By Denise UtterVibrant Faith Coaching Team As August tails off into September, I often reflect back to my teacher days. I loved the end of August and looked forward to new blank notebooks, clean 16-month calendars, new pens, sharpened pencils, and an array of colored highlighters (oh the color-coding)! It was a fresh start—a chance …
By Rev. Dr. Mark SlaughterVibrant Faith Coaching Team Fall is on our doorstep, and that means we’re already working to reinvent what we do to spur new energy, spiritual vitality, attendance, and contributions. But what if you could produce that same energy without re-tooling the ministry programs you’re already doing? We’ve just launched an experiment …
By Jim LaDouxDirector of Coaching & Coaching School In John 17, as Jesus is preparing Himself for the cross, He prays out loud so that His followers can hear His heart—in the middle of His prayer He spotlights the passion that defines His mission: “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who …
By Dr. Nancy GoingDirector of Research & Resource Development In the emerging research spotlighting the impact of pandemic-induced social isolation, the outcomes are sobering. Writing in a Frontiers In Psychology report, authors Giada Pietrabissa and Susan G. Simpson report: “The most common psychological disorders emerging are anxiety and panic, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, insomnia, digestive problems, as well as …
By Jim LaDouxDirector of Coaching & Coaching School There’s no such thing as a conflict-free church or leadership team. Over the course of a year, most leaders in most churches will disagree about something… We’re at odds about how to implement new programs, events, and communication platforms. We wrestle with setting goals, priorities, and approaches to ministry. …
By Fred Oduyoye and Rick LawrenceIn the week of MLK Day, and on the precipice of Black History Month, Reachable Reconciliation Founder Fred Oduyoye offers up a challenge to everyone who marked the holiday with a post, a photo, a banner, or a Tweet… Post your comments, insights, and responses about our new video “The Downside of MLK …
By Jim LaDouxDirector of Coaching & Coaching School “All people should strive to learn before they die, what they are running from, and to, and why.” – James Thurber Anxiety is common among ministry leaders—for good reason… Three-quarters of pastors (75%) say they feel “extremely stressed” or “highly stressed,” and nine out of 10 (90%) say they feel …
By Jim LaDouxDirector of Coaching Services & Coaching School We underestimate the power of curiosity—it’s the bedrock of learning, imagination, and innovation. Vibrant Faith highlights the primacy of curiosity in our Coaching Schools because it opens ministry leaders up to new insights and opportunities. It creates space for engaging other people’s experiences and helps us more fully understand the …
In an extensive, deeply sourced piece called “The Dissenters Trying to Save Evangelicalism From Itself,”published two weeks ago in The New York Times, award-winning op-ed columnist and recent convert to Christianity David Brooks explores the takeover of the evangelical movement by extremist right-wing forces and the emergence of a budding renewal, led by a host of prominent voices …
What The Church Can Learn from Evangelical Dissent Read More »
Marshall McLuhan famously said: “The medium is the message.” He meant that the way we learn and grow is at least as important as the content of that learning. I’m an introvert, so a truth that may seem obvious to you has taken time to settle in for me: We are not meant to make this faith journey …
