Discipleship

My Journey with Nazarene Higher Education
(Slightly edited and reprinted as “Forever Yes: My Spirit-Led Journey with Nazarene Higher Education” in Holiness Today, August 2019) It was in a Nazarene institution that I answered the “control” question in my life. During my sophomore year at… Read More

Study Questions by Chapters
Elsewhere on my blog pages, I discuss the strategic importance of asking the right questions as we lead others in faith communities. See blog posts, “Questions Decisive Leaders Need to Ask…and Answer” (November 25, 2013), and “Ask Strategic… Read More

Living Together in a Diverse Christian Community
APNTS chapel theme for year: “Break Down Walls— Build Bridges— Bond in Love” Living Together in a Diverse Christian Community Ephesians 4:1-3, 25-32 Periodically I was asked the question while serving as… Read More

Leadership as Hospitality…biblically understood!
For several years I envisioned writing a book on the subject of “Spiritual hospitality and Christian leadership.” I included a chapter in the book, Leading Decisively! Leading Faithfully! Reflections and Markers (pages 207-215) on this theme. During a sabbatical… Read More

A Ministry-focused Leader Review
For years I have taken seriously the discipline of a structured yearly review by my supervisor and/or a committee of the Board of Trustees to whom I reported. Administrators who worked with me over the years at Mount Vernon Nazarene… Read More

Leading Decisively! Leading Faithfully!
During the past few years I pursued a fundamental question for Christian leaders in faith communities. How does my Christian faith inform and guide the way I lead a faith community — local church congregation, Bible College, Christian… Read More

The Mentoring Role of a Pastor
I remember conducting my first local church Board two-day planning retreat. What a blessing for me! The retreat format was built around “Characteristics of Strong and Effective Board Members.” Upon completing the retreat, a board member shared with… Read More

Embracing Tension and Transitions in Faith Communities
Photo by: (c) Joyce Karen Fiddes-Taurua Anne and I, along with John and Vicky Moore, the FSC for the Australia/New Zealand district, were in New Zealand this week for meetings and conferences. We had an excellent… Read More