Deborah Ike

Deborah Ike is the president and founder of Velocity Ministry Management: a company dedicated to helping church leaders grow their churches and create a life with healthy margins.

With several years of experience as a consultant, project manager, and risk manager in the corporate world, Deborah launched VMM to serve the church. She is the author of three books and writes for several church-related publications.

Articles by Deborah Ike

• 3 simple New Year’s resolutions for church staff

  We're near the finish line of 2020, with everyone ready to bid this chaotic year adieu. As we try to…

  Monday, December 14, 2020

• 7 church administration areas to refresh with a new year

  As we begin to wrap up 2020 (and there was much rejoicing), it’s time to consider how we can start…

  Tuesday, December 01, 2020

• 3 reasons to unplug during a vacation

  With all the chaos and uncertainty we've faced this year, we could all use a few days to relax and recharge.…

  Tuesday, November 17, 2020

• 3 areas where small improvements can make a significant difference

  As we start to wrap up a challenging year, making any significant changes or improvements may be a bit…

  Tuesday, November 03, 2020

• How clarity builds a stronger team

  With more to do than time in the week, it’s imperative to build strong teams that can serve the congregation…

  Tuesday, October 20, 2020

• 4 change management tips for ChMS implementations

  Whether you’re starting to use church management software (ChMS) for the first time or switching from…

  Tuesday, October 06, 2020

• Avoiding burnout in a difficult year

  2020 has been a year full of unforeseen challenges, to put it mildly. You've probably had to shift gears…

  Tuesday, September 22, 2020

• How to cultivate a problem-solving culture with your team

  This year has brought several challenges. Many of these have forced church leaders to get creative and…

  Tuesday, September 08, 2020

• 5 inexpensive ways to thank volunteers

  With all the changes due to COVID-19 this year, church volunteers have had to adapt right along with…

  Tuesday, August 25, 2020

• How listening can help your staff stay strong throughout COVID-19

  This year has been full of challenges. It's been a difficult season for everyone — but many look to…

  Tuesday, August 11, 2020

• Getting started with project management

  Have you ever participated in an effort to select, buy, and implement a new ChMS? What about completing…

  Tuesday, July 28, 2020

• Are you happy with your online giving provider?

  If your church didn't offer an online giving option before COVID-19, it likely does now. Hundreds (if…

  Tuesday, July 14, 2020

• 5 tips to improve volunteer communication

  As your church reopens amid COVID-19, you may find that you need more volunteers. All the extra sanitizing,…

  Tuesday, June 30, 2020

• Dealing with risk in a volatile season

  To put it mildly, 2020 has been a challenging year. We've all had to deal with the impact of several…

  Tuesday, June 02, 2020

• What does an executive pastor do?

  The role of an Executive Pastor (or XP) can be difficult to define. It's not a new role, but it tends…

  Tuesday, May 19, 2020

• Avoiding ministry burnout in the midst of COVID-19

  Have you ever run a marathon or other long-distance race? If so, you know how tempting it is to run a…

  Tuesday, April 28, 2020

• Post-Easter activities to accomplish during the pandemic

  We just wrapped up the first virtual Easter. Let that sink in for a moment. Your team spent hundreds…

  Tuesday, April 14, 2020

• How to plan for more social distancing at your church

  Now that federal social distancing guidelines extend through at least April 30, it's time to plan for…

  Tuesday, March 31, 2020

• How to serve your congregation online

  With social distancing becoming our new, temporary, norm, many churches have moved to online services…

  Tuesday, March 24, 2020

• Why you need a church event request form (and what should be on it)

  If you're responsible for planning events at your church, you've likely run into situations where you…

  Tuesday, March 10, 2020

• How to prevent financial fraud at your church

  You may have seen a recent news article regarding a church financial secretary who embezzled over half…

  Tuesday, February 25, 2020

• How to leverage lessons learned

  One of the challenges in ministry is that there's always another sermon to prepare, an event to plan,…

  Tuesday, February 11, 2020

• 4 tips for managing last-minute ideas

  "I have an idea…" This phrase tends to mean an avalanche of work is headed your way. While the idea…

  Tuesday, January 28, 2020

• New year, new initiatives: How to set up for success

  With a new year comes the sense of a fresh start. We’ve wrapped up the holiday season, got some rest,…

  Tuesday, January 07, 2020

• 5 tips for Christmas volunteer success

  Christmas services and outreaches require more volunteers than the typical Sunday service. From more…

  Monday, December 16, 2019

• 8 tools to be thankful for this year

  This week, those of us in the United States will gather around the table for a Thanksgiving meal. As…

  Monday, November 25, 2019

• How to plan for your Christmas guests’ next visit

  With Christmas coming soon, your church leadership team is probably working on plans for special services.…

  Tuesday, November 12, 2019

• 5 ways an event planner makes events more successful

  Hosting events involves a great deal of details and coordination. You'll need to decide on the date,…

  Tuesday, November 05, 2019

• A vital component to hosting impactful church events

  Hosting events can be a great way to minister to and serve people through your church. However, events…

  Tuesday, October 22, 2019

• 4 little-known costs of church events

  Hosting events throughout the year is how many churches are able to expand their reach within communities.…

  Tuesday, October 08, 2019

• What to do when volunteers quit

  It’s that awkward moment you’re always trying to avoid: a volunteer emails you or mentions one Sunday…

  Monday, September 23, 2019

• How to implement a new church management system

  Thankfully, there are many incredible church management software programs available to support a church’s…

  Tuesday, September 03, 2019

• 4 tips for your church’s benevolence policy

  As followers of Christ, part of how we honor our Savior is by giving to the poor, helping the oppressed,…

  Tuesday, August 27, 2019

• How to include all staff members in financial stewardship

  Talking about financial budgets isn't exactly everyone’s favorite subject. When it comes to your church,…

  Tuesday, August 13, 2019

• 4 tips to simplify planning for Christmas

  You see it year after year: More people filling in your pews for the Christmas service. Some are coming…

  Tuesday, July 30, 2019

• Preparing for back-to-school and other fall events

  As the days of summer set in, you’re probably already thinking about the transition into the busy season…

  Tuesday, July 09, 2019

• What to look for in church management software

  Leveraging church management software (ChMS) is how many churches keep up with first-time guests, members,…

  Tuesday, June 25, 2019

• An overlooked project management skill: Chief communicator

  With all of the work involved in managing a project, it’s easy to focus on the details of tasks, risks,…

  Thursday, June 13, 2019

• How to get started with digital giving

  With fewer people using checks for purchases (or even carrying a checkbook with them), it’s time to…

  Tuesday, June 11, 2019

• 5 simple steps to keep church policies and procedures current

  Tackling policies and procedures aren't exactly tasks people are excited to handle. However, having documented…

  Wednesday, May 29, 2019

• Why your church should use email marketing software

  Does your church send email newsletters with information about upcoming events and church news? If so,…

  Tuesday, May 21, 2019

• 5 ways to alienate your project team

  The role of project manager isn’t always viewed kindly. Some team members may think you don’t do…

  Wednesday, May 15, 2019

• 5 resources to create or update your church’s security plan

  Unfortunately, we continue to see churches and places of worship become victims of violent attacks. While…

  Monday, April 29, 2019

• 5 continuing education resources for project managers

  Project management is a profession that requires continual learning to hone our skills. As we move from…

  Wednesday, April 24, 2019

• Preparing for VBS and other summer church events

  The summer months are when many churches host Vacation Bible School, summer camps, and other events.…

  Tuesday, April 23, 2019

• How to avoid file storage chaos

  With all of the videos, graphics, documents, and other items we use each week for ministry, file storage…

  Monday, April 08, 2019

• 4 inexpensive ways to motivate your team through a long project

  When you're on a long project, it's easy to get lost in the drudgery of a seemingly never-ending to-do…

  Friday, March 22, 2019

• Tips for onboarding new employees

  For many churches, by the time you're able to hire someone, you're already feeling the strain of not…

  Tuesday, March 19, 2019

• The retention secret every volunteer coordinator should know

  We all know how challenging it can be to get and keep volunteers. There are a variety of strategies for…

  Tuesday, March 05, 2019

• 4 tips for onboarding a new project team member

  Most projects that last more than a few months will involve onboarding new team members as you move into…

  Wednesday, February 27, 2019

• 3 ways accounting is vital to ministry vision

  If your job responsibilities include keeping track of the church’s finances, you know that your role…

  Tuesday, February 19, 2019

• Are you ready for Easter Sunday?

  Yes, I realize it's several weeks away, but it’s almost never too early to start preparing for one…

  Tuesday, February 05, 2019

• What happens after go-live?

  You've launched the new product or went live with the software upgrade. The team completed the mission.…

  Thursday, January 24, 2019

• 8 ways to build a stronger church team

  They’re committed, dedicated, hard-working, loyal and steadfast in their determination to serve the…

  Tuesday, January 22, 2019

• 4 keys to building trust with your project team

  When you’re asked to lead a new project, you’re probably also given a team. You may not know these…

  Thursday, January 10, 2019

• How to get off to a great start with volunteers in the new year

  There’s something about the start of a new year that invites us to refresh areas of our lives. That…

  Tuesday, January 08, 2019

• 7 tips to help your ministry team prevent burnout

  As leaders, sometimes we need to protect our team members from themselves. The individuals who regularly…

  Tuesday, December 18, 2018

• 4 tips for a more peaceful Christmas

  With Christmas right around the corner, this is a busy time for church staff members. Candlelight services,…

  Tuesday, December 04, 2018

• How to know when to say no

  In ministry, we’re often in a position where we want to please others and make them feel cared for…

  Tuesday, November 06, 2018

• 4 questions to strengthen team relationships

  What have you asked your team lately? As project managers, we have to ask about the progress and status…

  Thursday, October 25, 2018

• How to make a project management tool work for your church

  Project management tools such as Asana, Basecamp, Trello, and others can be useful in helping church…

  Tuesday, October 23, 2018

• 5 tips to escape the meeting trap

  Do you find yourself running from meeting to meeting all day long? Are you frequently double-booked with…

  Tuesday, October 09, 2018

• 5 questions to ask before scheduling a church event

  From marriage seminars to outreaches and more, events can be an incredible ministry tool. However, it’s…

  Tuesday, September 25, 2018

• 4 questions to diffuse a tense situation

  When you bring people with various personalities, working styles and backgrounds together, a few tense…

  Thursday, September 20, 2018

• 7 things you don’t want to forget when planning fall events

  Summer is winding down, and with the start of fall comes a plethora of church events. As you plan for…

  Tuesday, September 11, 2018

• 5 tips for a more productive project team

  It’s one thing to be able to create an extensive project plan, charter, budget, and dashboard. The…

  Wednesday, August 29, 2018

• 5 steps to volunteer communication success

  Serving alongside volunteers can be incredibly rewarding and, at times, perplexing. Some volunteers show…

  Tuesday, August 28, 2018

• How to break free when ‘last-minute’ is normal

  It’s Thursday afternoon, and no one knows what announcements the campus host needs to make on Sunday.…

  Tuesday, August 14, 2018

• 5 ways to prepare for natural disasters

  Growing up in Oklahoma, part of “Tornado Alley,” I had to take cover many times as the sirens went…

  Tuesday, July 31, 2018

• 7 keys to a successful project start

  Starting a new project involves an assortment of details. Developing the plan, completing a project charter,…

  Monday, July 30, 2018

• How to get off the last-minute event-planning cycle

  The week before a big event or holiday typically involves stress, late nights, missed family dinners,…

  Tuesday, July 17, 2018

• 10 questions to ask before adding an event to the church calendar

  Many churches now are very event-driven. In addition to weekend services, they have small group Bible…

  Thursday, July 05, 2018

• How to create a plan with a predetermined deadline

  Ideally, when you receive an assignment as the project manager for a new effort, you have the opportunity…

  Thursday, June 21, 2018

• Consider conducting a mid-year review

  You've heard of spring cleaning and closing the accounting books at year-end, but have you considered…

  Tuesday, June 19, 2018

• How to keep departmental silos from ruining your next church event

  Planning a church event, even if it’s focused on a single ministry area, requires involvement from…

  Tuesday, June 05, 2018

• Spring cleaning your church database

  While we tend to expect our church management software (ChMS) to display valuable information on every…

  Tuesday, May 22, 2018

• Risk management: What could derail your project?

  Business and projects are fraught with risks. While it’s tempting to bury our heads in the sand and…

  Wednesday, May 16, 2018

• What systems do you need?

  When you work on the back-office aspects of running a church, you tend to manage several different functions.…

  Tuesday, May 08, 2018

• 4 signs you shouldn’t switch to a new ChMS (yet)

  ​We've all had moments where the software we're using doesn't seem to be working for us. When it comes…

  Tuesday, April 24, 2018

• Drive project efficiency with templates

  Most project managers have more than one project to manage at a time. Therefore, anything you can do…

  Wednesday, April 18, 2018

• Capturing lessons learned from Easter

  ​The campus was abuzz, people filled the sanctuary, and most importantly, souls connected with their…

  Tuesday, April 10, 2018

• How to prepare your facility for church events

  ​Hosting a special event at your church requires a few extra steps than Sunday services. Before you…

  Tuesday, March 27, 2018

• How to earn (and keep) project sponsor support

  ​As the project manager, your relationship with the project sponsor can make or break a project. If…

  Wednesday, March 21, 2018

• 7 details to consider as you wrap up Easter plans

  With Easter coming up in about two weeks, you’re probably deep into finalizing plans for Easter services.…

  Tuesday, March 13, 2018

• How to select project management software for your church

  Online project management software such as Asana, Basecamp, Trello and others can make coordinating tasks…

  Tuesday, February 27, 2018

• How to get enough volunteers for Easter while growing your team

  From Good Friday to Easter Sunday, your church will likely host several events and special services.…

  Wednesday, February 14, 2018

• 7 tips for effective project team meetings

  Meetings are both a necessity and a potential waste of time when it comes to leading a project team.…

  Tuesday, February 06, 2018

• What does documentation have to do with ministry?

  When it comes to leading a church, we don't immediately think of employee handbooks, meeting agendas…

  Tuesday, January 30, 2018

• The value of a high-level view of the project timeline

  ​When you develop a project plan for an effort that will take months (if not years) to complete, it's…

  Thursday, January 18, 2018

• How administration impacts ministry at the altar

  ​Most people don't see how administration impacts Sunday morning services or what happens at the altar.…

  Tuesday, January 16, 2018

• 5 simple ways to improve in the New Year

  ​The start of a new year is a chance to reflect and decide how to make this year better than the last.…

  Tuesday, January 02, 2018

• How visionaries and planners can work together

  Imagine two people looking at an empty plot of land. One envisions beautiful landscaping that showcases…

  Monday, December 18, 2017

• When your team rejects project management

  ​Have you ever heard from a team member that project management is just a lot of paperwork? Or maybe…

  Wednesday, December 13, 2017

• 3 ways to grow your church’s volunteer team

  We all know churches need strong, committed volunteer teams. Volunteers greet people, take care of infants,…

  Tuesday, December 05, 2017

• Team building on a budget

  ​How well your staff works together has a direct impact on the ministry that happens during weekly…

  Tuesday, November 21, 2017

• Lessons learned from a software project gone awry

  Software implementation projects — whether of new software or a significant upgrade — can be expensive…

  Wednesday, November 15, 2017

• 4 tips for delegating to volunteers

  As a church grows, the need for more "hands to the plow" increases as well. Unless your leadership team…

  Tuesday, November 07, 2017

• 5 steps to planning for inclement weather

  ​For those of us who live in the northern U.S., it's time to prepare for lots of snow and ice. We have…

  Tuesday, October 24, 2017

• Christmas planning from the administrator’s perspective

  Christmas may seem far away, but it’s definitely not too early to start planning. The challenge for…

  Tuesday, October 10, 2017

• 5 ways to increase your team’s capacity

  Life on a church staff can be hectic. You feel the need to reach as many people as possible with the…

  Tuesday, September 26, 2017

• How to serve your internal customers with excellence

  ​The church administration role involves serving those within your congregation, the community and…

  Tuesday, September 12, 2017

• Make expense reporting easier with mobile apps

  Which would you rather do? Get a few teeth pulled at the dentist or try to get expense reports and receipts…

  Tuesday, August 29, 2017

• How to engage volunteers who can serve during the workday

  When we think of volunteers, we mostly consider what roles we need them to serve over the weekend. While…

  Tuesday, August 15, 2017

• 3 administrative activities to prepare for fall

  ​Fall is an exciting time for churches. People come back from summer vacation, kids get ready for school,…

  Tuesday, August 01, 2017

• How to support a visionary leader

  Have you ever felt the tension of appreciating your pastor's vision while being frustrated by rapid-fire…

  Tuesday, July 18, 2017

• 5 key questions for potential volunteers

  Every church, regardless of size, needs volunteers. The challenge is in getting more people to serve…

  Monday, July 03, 2017

• Developing a budget for your next church event

  While we want to host events that serve the community, lead people to Christ, and strengthen disciples,…

  Tuesday, June 20, 2017

• 3 ways to protect your church’s data

  Technology is an excellent ministry tool. We can communicate with our members via email, text message,…

  Tuesday, June 06, 2017

• 4 tips to avoiding the summer volunteer slump

  ​Summer is almost here with schools starting to let out and families making vacation plans. Most of…

  Tuesday, May 23, 2017

• 3 church administration areas you can’t afford to overlook

  ​From accounting to technology and more, there are plenty of tasks on a church administrator’s to-do…

  Tuesday, May 09, 2017

• How to train your replacement (even if you’re not leaving)

  ​In a previous article, I mentioned three reasons why you should train your replacement even if you…

  Tuesday, April 25, 2017

• How to follow up with volunteers this Easter

  When we think of Easter and follow-up, we tend to focus on those who visited on Easter Sunday. We want…

  Tuesday, April 11, 2017

• Why you should train your replacement (even if you’re not leaving)

  ​Initially, the idea of training your own replacement sounds like an excellent way to work yourself…

  Tuesday, March 28, 2017

• The importance of internal controls in the church

  ​According to a recent story in the Tul​saWorld, authorities charged a former church employee with…

  Tuesday, March 14, 2017

• 3 ways to learn from church volunteers

  ​Volunteers are on the front lines on Sunday mornings and at church events. They're the ones helping…

  Tuesday, February 28, 2017

• 7 tasks you can’t afford to overlook when planning church events

  Hosting events at your church can be a great way to serve your community, strengthen relationships and…

  Tuesday, February 14, 2017

• 3 simple ways to improve communication between ministry departments

  Have you ever felt frustrated with someone from another ministry area at church? Maybe they were late…

  Tuesday, January 17, 2017

• 5 ways to help volunteers stay committed in the New Year

  ​Your church likely depended heavily on a larger volunteer team over the Christmas season. Hopefully,…

  Tuesday, January 03, 2017

• 5 easy ways to prepare your church for 2017

  ​As we close out this year, you're likely still busy with preparations for Christmas services. While…

  Tuesday, December 06, 2016

• 5 surefire ways to repel volunteers

  Convincing people to give their time and energy away for free isn't always an easy task. Once you do…

  Tuesday, November 29, 2016

• Give yourself a present this Christmas

  Christmas is both a wonderful and a stressful time of year for church staff members. You've got Christmas…

  Tuesday, November 08, 2016

• How to build a volunteer administration team

  ​Most churches have volunteers to greet people as they come in on Sunday mornings, others to provide…

  Tuesday, October 25, 2016

• How to prevent church event budget-busters

  Hosting special events such as a marriage seminar or Thanksgiving outreach requires a bit more planning…

  Tuesday, October 11, 2016

• Will you have enough volunteers for Christmas services?

  From pumpkin spice lattes to cooler weather, it's easy to tell that fall is here. That means Christmas…

  Tuesday, September 27, 2016

• But we’ve always held that event ...

  You've probably heard this phrase or something like it in your role as a church administrator. You're…

  Tuesday, September 13, 2016

• When is the right time to celebrate?

  ​You've just wrapped up a successful ministry outreach your team spent months preparing to host. It's…

  Tuesday, August 30, 2016

• 7 traits of a potential project manager

  Think of a project manager as an orchestra conductor. He doesn't play the music, but he keeps the musicians…

  Tuesday, August 16, 2016

• Yes, it’s time to start planning for Christmas

  We're still experiencing warm weather, sunny days and lots of outdoor activities. Oh, and we also have…

  Tuesday, August 02, 2016

• 7 steps to conflict resolution in the office

  ​For some reason, when we start to work at an office, we unconsciously expect everyone to get along…

  Tuesday, July 19, 2016

• 7 steps to conflict resolution in the church

  ​For some reason, when we start to work at a church, we unconsciously expect everyone to get along…

  Tuesday, July 19, 2016

• How to conduct a church systems check

  ​Have you ever been driving down the road when suddenly the check engine light comes on? That's obviously…

  Tuesday, July 05, 2016

• 8 tips to prepare for a successful back‑to‑school season

  Unless you're in the VBS or youth event trenches, you likely have a somewhat less hectic schedule than…

  Tuesday, June 21, 2016

• How systems support ministry

  Systems are simply a set of procedures or processes established for achieving a specific result. An easy…

  Tuesday, June 07, 2016

• 5 signs of a healthy church staff environment

  Serving on a church staff is a different kind of job. It not only involves your time, talent, and work…

  Tuesday, May 24, 2016

• Does your team know what you expect?

  ​Have you ever wondered why a team member did something completely wrong? Have you assigned someone…

  Tuesday, May 17, 2016

• Does your church team know what you expect?

  ​Have you ever wondered why a team member did something completely wrong? Have you assigned someone…

  Tuesday, May 17, 2016

• Are you ready for what’s next?

  ​Vision is a popular subject among church leaders. What’s the vision for your church? How do you…

  Tuesday, April 26, 2016

• 3 questions for a team health check

  ​Whether you lead a team of staff members or volunteers, you're relying on them to bring their best…

  Wednesday, April 13, 2016

• What if every Sunday was Easter Sunday?

  ​One helicopter, lots of Easter eggs and an event that went viral in the community. That combination…

  Tuesday, March 29, 2016

• Are you connected with fellow church business administrators?

  ​We all intuitively know we need other believers to help us mature spiritually, hold us accountable…

  Wednesday, March 16, 2016

• The inside scoop on why people serve

  Why did you get up and go into the office this morning? One big reason is likely to keep a roof over…

  Wednesday, March 02, 2016

• 3 tips to make church accounting easier

  ​If you work in the church accounting office, allow me to congratulate you on surviving the craziness…

  Wednesday, February 03, 2016

• Can’t live with documentation, can’t live without it

  ​Nothing excites a room full of church staff members like announcing the idea to document their job…

  Wednesday, January 20, 2016

• How to protect volunteers from themselves

  The volunteer of our dreams is always on time, willing to do whatever task is required, has a great attitude,…

  Wednesday, January 06, 2016

• Should we care about excellence in church?

  We've all had moments where we wanted to "phone it in" and call it good enough. It's been a hectic week,…

  Wednesday, December 09, 2015

• Church leaders: What to do when what you’re doing isn’t good

  "The thing that you do is not good." Ouch. That's what Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, said to him after…

  Tuesday, November 24, 2015

• Great systems make vision happen

  We all want to reach more people with the Gospel and help them grow in their faith. Accomplishing that…

  Wednesday, November 11, 2015

• 4 tips for church customer service

  When we think of customer service, we typically think about contacting a call center or a department…

  Wednesday, October 28, 2015

• 5 superpowers of church business administrators

  Making every dollar stretch farther than anyone thought possible. Diving in to make last-minute changes…

  Wednesday, October 14, 2015

• 3 hacks for getting out of fire-drill mode

  ​Have you ever had one of those days where you're constantly running from one meeting to the next or…

  Wednesday, September 30, 2015

• Is your church suffering from these 3 symptoms?

  When was the last time you thought about your liver? How about your heart or lungs? It's been a while,…

  Wednesday, September 23, 2015

• 3 steps to building financial accountability within church staff

  Do you have to fight to get your children's director to fill out a purchase order? Do you frequently…

  Wednesday, September 02, 2015

• How to implement changes without losing volunteers

  Have you ever announced a change to your volunteers that didn't go over too well? Have they ever resisted…

  Wednesday, August 19, 2015

• 4 steps to holiday preparation

  We’re not quite done with summer, and football season hasn’t even started, but now is a good time…

  Wednesday, August 05, 2015

• 10 commandments for productive meetings

  Meetings, often justifiably, get a bad reputation for being a waste of time. That doesn't have to be…

  Wednesday, July 22, 2015

• 10 commandments for productive church meetings

  ​Meetings, often justifiably, get a bad reputation for being a waste of time. That doesn't have to…

  Wednesday, July 22, 2015

• 5 safeguards every church finance team should follow

  ​Every Sunday across the country, people put their hard-earned money into an offering plate as it's…

  Wednesday, July 08, 2015

• How to take a vacation without checking your email

  ​It's summertime! The kids are out of school, the weather (hopefully) is nice, and it's time for a…

  Wednesday, July 01, 2015

• How to take a vacation without checking email

  It's summertime! The kids are out of school, the weather (hopefully) is nice, and it's time for a vacation.…

  Wednesday, July 01, 2015

• How to take a vacation without being bothered by work

  It’s summertime! The kids are out of school, the weather is hopefully nice, and it’s time for a vacation.…

  Wednesday, June 24, 2015

• 3 project management practices that deliver immediate results

  Running the day-to-day activities at a church can be complicated enough. Implement these three simple…

  Wednesday, June 10, 2015

• It’s time to think about risk at your church

  Whether we face up to it or not, ministry involves risk. A key staff member quits, donations take a nosedive,…

  Wednesday, May 27, 2015

• From striving for perfection to pursuing excellence

  As church leaders, you're working each day to spread the Gospel and make disciples. Whether you're a…

  Wednesday, May 13, 2015

• How to prevent staff communication silos

  ​If your church staff consists of more than a few people, you've likely faced a communication issue…

  Wednesday, April 29, 2015

• Want to finish strong in ministry? Take care of yourself first

  As a church leader, you're used to serving others. Whether that's praying with several people after each…

  Wednesday, April 15, 2015

• 4 steps to empowering your staff to manage their budgets

  Does your team complain about filling out purchase requests? Do they wonder why you told them they couldn't…

  Wednesday, April 08, 2015

• How church administration builds relationships

  Church administration tends to have a reputation for being all about tasks, planning and procedures.…

  Wednesday, March 18, 2015

• How those ‘boring’ policy and procedure documents support ministry

  ​Part of the church administrator role often includes being the custodian of church policies and procedures.…

  Wednesday, March 04, 2015

• How to create events that wow your guests without stressing you out

  Most churches offer a variety of special events throughout the year. From couples' retreats to junior…

  Wednesday, February 18, 2015

• What does ‘customer service’ have to do with ministry?

  When we think of ministry, we typically think about preaching, praying with people, discipleship, and…

  Thursday, February 05, 2015

• 7 financial stewardship tips every church should consider

  ​Finances. Everyone's favorite topic, right? Whether money is tight or you have plenty of financial…

  Thursday, October 16, 2014

• Overwhelmed? 4 ways to take control of your schedule

  Church staff members are known for having too much to do and not enough time. You're probably wearing…

  Wednesday, September 17, 2014

• Preparing the management side of ministry for growth

  Are your current systems and processes effectively supporting your congregation and church leadership?…

  Wednesday, August 20, 2014

• Is your church technologically relevant?

  The members of your congregation (and potential guests) expect you to have technology that's current…

  Wednesday, July 23, 2014

• 5 things volunteers need to hear you say

  Volunteers who are dedicated, trustworthy and willing to work hard are incredible assets to any nonprofit…

  Wednesday, June 25, 2014

• 5 things church volunteers need to hear you say

  Volunteers who are dedicated, trustworthy and willing to work hard are incredible assets to any church.…

  Wednesday, June 25, 2014

• 3 tips for finding hidden talent in your church

  Church leaders don't always do a good job at leveraging members with specialized skills. Match up their…

  Thursday, May 29, 2014

• 5 questions to evaluate church events

  Special events can be productive and beneficial to your church. Community service projects, youth camps,…

  Wednesday, April 30, 2014

• 6 low-cost ways to achieve excellence on a budget

  ​We've all experienced seasons where the budget is a bit tight. However, we still want to provide the…

  Wednesday, April 02, 2014

• How to stand out in your next meeting

  I've been thinking a lot about communication lately. Communication isn't just what we say. It’s how…

  Wednesday, March 19, 2014

• The 10 commandments for church volunteers

  We have very diverse churches with different styles, but one thing we all have in common is the need…

  Thursday, March 06, 2014

• 8 reasons why project management belongs in your church

  Project management is a term we don't use much in ministry. It sounds very corporate-y, so it tends to…

  Wednesday, February 19, 2014

• 7 steps for a more productive church staff

  One of the challenges in ministry is that there's always more work to do — and it's unlikely you can…

  Wednesday, February 05, 2014

• How to ‘fire’ a church volunteer

  ​One question I frequently receive when talking about recruiting and retaining church volunteers is…

  Wednesday, January 22, 2014

• Are you working for God or with God?

  There's an interesting dynamic that occurs when you earn a paycheck in ministry. Your work, and particularly,…

  Wednesday, January 08, 2014

• Mind the gap: Stepping carefully from vision to implementation

  If you've ever traveled to London and used their subway system, you've heard the phrase "mind the gap."…

  Wednesday, December 18, 2013

• 4 ways for church staff to celebrate Christmas

  December can be a challenging month for church staff. You'd like to enjoy the holiday season, yet your…

  Wednesday, December 04, 2013

• Help, we’re growing! Start planning now to support your growing church

  It's an awesome "problem" to have with your church. Each week your sanctuary feels a bit smaller and…

  Wednesday, November 20, 2013

• How to turn your pastor’s vision into reality without wearing out your staff

  You're in a staff meeting and your senior pastor mentions that he has an idea. Immediately, you start…

  Wednesday, November 06, 2013

• Are you hiring order-takers or high‑performers?

  A robot only takes orders. It receives commands and completes the tasks as specified. It can't really…

  Wednesday, October 23, 2013

• Are you hiring order-takers or high‑performers?

  A robot only takes orders. It receives commands and completes the tasks as specified. It can't really…

  Wednesday, October 23, 2013

• 5 tips to prevent burnout in ministry

  Do you sometimes feel like you live at the church? Do you feel guilty leaving each day knowing there's…

  Wednesday, October 09, 2013

• Do you realize how much administrative work impacts ministry?

  ​When we think of ministry, we envision worship, a powerful sermon or prayer at the altar. Those are…

  Tuesday, September 24, 2013