- From Human Wisdom to Godly Wisdom<\/span><\/a><\/li>
- Design Your Own Spiritual Retreat<\/a><\/li>
- Early Warning Signs for Loss of Integrity<\/a><\/li>
- The Private Life of a Christian Leader<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
These are the posts (in my order of importance) that, more than anything else I could say, will help you be the best Christian leader you can be<\/strong>. May you hear some day the Master say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#1: A Leader’s Intimacy with God<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Footprints](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Footprints-in-sand-150x150.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Used with permission.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n My friend Marvin Brubacher invited me to teach a class at Heritage Seminary for pastors about the practical aspects of leading a ministry. At the end, he asked, \u201cJohn, what one final thing do you want to tell these ministry leaders? The one piece of advice they must hear?\u201d Without a moment\u2019s hesitation, I said \u201cNever, ever lose your intimacy with God! There is always so much to do in leadership, but don\u2019t ever let the busyness of leadership interfere with your personal communion with the Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#2: Public Consequences of Personal Spirituality<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Man](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Dominoes-150x150.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1\")
Used with permission
thanks to Sam Leaven.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs a ministry leader, your spiritual life is inextricably linked to the health of the ministry you lead. We see this demonstrated over and over again in both Testaments, often in terms of the shepherd-leader metaphor. For example, the negative consequences are outlined in Jeremiah:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- 10:21 \u201cthe shepherds have become stupid, \u2026therefore\u2026\u201d,<\/li>
- 12:10 \u201cmany shepherds have ruined My vineyard\u201d; and<\/li>
- 50:6 \u201ctheir shepherds have led them astray.\u201d<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
There really are public consequences for what a leader may regard as their private, personal spirituality!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#3: It’s (not) lonely at the top!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Couple](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Not-lonely-at-the-top-150x150.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Used with permission.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s lonely at the top\u201d is true only if you want it to be. It doesn\u2019t have to be that way, but when there is no one a leader feels comfortable discussing the really challenging issues with, it truly is lonely. In that case, it seems inevitable that some day either a challenge or the person\u2019s own blindness to a situation will trip the leader up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When ministry leaders come and go in just a few years, I wonder how connected they were with other people. Could they have had greater longevity and success by being vulnerable and discussing these issues with someone else?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are finding leadership a lonely experience, here are some people who can keep you company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#4: The Dark Side of Leadership<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Moon](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Eclipse-150x150.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Used with permission.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As I\u00a0wrote\u00a0Early Warning Signs\u00a0for Loss of Integrity,<\/a>\u00a0I thought someone should write about\u00a0what we can learn from Christian leaders who fail. Not just moral failure, but anything that sabotages their ability to lead. About a year ago\u00a0I\u00a0discovered that someone has done just that! Gary McIntosh and Samuel Rima wrote\u00a0a book to show how to avoid the failures that can cost you your ministry. They used several prominent Christian leadership failures as illustrations in\u00a0Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership: How to Become an Effective Leader by Confronting Potential Failures<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their thesis is that the traits that enabled you to become a leader are the same traits that can be your downfall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#5: The Impediments to Finishing Well<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Sand](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Hazard-150x150.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1\")
Used with permission
thanks to Aron Kremer.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nHere\u2019s a really quick post \u2014 a paragraph that leapt off the page while I was preparing another post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The authors of\u00a0The Ascent of a Leader<\/em><\/a>\u00a0report some striking research that is a reality check for leaders who become\u00a0complacent<\/strong>\u00a0about their\u00a0leadership<\/strong>. I\u2019ve added my own\u00a0two cents\u2019 worth in italics and included links to posts I\u2019ve written on the topics. Here\u2019s the paragraph:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAfter having conducted extensive research, Dr. J. Robert Clinton, professor of leadership at Fuller Theological Seminary, believes that more than 70 percent of leaders do not finish well<\/strong>. He bases this startling statistic on six criteria, gleaned from common traits among leaders who do not finish well according to their self-analysis, the analysis of their peers and followers, or the teachings of their professed religion.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0#6: Strategic Planning and the Holy Spirit<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Flying](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Dove-300x187.jpg?resize=300%2C187&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Used with permission.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Does your commitment to strategic planning quench the Holy Spirit? Should a Christian ministry do strategic planning at all? A brief study of Paul\u2019s second missionary trip will provide the answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#7: “Why doesn’t God speak to me?”<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Man](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Prayer-150x150.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Used with permission.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The gist of Pastor Manoonsak\u2019s sermon at Jai Samarn church in Bangkok was that when people ask why God doesn\u2019t speak to them<\/strong> they are asking the wrong question. The real question is, \u201cWhy am I not listening when God is speaking?\u201d No friendship will last long if one party is always talking and asking for things and never gives the other person a chance to get a word in edgewise and share what he or she wants to talk about. God wants his proper share of time to speak with you, and every believer should be able to hear what he has to say. But if you are leading one of his ministries, it is even more critical that you hear from God because you are responsible for stewarding the people and resources God has given your ministry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#8: When a leader prays, “Thy will be done…”<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Man](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Praying-150x150.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Used with permission.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Do you ever stop to think that some day you and your staff will be together in heaven and you will have no power or authority over them? They will not be obligated to you, in fear of you, or in any way bound to you as a leader. Does that have implications for how you lead your staff now? It should!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In God\u2019s kingdom, we know from Galatians 3:28 that, \u201cThere is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.\u201d Gender, ethnicity and power will not be divisive factors in heaven. My race, education, gender and any other human attribute I have will not give me any right to assert power or authority over anyone else. We will all stand before God as equals, the only variation in our position being whatever rewards we receive for faithfulness while living here on earth. That\u2019s the way it is in the kingdom of heaven. That\u2019s the way it is when God rules, when his will is done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Given that, I find it an awesome thing to pray, \u201cThy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven\u201d because I can just imagine God\u2019s natural first response to my prayer being, \u201cWell, John, let\u2019s start with you. How well are you<\/em><\/strong> doing my will? Does the workplace over which you rule look like the kingdom over which I rule?\u201d Oops!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#9: Of Kings and Prophets: Ministry Leaders and Their Critics<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Chess](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Chess-king-150x150.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Used with permission<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Ever get discouraged when ministry leaders don\u2019t live up to your expectations of Christian behaviour<\/strong>? As an observer, how do you deal with that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ideal believer lives a Christlike life manifesting the fruit of the Spirit. Unfortunately, everyone is on a journey toward that ideal. We all fall short and we always will until God finishes perfecting us. Until then, we have to deal with imperfect people. That\u2019s the really hard part of life for those of us who are already perfect! (Just kidding!!!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But should we expect more from ministry leaders than from the average person? Yes, but they still won\u2019t be perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#10: Keeping Your Leadership Fresh<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Lady](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Fresh-flowers-150x150.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Used with permission.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Do you remember being the new person in your job, coming in with all those wonderful ideas about what needed to be done? When I came to CCCC, everybody kept asking me what my first 90-day plan was, and frankly, I didn\u2019t have one. I knew very little about CCCC but I knew it helped churches and I knew God had called me to CCCC to serve the broader church. So in my first 90 days, I didn\u2019t do anything but observe, listen and ask questions. And then I knew what needed to be done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By the time I had been in my role for four years, I knew that CCCC was entering another phase in its development. The low-hanging fruit had been picked and it was time to reach for the fruit that would be much harder to get. Now that I was an insider, not an outsider, could I still generate fresh, creative vision and ideas for CCCC?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the question that every leader faces, \u201cAm I the one to lead this organization through the next phase of its life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So…<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
My prayer for you, as always, is that you will stay close to God, sensitive to his Spirit, and faithful in your leadership.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I’d like to share what I consider the ten most significant posts I’ve written. They represent the very best advice that I can give to a Christian ministry leader. These are the posts (in my order of importance) that, more than anything else I could say, will help you be the best Christian leader you can be. May you hear some day the Master say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":30404,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ts_fic_featured_image_caption":"Photo by Johen Redman<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/span>","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[220],"tags":[],"series":[],"class_list":["post-14058","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-leadership"],"yoast_head":"\n
10 Most Important Posts - CCCC Blogs<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/john\/2013\/07\/12\/10-most-important-posts\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"10 Most Important Posts - CCCC Blogs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I'd like to share what I consider the ten most significant posts I've written. They represent the very best advice that I can give to a Christian ministry leader. These are the posts (in my order of importance) that, more than anything else I could say, will help you be the best Christian leader you can be. May you hear some day the Master say to you, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" More\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/john\/2013\/07\/12\/10-most-important-posts\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"CCCC Blogs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CCCCCharities\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2013-07-12T14:13:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-08-29T19:51:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/10-scaled.jpg?fit=1707%2C2560&ssl=1\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"John Pellowe\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@cccccharities\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@cccccharities\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"John Pellowe\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/john\\\/2013\\\/07\\\/12\\\/10-most-important-posts\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/john\\\/2013\\\/07\\\/12\\\/10-most-important-posts\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"John Pellowe\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/78129b8fafee8dfe3bb7f3d7c8e33569\"},\"headline\":\"10 Most Important Posts\",\"datePublished\":\"2013-07-12T14:13:24+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-08-29T19:51:21+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/john\\\/2013\\\/07\\\/12\\\/10-most-important-posts\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1599,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/john\\\/2013\\\/07\\\/12\\\/10-most-important-posts\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2013\\\/07\\\/10-scaled.jpg?fit=1707%2C2560&ssl=1\",\"articleSection\":[\"Leadership\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/john\\\/2013\\\/07\\\/12\\\/10-most-important-posts\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/john\\\/2013\\\/07\\\/12\\\/10-most-important-posts\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/john\\\/2013\\\/07\\\/12\\\/10-most-important-posts\\\/\",\"name\":\"10 Most Important Posts - CCCC Blogs\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/john\\\/2013\\\/07\\\/12\\\/10-most-important-posts\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/john\\\/2013\\\/07\\\/12\\\/10-most-important-posts\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2013\\\/07\\\/10-scaled.jpg?fit=1707%2C2560&ssl=1\",\"datePublished\":\"2013-07-12T14:13:24+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-08-29T19:51:21+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/john\\\/2013\\\/07\\\/12\\\/10-most-important-posts\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/john\\\/2013\\\/07\\\/12\\\/10-most-important-posts\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/john\\\/2013\\\/07\\\/12\\\/10-most-important-posts\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2013\\\/07\\\/10-scaled.jpg?fit=1707%2C2560&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2013\\\/07\\\/10-scaled.jpg?fit=1707%2C2560&ssl=1\",\"width\":1707,\"height\":2560,\"caption\":\"Photo by Johen Redman on Unsplash\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/john\\\/2013\\\/07\\\/12\\\/10-most-important-posts\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"10 Most Important Posts\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/\",\"name\":\"CCCC News & Blogs\",\"description\":\"CCCC Blogs\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Canadian Centre for Christian Charities\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/10\\\/260wbRGB.png?fit=260%2C260&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/10\\\/260wbRGB.png?fit=260%2C260&ssl=1\",\"width\":260,\"height\":260,\"caption\":\"Canadian Centre for Christian Charities\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/CCCCCharities\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/cccccharities\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/canadian-council-of-christian-charities\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/78129b8fafee8dfe3bb7f3d7c8e33569\",\"name\":\"John Pellowe\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e5439962feafa2554de0378f025969e5215f2a92edf5742f1bf3bed1765d6304?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e5439962feafa2554de0378f025969e5215f2a92edf5742f1bf3bed1765d6304?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e5439962feafa2554de0378f025969e5215f2a92edf5742f1bf3bed1765d6304?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"John Pellowe\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.cccc.org\",\"bonnie.pillsworth@cccc.org\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cccc.org\\\/news_blogs\\\/author\\\/john\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"10 Most Important Posts - CCCC Blogs","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/john\/2013\/07\/12\/10-most-important-posts\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"10 Most Important Posts - CCCC Blogs","og_description":"I'd like to share what I consider the ten most significant posts I've written. They represent the very best advice that I can give to a Christian ministry leader. These are the posts (in my order of importance) that, more than anything else I could say, will help you be the best Christian leader you can be. May you hear some day the Master say to you, \"Well done, good and faithful servant!\" More","og_url":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/john\/2013\/07\/12\/10-most-important-posts\/","og_site_name":"CCCC Blogs","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CCCCCharities","article_published_time":"2013-07-12T14:13:24+00:00","article_modified_time":"2022-08-29T19:51:21+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1707,"height":2560,"url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/10-scaled.jpg?fit=1707%2C2560&ssl=1","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"John Pellowe","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@cccccharities","twitter_site":"@cccccharities","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"John Pellowe","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/john\/2013\/07\/12\/10-most-important-posts\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/john\/2013\/07\/12\/10-most-important-posts\/"},"author":{"name":"John Pellowe","@id":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/#\/schema\/person\/78129b8fafee8dfe3bb7f3d7c8e33569"},"headline":"10 Most Important Posts","datePublished":"2013-07-12T14:13:24+00:00","dateModified":"2022-08-29T19:51:21+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/john\/2013\/07\/12\/10-most-important-posts\/"},"wordCount":1599,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/john\/2013\/07\/12\/10-most-important-posts\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/10-scaled.jpg?fit=1707%2C2560&ssl=1","articleSection":["Leadership"],"inLanguage":"en-CA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/john\/2013\/07\/12\/10-most-important-posts\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/john\/2013\/07\/12\/10-most-important-posts\/","url":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/john\/2013\/07\/12\/10-most-important-posts\/","name":"10 Most Important Posts - CCCC Blogs","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/john\/2013\/07\/12\/10-most-important-posts\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/john\/2013\/07\/12\/10-most-important-posts\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/10-scaled.jpg?fit=1707%2C2560&ssl=1","datePublished":"2013-07-12T14:13:24+00:00","dateModified":"2022-08-29T19:51:21+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/john\/2013\/07\/12\/10-most-important-posts\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-CA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/john\/2013\/07\/12\/10-most-important-posts\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-CA","@id":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/john\/2013\/07\/12\/10-most-important-posts\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/10-scaled.jpg?fit=1707%2C2560&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/10-scaled.jpg?fit=1707%2C2560&ssl=1","width":1707,"height":2560,"caption":"Photo by Johen Redman on Unsplash"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/john\/2013\/07\/12\/10-most-important-posts\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"10 Most Important Posts"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/","name":"CCCC News & Blogs","description":"CCCC Blogs","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-CA"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/#organization","name":"Canadian Centre for Christian Charities","url":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-CA","@id":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/260wbRGB.png?fit=260%2C260&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/260wbRGB.png?fit=260%2C260&ssl=1","width":260,"height":260,"caption":"Canadian Centre for Christian Charities"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CCCCCharities","https:\/\/x.com\/cccccharities","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/canadian-council-of-christian-charities"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/#\/schema\/person\/78129b8fafee8dfe3bb7f3d7c8e33569","name":"John Pellowe","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-CA","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e5439962feafa2554de0378f025969e5215f2a92edf5742f1bf3bed1765d6304?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e5439962feafa2554de0378f025969e5215f2a92edf5742f1bf3bed1765d6304?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e5439962feafa2554de0378f025969e5215f2a92edf5742f1bf3bed1765d6304?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"John Pellowe"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.cccc.org","bonnie.pillsworth@cccc.org"],"url":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/author\/john\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/10-scaled.jpg?fit=1707%2C2560&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5630,"url":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/john\/2011\/01\/30\/a-leaders-intimacy-with-god\/","url_meta":{"origin":14058,"position":0},"title":"A Leader’s Intimacy with God","author":"John Pellowe","date":"January 30, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"A\u00a0Christian leader isn't really a leader but a person who\u00a0follows Christ (the real leader) closely and organizes others to do the same.\u00a0Developing intimacy with God and knowing his heart\u00a0is the essence of Christian\u00a0leadership.\u00a0","rel":"","context":"In "Christian"","block_context":{"text":"Christian","link":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/category\/christian-ministry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Footprints in sand","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Footprints-in-sand.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Footprints-in-sand.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Footprints-in-sand.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Footprints-in-sand.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Footprints-in-sand.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":29991,"url":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/john\/2021\/01\/06\/a-self-checkup-for-ministry-leaders\/","url_meta":{"origin":14058,"position":1},"title":"A Self-Checkup for Ministry Leaders","author":"John Pellowe","date":"January 6, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"A guide to what it takes to be a godly leader of a Christian ministry.","rel":"","context":"In "Great Leadership"","block_context":{"text":"Great Leadership","link":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/category\/healthy\/great-leadership-healthy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/iStock-887267516.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/iStock-887267516.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/iStock-887267516.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/iStock-887267516.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/iStock-887267516.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18344,"url":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/john\/2015\/09\/21\/mission-drift-whos-on-guard\/","url_meta":{"origin":14058,"position":2},"title":"Mission Drift: Who’s on Guard?","author":"John Pellowe","date":"September 21, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Mission drift occurs when Christian ministries lose their Christian mission or identity. Here's how boards and senior leaders can prevent mission drift.","rel":"","context":"In "Christian"","block_context":{"text":"Christian","link":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/category\/christian-ministry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The word 'mission' on a compass instead of 'north'","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mission-compass-istock.jpg?fit=1200%2C1199&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mission-compass-istock.jpg?fit=1200%2C1199&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mission-compass-istock.jpg?fit=1200%2C1199&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mission-compass-istock.jpg?fit=1200%2C1199&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/mission-compass-istock.jpg?fit=1200%2C1199&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":976,"url":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/john\/2009\/10\/23\/the-private-life-of-a-christian-leader\/","url_meta":{"origin":14058,"position":3},"title":"The Private Life of a Christian Leader","author":"John Pellowe","date":"October 23, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Compartmentalization happens when we build walls in our lives to prevent inner conflict, say between what we believe and what we do. This is always a problem.","rel":"","context":"In "Great Leadership"","block_context":{"text":"Great Leadership","link":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/category\/healthy\/great-leadership-healthy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/carlos-alberto-gomez-iniguez-A1XHONDyZZY-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C790&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/carlos-alberto-gomez-iniguez-A1XHONDyZZY-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C790&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/carlos-alberto-gomez-iniguez-A1XHONDyZZY-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C790&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/carlos-alberto-gomez-iniguez-A1XHONDyZZY-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C790&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/carlos-alberto-gomez-iniguez-A1XHONDyZZY-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C790&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18551,"url":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/john\/2016\/03\/14\/leaders-in-community\/","url_meta":{"origin":14058,"position":4},"title":"Leaders in Community","author":"John Pellowe","date":"March 14, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"In the 1940s, eleven Christian leaders who understood the times and saw the big picture, got together, reinvented the evangelical church, and made history.","rel":"","context":"In "Collaborative"","block_context":{"text":"Collaborative","link":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/category\/collaborative\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/bigstock-Flock-Of-Birds-1182905.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/bigstock-Flock-Of-Birds-1182905.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/bigstock-Flock-Of-Birds-1182905.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/bigstock-Flock-Of-Birds-1182905.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3642,"url":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/john\/2010\/09\/01\/public-consequences-of-personal-spirituality\/","url_meta":{"origin":14058,"position":5},"title":"Public Consequences of Personal Spirituality","author":"John Pellowe","date":"September 1, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"As a ministry leader, your\u00a0spiritual life\u00a0is inextricably linked to the health of the ministry\u00a0you lead.\u00a0Here's what that means.","rel":"","context":"In "Great Leadership"","block_context":{"text":"Great Leadership","link":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/category\/healthy\/great-leadership-healthy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Man pushing over a huge domino","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Dominoes.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Dominoes.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Dominoes.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Dominoes.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Dominoes.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p30X8p-3EK","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14058","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14058"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14058\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30404"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14058"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14058"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14058"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=14058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- Design Your Own Spiritual Retreat<\/a><\/li>