunday we conducted a dry run to finalize what would be included in the report to the congregation. The Executive Pastor, the outgoing chairman of the Board and the incoming chairman

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Hope for the wounded pastor

Pastors who have been scarred, wounded and bruised – often the result of a forced exit – may wonder if they’ll ever again be used in the Lord’s service. If that describes you, take cheer. PIR Ministries stands ready to receive you for recovery and restoration. It is a long, slow process, but there is

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What does John Maxwell know about growth?

There’s an interesting thread developing at Charles Specht’s website. He poses the question, “What is Personal Development (According to John Maxwell)?” In the comments section I posed a lengthy comment that approaches his question at an oblique angle. I think you’ll find that this is going to be a provocative and stimulating thread. I hope

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