Leadership Transition: 3 Strategies for Getting it Right
I’ve seen countless leadership transitions in the local church. During my 20-plus years of serving in pastoral positions and executive leadership coaching, I’ve had a front-row seat to transitions occurring in local churches, both large and small. But many of these transitions, despite the best efforts of those who led them, are more accurately characterized […]
9 Smart Strategies to Keep Your Church Fully Staffed
It’s tough for churches to compete in today’s “seeker-friendly” job market. Some churches may be finding it even more difficult to keep the staff they already have. As I shared in a July 2022 post on Forbes.com, the quit rate among churches is alarmingly high. Barna Group’s 2022 Pastor Survey Data shows that, within the […]
Where Did My Staff Go?
Top 3 Hidden Reasons Church Employees Look for New Jobs The local church should be the best place on the planet to work, right? Sure, the pay’s a little less competitive as compared to other employment sectors, but the intangibles are outstanding. Church staffers share a common purpose, enjoy their colleagues, and derive great satisfaction […]
The Math Behind A Vision For Multi-Site
I’m really good at math but I don’t enjoy it. In ministry, most everything we implement boils down to simple math. For example, if you want 500 people in small groups, you’ll need 50 small group leaders. If you want to take 100 junior high kids to camp, you’ll need 10 youth leaders (and a […]
Willow Creek Association: Passing the Baton
We are excited to announce that on April 3rd, the Board of Directors of the Willow Creek Association introduced Tom De Vries as their incoming President & CEO, succeeding Gary Schwammlein. This transition is the culmination of a comprehensive national search led by Neal Joseph, lead associate for Slingshot’s nonprofit division. Schwammlein joined the WCA in […]
The Power of “Me Too”
We all find ourselves in a defining moment in our culture, summed up by the simple phrase, “Me Too.” I’ve been reflecting on the magnificent power of those two, tiny words. When another human being looks us in the eye and says, “Me Too,” we no longer feel so alone. We feel understood, validated, and […]
Frustrating Church Communication: How to get More People to Respond
Communications in the church world can be hard and frustrating — even for the best communication strategists! You may be the best orator in the world, but week after week, it still seems there are lackluster responses to your sermons. Your team sent multiple emails and printed tons of flyers and yet, half the parents […]
Top 7 MISHAPS in Recruiting
Growing churches are always in recruitment mode. Healthy churches are led by healthy teams who love their work. But how do you recruit the best people to add to your team? There are several things you can do to help, including partnering with Slingshot Group. Here are 7 mishaps many leaders are guilty of […]
Preparing for What’s Next Before You Need To
The best time to prepare for an earthquake or storm is before the calamity hits! Similarly, as a person in ministry, the best time for you to prepare for what’s next is when there is actually not a need. Prepare for the next position while you’re happy in your current role. A change in church […]
Maximize the Holiday Season
The holidays bring exceptional opportunity for churches and organizations: 29% more people attend church during the Christmas season (Source: LifeWay Research and Covchurch, 2015) 34% of charitable giving is done during the last three months of the year (Source: USA Today, 2014) 4 out of 10 Americans say that they would attend a church at […]