Looking for inspiration?
Check out these recommendations from members in the network.
Sara Jane Nixon recommends
The Unstuck Church: Equipping Churches to Experience Sustained Health
by Tony Morgan
Nixon tells us that the book has prompted an enormous flurry of organizational activity and strategy discussion in their congregation that is very promising. Nixon writes, "We're discussing a complete overhaul of our session/team structure, our budget looks very different, we have a tool for evaluating our events and schedules, and our understanding of what our session and staff are for is shifting. Perhaps most vitally, we have a shared vocabulary for discussing the priorities and patterns we see in our communal life."
Frances Wattman Rosenau & E. Stanley Ott recommend
The Reclaimed Leader Podcast: Church health strategies from two pastors in the trenches
by Jason Tucker and Jesse Skiffington
When asked how this podcast has improved their ministry, Rosenau responded, "Two things immediately come to mind. 1) When talking about discipleship pathways, particularly around Christmas [the hosts presented] the idea to give newcomers a next step to take in order to move forward on their discipleship journey. 2) [The podcast hosts] took a deep dive once on their sermon/worship prep process and what is done 6 weeks out, 3 weeks out, and the week of a sermon, etc. It was really helpful to hear about a pattern of planning and working ahead with a team so that there's never a last minute sermon writing moment."
About the podcast, member Ben Larson-Wolbrink says, “The recent podcasts have been very timely and practical for me. I recommend checking out a recent topic and giving it a try to see if it works. It’s designed for pastors, but I often pass episodes onto my session.”
Gray Marshall recommends
The Contemplative Pastor
by Eugene H. Peterson
Marshall writes, that The Contemplative Pastor is, “a beautiful reflection on where our energy might be better focused as pastors in the midst of the wreckage and grace we find in our congregations. So many incredibly rich metaphors to recontextualize our work as pastors: spy, artic explorer, language teacher.”
Marshall is in good company. About this book, J Adam Smith writes, “It was like drinking cold water on a hot day. There’s so much in it that needs to be said again and again and again. Regardless of how much we grow or what innovations we embrace, we must remember that we are pastors and must do those things that pastors have been called to since the beginning." Roy Howard writes, “It was given to me at my ordination and guided me for these many years." Paul Burns writes, “This book changed the course of my ministry…maybe even saved my ministry.”
Greg Garis recommends
Pivot Podcast: A Journey Beyond Church-as-Usual
by Dwight Zscheile, Terri Elton, Alicia Granholm, and Katie Langston
Each week, they dive into conversations with innovative leaders and practitioners who are navigating four game-changing pivots: shifting from quick fixes to deep listening, from membership to discipleship, from rigid models to creative ministry ecosystems, and from clergy-centered leadership to unleashing everyone’s gifts.
David Robert Yancey recommends
Sharing stories of people who have found a better way of understanding the harmony between science and Christian faith.