May 2007

Sort by: Most Recent | Most Viewed | Most Commented

Issue #313:
Dealing with difficult people

All of us in ministry have to deal with difficult people from time to time. One of the most important skills needed to succeed in ministry is knowing how to handle troublemakers. In this article I share four tips that can help you effectively deal with difficult people.
Read More

Published Wed, May 30 2007 12:00 AM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Issue Archives
Comeback Churches: How 300 Churches Turned Around and Yours Can, Too, Ed Stetzer & Mike Dodson (B & H Publishing, 2007)

Find out how to turn your church around from the experiences of those who have already done so. In Ed Stetzer and Mike Dodson's new book you'll find research on 324 “comeback churches” that have experienced significant growth after a period of...

Published Tue, May 29 2007 12:58 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Book Look
Notes & Quotes -- Jerry Barber

"The more I practice, the luckier I get." Jerry Barber

Published Tue, May 29 2007 8:42 AM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Notes & Quotes
Notes & Quotes -- J.P. Moreland, Kingdom Triangle (Zondervan, 2007)

"Make no mistake about it, this drama and this Kingdom's agenda is at the center of the meaning of cosmic history and your own individual story. Like a grand conductor who calls in the flutes at just the right time, your Father has brought you...

Published Tue, May 29 2007 8:40 AM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Notes & Quotes
Notes & Quotes -- Source: Wikipedia & The International Herald Tribune

In 1965 47-year-old Francois Raffray made a deal with then 90-year-old Jeanne Calment. He agreed to pay her $500 a month for the rest of her life in exchange for her condo when she died. He paid her that sum for the next 30 years until he died at age...

Published Tue, May 29 2007 8:04 AM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Notes & Quotes
Notes & Quotes -- Bo Bennett

"The secret to having everything you want out of life is the realization that you really don't want most of the things you think you want." Bo Bennett

Published Tue, May 29 2007 7:05 AM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Notes & Quotes
Notes & Quotes -- Laura Teresa Marquez

"Arrogance and rudeness are training wheels on the bicycle of life – for weak people who cannot keep their balance without them." Laura Teresa Marquez

Published Tue, May 29 2007 6:47 AM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Notes & Quotes
Working with 'confusers' in ministry

Details are crucial to ensure there is no room for questions or opportunities for confusers to infuse their artistry into your plan.” Shaun Blakeney, co-author of Energy Zappers Let me tell you about a young woman I call “Connie Confuser.” If I explained...

Published Thu, May 24 2007 3:28 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Perspectives, Working with confusers in ministry
Living life at its best (part 2)

We can't please everybody! And it is impossible to obey every voice we hear. If we try to do so, we will fail and find ourselves carrying a heavy load.” Mary Southerland You and I were created to live life at its best and to experience true success...

Published Thu, May 24 2007 3:27 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library, Living life at its best (part 2)
Recognition can be counter-productive for worship leaders

By the very nature of our biblical job description, we worship leaders must help people fall in love with [God] and only him.” Dwayne Moore, author of Praise More Powerful Many of us are familiar with the account of Jehoshaphat and the children of Judah...

Published Thu, May 24 2007 3:27 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library, Recognition can be counter-productive for worship
How to deal with gossips on the church staff

Give the person the benefit of the doubt unless you have indisputable proof. Even then, I try to believe that the person’s motives are not malicious and result from character flaws that can be brought under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.” Craig Williford...

Published Thu, May 24 2007 3:25 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library, How to deal with gossips on the church staff
Working with negative volunteers

Don't allow conversations to dwell on the negative, even if it means a gentle rebuke to change the group's tone.” Bob D'Ambrosio, volunteer leadership consultant with Church Volunteer Central As a volunteer leadership consultant with Church...

Published Thu, May 24 2007 3:24 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library, negvols
Handling interruptions in a worship service

A church needs a plan. No matter the size, every church needs a plan.” Joe McKeever , director of the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans I was the new pastor of a downtown church in a large Southern city. At the pulpit that morning, I could see...

Published Thu, May 24 2007 3:24 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library, Handling interruptions in a worship service
Ministry to the poor and marginalized

Time is a limited commodity for most of us. But if the life of Jesus teaches anything, it reminds us of God’s priority to make room for 'the least of these,' even in the midst of those busy days.” Jimmy Dorrell, author of Trolls & Truth Suspicion...

Published Thu, May 24 2007 3:23 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library, Ministry to the poor and marginalized
Using Father’s Day to connect your church’s men

Father’s Day gets men’s attention because the focus is on them already. We’re celebrating them as dads, or they’re celebrating their dads.” Tom Crick, director of men’s ministry at Saddleback Church Glen Sarris has spent his life working hard so his wife...

Published Thu, May 24 2007 3:22 PM by MTBEditor

Filed under: Ministry Library, Using Father’s Day to connect your church’s men