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Latest Articles by Our TeamOn Brokenness (by Malcolm Webber) All around us we see leaders with “broken legs.” Our first response as young, emerging leaders might be to think, “You can’t help me! I’m trying to avoid the very thing that has… The Need for a Broad Culture of Leader Development (by Malcolm Webber) In a world that is constantly changing, one of the few things that remains the same is our need for deeply spiritual and highly competent leaders to whom we can… Who Stole My Towel? (by William Frisbie) I remember the first time it happened; it was a brightly colored towel – likely visible even on a cloudy day from the Space Station – but suddenly I couldn’t see it… So Much of Our Teaching Is Not Sound and This Is How to Fix It (by Malcolm Webber) People waste years and sometimes their whole lives, never coming close to their purpose in God, because they get caught up in their own or someone else’s religious speculations. If we are to be effective and balanced teachers of God’s Word, we must… We Need to Learn Empathy! (by Malcolm Webber) Recently I read an interesting article entitled “How to Teach Doctors Empathy” . The point of the article was that being a good medical doctor requires an understanding of people, not just science… Why Are There Imperfections and Brokenness? (by Jim Brenneman) The world is always looking for an excuse to not believe in Jesus. Our disregard for the lowly can become one of those excuses. When unbelievers see the disabled neglected and cast aside, what do they… The Meaning and Importance of Team Leadership (by Raj Chelvaraj) In view of the depth of the riches of God’s wisdom and knowledge, Paul beseeches us to be transformed (Rom. 11:33–12:2). In what ways can we be transformed in our thinking about leadership? In the verses that… Mountains, Men, and the Making of Leaders (by Brent Hoover) The seven men who awaited me were excited and prepared for a once in a lifetime challenge that would bring them closer to the Lord, help each man to face himself, and bond them together in greater trust and transparency… Why Do We Feel So Alone? (by Jim Brenneman) SETI (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) is doggedly searching for life “somewhere out there. . . .” Space programs and massive telescopes scour the skies in search of someone else, something else, anything else – that might make us feel less alone… Self-Giving Leadership (by Malcolm Webber) On the hillsides in Kucheng District the most valuable trees are often marked with the owner’s name. A common way of conveying water from the mountain springs down to the villages is in channels made of lengths of bamboo fitted one to the other… You’re Working on the Wrong Things and It’s Wearing You Out! (by Malcolm Webber) Many leaders are very conscientious and have a hard time giving away power to others. To be sure that things are done properly, they often end up just doing the work themselves. As a result, they are exhausted and their team members are frustrated… No Time Like the Present (by William Frisbie) “I had a wonderful retreat recently at a wetlands reserve public park in a West African nation. A place of wild and tamed merged together, traversed by wide and small paths, benches and brush where there was no human in sight. It was the day before starting a four-day training and I knew it would be… Alone in a Crowd (by Robert Walter) “I am really sorry for such a long time in silence. Since July I had to face many challenges in my work and family. In times like that I stay in silence. But now I’m back … until the next cave time.” The above note arrived yesterday in an email from a pastor and friend in Brazil… The One Thing The Church Cannot Do Without (by Brent Hoover) In attempting to attract more people to their faith communities, many churches have gradually shifted away from taking their primary cues from the Bible and have moved toward what they can learn from the studies of church growth, leadership, consumer habits and sociology… In Brokenness We Find God (by Josh Webber) During the recent total eclipse of the sun, I went down to Kentucky to spend some time apart from the daily routine, and to align my heart and life with the purpose of God. During the drive of six hours, I was in much prayer. I arrived in my planned destination of… Under the Sun, and So I Prayed (by Jim Brenneman) During the recent total eclipse of the sun, I went down to Kentucky to spend some time apart from the daily routine, and to align my heart and life with the purpose of God. During the drive of six hours, I was in much prayer. I arrived in my planned destination of… Designers of Leader Development and Users of Design (by Malcolm Webber) Probably everybody who is reading these words has the ability to sit in a car and be driven somewhere by someone else. Everybody can benefit from the car. Whether or not we understand how the car… Simple Design and Complex Design (by Malcolm Webber) An intuitive grasp of the principles of gravity and aerodynamics is sufficient to catch a ball that is thrown to you. But it’s not sufficient to design an airplane, even though the same principles are… Designing Transformational Leader Development (by Malcolm Webber) In this Letter, we will begin a new series, looking at how to design transformational leader development. Transformational leader development requires more than classroom instruction… Here Am I! (by Jim Brenneman) A few years ago I was helping build about 20 young leaders in a secret training center. Senior leaders were also present, and together we were examining lessons learned from… It's So Unfair! (by Malcolm Webber) Many times as leaders, it feels like we are giving everything to try to help others without getting much in return. It seems so unfair! But this is the nature of the… 8 Tips to Survive the Messy Middle (by William Frisbie) Impacted by a testimony of the transforming work of God in someone’s life, we are often left in awe of God’s faithfulness and with a fresh hope of what He will do in us and in others we are praying for. How quickly we forget that in most cases transformation in our lives is a process and the actual experiences leading up to a magnificent testimony were likely not pleasant, happy times for all involved… The 2 Non-Negotiables of Legitimate Vision (by Malcolm Webber) A quality leader facilitates moving others from the place they are now to a better situation. But what do leaders actually do to cause this to happen? First let’s look at how leadership revolves around vision. It has three parts… What an Illiterate Foster Kid Taught Me About Love (by Sarah Webber) She was 21 years old, wore heavy makeup, and her hands shook as she opened the car door and nervously slid into the passenger side. “It’s Alise with an ‘A’,” she said as she introduced herself. Even though Alise didn’t know how to read or write, she was adamant about the correct spelling of her name… A Window for God’s Glory (by Bal Bahadur) What a dilemma! … I asked, "Why is it that you think ministry (preaching, evangelism, pastoral care etc.) is serving God but your government job is not ministry… A Little Boy and the Septillion Stars (by Jim Brenneman) So, how big is the whole universe? Astronomers calculate that the edge of the observable universe is about 46.5 billion light years away. Does it make you feel small? Yes?! Though we are so small, still God can use any of us to lead others in accomplishing His great plan… God’s Commitment to Leftovers (by Raj Chelvaraj) The Book of Haggai reminds us of God’s commitment to leftovers! Like other books of the Old Testament, this book was “written for our learning” (Rom. 15:4). Haggai was written during a time when thousands of exiles were returning from captivity in Babylon, coming to Jerusalem to rebuild… Truly Christ-Centered Leader Development (by Malcolm Webber) God’s ultimate purpose in all things revolves around His Son: Having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth – in Him… The 2 Things That Every Leader Must Do (by Malcolm Webber) Every leader knows very well that there are never enough hours in the day to invest personally in all the issues that are competing for his attention. To be effective, he must delegate many responsibilities… Five Things We Need From Our Leaders (by Brent Hoover) How can a leader truly shape the life of a follower of Jesus? Here are five things we all need that God will use to holistically transform us… 7 Key Paradigm Shifts (by Malcolm Webber) For the last 20-30 years, there has been a great deal of focus around the world on evangelism and church planting. Some of the contributing reasons for this have been… Leaders Act! (by Malcolm Webber) By definition, leaders have too many responsibilities on their plate. This is what distinguishes leaders from non-leaders – the ability to think it through and then act. And the courage to do so… Attention Millennials: Forget Their Callings, Find Yours! (by Josh Webber) I am a millennial and just like every generation before me, millennials are searching for our calling and our place in the world. In our case it can seem like a much more difficult task as we have an almost infinite number of people to compare ourselves to, thanks to social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram… The Lord’s Commandment (by Malcolm Webber) John the Apostle taught constantly on love, so much so that, it was said, the people he taught grew weary of its incessant reiteration. His constant admonition was, “Little children, love one another… The World Is Not Changed by People Who Think (by Malcolm Webber) The world is not changed by people who think. The world is changed by people who act. The world is changed well by people who think and act. Have you ever met the top leaders of large, successful organizations and been struck by their lack of thoughtfulness? Not that they were stupid, but many times the very top leaders are not the very best thinkers in their organizations… 3 Crucial Questions for Evaluating the Health of a Church (by Brent Hoover) It is not the external things that determine the true health of any church. Worship services and programs may be going on with good attendance, but what is the measure of a healthy church… Being Encouraged by our Fruit (by Jim Brenneman) Everyone needs encouragement. Paul recognized the needs of the church at Thessalonica. He wanted the people to be established and encouraged in their faith so that they would not be shaken by the inevitable afflictions and trouble they would certainly face… The Longer View (by William Frisbie) While out on a walk, I began reflecting on strategic planning for our ministry with LeaderSource in West and Central Africa. As I considered the sheer magnitude of the need, I felt an anxious thought rising… How to Cast Vision: Interview with Jenni Catron (by Joshua Webber) Jenni Catron is a writer, speaker, and leadership expert committed to helping others lead from their extraordinary best. She speaks at conferences and churches nationwide, seeking to help others develop their… Forget About Your Calling (by Joshua Webber) God speaks to us all in different ways. The way He speaks to me usually is an inner voice in my head that guides my thinking when I bring issues before Him. Yesterday, I was thinking about calling in my life and how I am always trying to figure out exactly what mine looks like… The Palm Beach (by William Frisbie) The muffled rant out in the hall prompted the fading in of a closed-eyes smile across my travel-worn face. It wasn’t the words of the outburst – garbled French curses for the sake of quiet – but the images from earlier that night that animated a mind’s view of what I could not see presently… Immediate Indigenous Leader Development (by Jim Brenneman) Some friends of mine are getting ready to head to the mission field in South America. When asked what they will be doing there, the answer was pastoring a small church and discipling the believers while doing evangelism… How Teamwork Led to one of the Greatest Achievements in Sports History (by Josh Webber) If I asked you which team would win in a soccer game between two teams ‒ one worth $247 million and the other worth $27 million, which team would you choose as the victor? The odds would seem to be astronomically in favor of the $247-million-dollar team. After all, a team with that many expensive superstars must be the better team… The Spiritual Nature of the Church (by Malcolm Webber) To understand the nature of the church we must first understand the nature of the Christian life on a personal level. The Christian life is the personal restoration of the individual believer to realized fellowship and communion with his God – it is nothing more nor less… If you are taking a mini-break from one of your multiple unfinished tasks in order to read this article, you just caused an “attention residue” buildup to occur. It is a kind of sluggishness that occurs in your thinking when you have moved on to a new task but not yet completed the original one… Enduring Well: Four Ways to Build Resilience – Full Article (by Malcolm Webber) The enemies of the Gospel target leaders because of the impact a leader’s breakdown will have on many people. Anticipating the significantly increased stresses of leadership, not a few people who have genuine callings to lead instead quietly embrace other life directions… Enduring Well: Responsibility (by Malcolm Webber) In response to a negative situation, the lie says, “I can’t do anything about this.” In contrast, the truth says, “I may not be able to change everything, but here’s what I can do about this.” Even if it’s only a small thing at the time, internally taking responsibility, rather than simply resigning in despair, is the path of healthy thinking… Enduring Well: Faith (by Malcolm Webber) The lie says, “This bad thing will never change and will only get worse.” This is unbelief and fear which, left unchecked, will destroy us. In contrast, the truth says, “God can do all things. There is nothing too hard for Him!” Again, we must turn our inward gaze directly toward God and His ability and faithfulness… Enduring Well: True Perspective (by Malcolm Webber) The lie says, “What just happened is huge. It is the end of the world. Things are hopeless!” This is an overreaction. The truth says, “What just happened is bad but, in reality, it’s only a small thing. It’s not the end of the world. And, from the perspective of eternity, it’s nothing!” To endure well, with God’s help, we must see things as they really are…… Enduring Well: Identity in Christ (by Malcolm Webber) The lie says, “I have failed. I am a failure.” This condemnation is always echoed by the devil’s voice internally and sometimes by the voices of other people around us. The truth, however, says, “I have failed. But I am in Christ and, by His grace, I will overcome!” Paul leads us through a beautiful and powerful understanding of our union with Christ in Romans 8… Enduring Well: Four Ways to Build Resilience (by Malcolm Webber) The enemies of the Gospel target leaders because of the impact a leader’s breakdown will have on many people. Anticipating the significantly increased stresses of leadership, not a few people who have genuine callings to lead instead quietly embrace other life directions… On the Ministry of Teaching (by Malcolm Webber) When reading the Bible, we need to always think about who the author was and what he experienced. What made him write what he wrote? The authors of the Bible wrote out of their life experiences. They did not teach mere theory. They experienced God. Truth was revealed and taught through their lives, not just on paper in their writings… On Brokenness (by Malcolm Webber) All around us we see leaders with “broken legs.” Our first response as young, emerging leaders might be to think, “You can’t help me! I’m trying to avoid the very thing that has happened to you!” Or even, “Look! My leg is not broken. I know more than you do; I’m doing better than you are!” Such a response reflects the short-sighted and narrow perspective that ‒ sadly ‒ often accompanies the young and gifted… 27 Characteristics of a Good Idea (by Malcolm Webber) Recently I read an article by Daniel Tillett: Ideas are not cheap. Daniel is a researcher and the article is about tech start-ups. But he makes some great points that are directly applicable to Christian leadership, ministry and leader development work… Living and Leading by Jesus’ Indwelling Life (by Malcolm Webber) From John 5:19, we see that everything in Jesus’s life and ministry came from His inward union with the Father. Let’s read John 5:19. “The Son can do nothing by Himself; He can only do what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” In this relationship between Jesus and His Father, we have a wonderful parallel with our own relationship with God… Jesus’ Fellowship With His Father (by Malcolm Webber) Let’s look again at John 1:1. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. From this verse, we see the eternal nature of God. Before the creation of the world, God was not passive, He was active. The Son of God was toward His Father, looking at Him, loving Him, receiving His love. The Father was toward the Son of God, looking at Him, giving Himself fully to Him, receiving the love and the submission and the fellowship of His Son in response… The Eternal Nature of God (by Malcolm Webber) Let’s have a look at John Chapter one, verse one. Right at the start of John’s Gospel here we have this great, old man of God who’s walked with God for all of his life. Right at the start of his Gospel he says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” You’ll notice that John does not say, “In the beginning became the Word,” because the Word never became. He always was. He eternally was. God possesses absolute existence, no beginning, no ending… Ah, Lord God! Moment (by Jim Brenneman) What is biblical leadership all about? For Christians, leadership must be “all about” whatever the Bible is all about. Not very good grammar, but you get my point. What is the Bible all about? Jesus Himself made it clear that the Bible is about Him… The Three Horizons (by Malcolm Webber) The effective leader will focus on three time horizons simultaneously: Cultivating current responsibilities, extending and defending the core existing ministries. For example, a local church will have existing ministries relating to pastoral care, children, Sunday morning meetings, etc… Jesus Is the Fountainhead of All True Christian Leadership (by Malcolm Webber) Christian leadership is only found in Jesus Christ. True leadership is not found in anything other than Him – in anything other than His Person – in anything other than a living, abiding union and fellowship with Him. Christian leadership starts with Him. Otherwise, it is all worthless… Building a Healthy Organization – Video (by Malcolm Webber) Let’s think about Hope as an organization or a spiritual organism. We know that we want to be healthy in the whole organization. What constitutes a healthy organization? What does that mean, to be healthy in the whole spiritual organization? In order to answer that question, let’s think about our bodies, our physical bodies… The Essence of the Christian Life – Video (by Malcolm Webber) John was an incredible man of God. As a young man, he knew the Lord Jesus. He was one of the Twelve, and he had a close relationship with Jesus. He was so close to Him that he laid his head upon Jesus’ chest, and was known as the disciple whom Jesus loved… Searching for Pastors: Two Non-Negotiables (by Brent Hoover) Searching for a pastor in today’s world has become a complex process. As the search for a new leader takes place, wise churches look upward to God and inward to evaluate needs, desires and the mission of the church before making calls and interviews for the man they will be following for years to come… The Four Core Purposes of Every Church (by Malcolm Webber) We all need vision. Individual church members, local churches, and whole church networks need to be filled with a shared, compelling and heavenly vision in order for them to be – and remain – healthy and vibrant… The Sovereignty of God and the Burden for Missions (by Jim Brenneman) If God is in absolute control of the entire universe, then why should we need to worry about missions and reaching the lost? Is it any use even to pray? God indeed is sovereign and this sovereign ruler of the universe calls us to evangelize and to pray… 10 Ways to Destroy the Culture of Your Ministry (by Malcolm Webber) In a time of so much uncertainty, it’s comforting to know there are some rock-solid, absolutely guaranteed methods to destroy the culture of whatever it is you’re leading… The One Characteristic of a Healthy Church (by Malcolm Webber) What is the best and most biblical way to define a “healthy” church? Clearly, there are many different things we could focus on… The Tale of Two Championships (by Jim Brenneman) So now the big time basketball championship is history for another year and the man who is argued to be one of the greatest players of history was on the losing side. How well this illustrates the need to avoid the Superstar Leadership Strategy… Experiencing the Provision of God (by Jim Brenneman) he Scriptures are “God-breathed,” providing complete directions for equipping the people of God. We are to lead fruitful lives of obedience to the Scriptures, as we follow the example of obedience seen in the lives of those who have nurtured us in the writing of Scriptures… No Time Like the Present (by William Frisbie) I had a wonderful retreat recently at a wetlands reserve public park in a West African nation. A place of wild and tamed merged together, traversed by wide and small paths, benches and brush where there was no human in sight. It was the day before starting a four-day training and I knew it would be a refreshing time. I was due for such a recharge, and in a great context for enjoying God’s presence… The 2 Things That Every Leader Must Do (by Malcolm Webber) Every leader knows very well that there are never enough hours in the day to invest personally in all the issues that are competing for his attention. To be effective, he must delegate many responsibilities, as well as – whenever possible – the necessary decision-making authority… Why I Don’t Use the “Be, Know, Do” Model of Leader Development (by Malcolm Webber) It may be a surprise to learn that the “Be, Know, Do” (BKD) model of leader development which has gained some degree of popularity in both formal and non-formal Christian leader development did not originate in the church, but in the U.S. Army… You’re Working on the Wrong Things and It’s Wearing You Out! (by Malcolm Webber) I know a particular leader who is very conscientious and has a hard time giving away power to others. To be sure that things are done properly, he often ends up just doing them himself. As a result, he is exhausted… Do You Overestimate Your Ability as a Leader? (by Malcolm Webber) How accurately do you estimate your ability as a leader? Do you think too highly of yourself, not highly enough, or about right… Dialogue with Theophilus Exercise (by Jim Brenneman) Luke met the needs of his “Theophilus.” All of the people we are leading are like Theophilus, or at least we want to nurture the Lover of God that is in the heart of every believer. This little exercise can be carried out by a leadership team or in a workshop with leader trainees in a church, or on a hike, or riding on a train with a group of believers… How to Identify High Potential Emerging Leaders – Video (by Malcolm Webber) One of the critical elements of successful leader development is identification of the right ones to build. Jesus took this very seriously – He spent the entire night in prayer before calling the Twelve! We may have a perfectly designed training program but if we’re building the wrong people it won’t work… What Is the Best Leader Development Advice You Can Give? (by Malcolm Webber) The following are very beautiful and wise responses to a survey sent to LDC 2013 participants… Significant Trends in Leader Development (by Malcolm Webber) The following is a summary analysis of responses to a survey sent to LDC 2013 participants… A Letter from an Emerging Leader (by Malcolm Webber) I am an emerging leader. You are an existing leader. I’m so grateful that God has placed you in my life. I really need you! First, please teach me the Word of God – because the Truth is life… |
