LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 221- INTERVIEW WITH DAVE BARRINGER- PART 1
Today we welcome to the mic Dave Barringer, Lead Pastor of Kalamazoo First AG, and author of an amazing book, Speaking from the Shadows. In this episode Dave unpacks his journey with depression. It is such a powerful story of pain and healing that you will want to...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 220- FOUR INDELIBLE LESSONS FROM 2023- PART 2
At the beginning of every year, we take the first one or two episodes to reflect on the biggest lessons we learned in the previous year. Last week in Episode 219 we considered the first two indelible lessons from 2023: Refuse to put God in a box. To move...
FOUR INDELIBLE LESSONS FROM 2023
It’s a tradition to take the first blog of the year to reflect on the biggest lessons learned in the previous year. These are indelible takeaways I aspire to carry forward into 2024. Indelible Lesson 1: Refuse to put God in a box Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to Him who...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 219- FOUR INDELIBLE LESSONS FROM 2023- PART 1
It’s our tradition to take the first one or two episodes of the year to reflect on the biggest lessons we learned in the previous year. These are indelible takeaways we aspired to carry forward into 2024. We’ll take two today in episode 219, and 2 more in Episode 220...
OUR CHRISTMAS 2023 WISH FOR YOU
In today’s post Jaime Hlavin unpacks the always-inspiring Christmas theme of light. Jesus is the light of the world, the answer for the world, the only hope for the world. He brings hope to the hopeless and light to blind eyes. All of us at Converge Coaching wish you...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 218- HOLIDAY RHYTHMS
It’s our final podcast of 2023. It’s December 19th, six days before Christmas. This time of year can get very busy for pastors. Extra events at church. Extra events with family and friends. Finishing up the year and planning for next year. So, we want to talk together...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 217- INTERVIEW WITH DANIEL WHITEHEAD- PART 2
Today we welcome back to the mic Daniel Whitehead, CEO of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries. In Part 2 of our conversation with Daniel, we explore what is contributing to the worldwide challenges we face with anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. And then we...
CHRISTMAS THROUGH THE SEASONS OF LIFE
Christmas was magical to me as a kid. The fresh-cut pine tree loaded with lights and ornaments; piles of snow outside; Charlie Brown and The Grinch Christmas specials; holiday kielbasa and raspberry cream pies; family gatherings; opening gifts; no school for two...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 216 – INTERVIEW WITH DANIEL WHITEHEAD – PART 1
Today we welcome to the mic Daniel Whitehead, CEO of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries. In Part 1 of our conversation with Daniel, we unpack what is happening—in the arena of wellbeing—in the lives of people who attend the churches we lead. We hope you enjoy this...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT PODCAST EPISODE 215- ENGAGING & INCORPORATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS- PART 2
The average age of a clergy member today is 57, compared to age 50 in 2000 (Lifeway Research). Half of all American pastors today are older than age 55. These realities are ubiquitous across every denomination we work with. And it begs the question: Is the talent pool...
‘TIS THE SEASON OF THANKFULNESS!
Jaime Hlavin joins the blog again today—the day before Thanksgiving. We hope you will find moments with family and friends this holiday that will fill up your gratefulness tank. All of us here at Converge Coaching wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy Jaime’s...
LEADING FROM ALINMENT PODCAST EPISODE 214: ENGAGING & INCORPORATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS – PART 1
For the next two weeks, we’re going to turn the mic around and interview Jim surrounding the challenge of younger leaders saying yes to God’s call. In today’s episode we unpack how the generation we hail tends to flavor our view of life and leadership. And . . . how...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 213: LEADERSHIP SHORTAGE… & WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT
The average age of a clergy member today is 57, compared to age 50 in 2000 (Lifeway Research). Half of all American pastors today are older than age 55. In 1992, 24% of all American pastors were older than 55 (Barna). One of the impacts of these alarming trends? The...
LITTLE THINGS
Today we welcome one of our Converge Coaching teammates, Mary Selzer, to the blog. As we prepare our minds and hearts for Thanksgiving festivities, I hope this short and powerful piece of writing influences your heart and mind toward gratitude and joy ~ John. ...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODES 212- INTERVIEW WITH SHANNON SHAFFER- PART 2
In today’s episode we continue with Part 2 of our compelling conversation with Shannon Shaffer, worship pastor at Auburn Hills Christian Center. We explore the personal and public components of worship leading, the traits of an effective worship leader, and how...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 211 – INTERVIEW WITH SHANNON SHAFFER – PART 1
Today’s episode contains Part 1 of our powerful interview with Shannon Shaffer, Worship Pastor at Auburn Hills Christian Center, located in Auburn Hills, MI. Our conversation today focuses on factors that cause turbulence between worship pastors and lead pastors, and...
THE IMPACT OF CLARITY ON YOUR LEADERSHIP
We began October talking about Pastor Appreciation Month. As church leaders and pastors, if we desire to be appreciated by our congregation, our contention in this month of posts has been this: we must make progress toward becoming leaders worthy of such respect. Last...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 210: LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS
In terms of successful marketplace organizations, ones that are financially profitable while creating an environment valuing both the employee and the customer/consumer are ideal. The question is: what does success in pastoral or ministry leadership look like? And...
THE IMPACT OF NAVIGATING DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS
If you want to lead well for a long time—and be respected by those you lead—you must figure out how to handle difficult conversations. If you don’t . . . you put a cap on your how many people God can trust you to lead well. During the month of October, we honor...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 209: LEADERSHIP & DISCERNMENT
In Episode 209 we continue our Leadership & series with Leadership & Discernment. Discernment is an often overlooked and underutilized tool in a leader’s repertoire. Merriam-Webster partially defines discernment as the ability to “detect with senses other than...
THE IMPACT OF SOFT SKILLS
You as a leader are the biggest contributor to your team’s level of production. And most of the things you can do to increase good outcomes have to do with soft skills. Hard skills, also known as technical skills, are technical knowledge or training you’ve acquired...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 208: LEADERSHIP & SOFT SKILLS
In the final segment of our Leadership series, we’re going to unpack Leadership & Soft Skills. You as a leader are the biggest contributor to your team’s level of production. And most of the things you can do to increase good outcomes have to do with soft skills....
PASTOR APPRECIATION MONTH: WHY AND HOW?
In today’s post, Jaime Hlavin kicks off a series of four blogs focused on Pastor Appreciation Month. We are taking a bit of a different slant on the subject, focusing on how pastors can lead and serve in such a way that honor is due them. Enjoy ~ John. It was...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 207: LEADERSHIP & DELEGATION
We’re in the third segment of our Leadership & series. In Episode 205, we explored Leadership & Communication. In 206, Leadership & Seismos Moments. Today’s episode focuses on Leadership & Delegation. Sharing the ministry load doesn’t always come...
LEADERSHIP AND DISCERNMENT
In today’s powerful post Jaime Hlavin unpacks the reasons we leaders need to develop discernment. Every leader needs a shepherd’s radar. And then Jaime proceeds to give us four practical steps to hone this most important leadership skill. Enjoy ~ John The word...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 206: LEADERSHIP & SEISMOS MOMENTS
Today in Part 2 of our two-part series, Leadership & …. We tackle the subject of Leadership & Seismos Moments. You can listen to the podcast here. The video version is here. Matthew 8:23-27: “Then he (Jesus) got into the boat and his disciples followed him....
LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS
The Oxford English Dictionary defines success as: 1) The accomplishment of an aim or purpose. 2) The attainment of fame, wealth, or social status. 3) A person or thing that achieves desired aims or attains fame, wealth, etc. My Generation X childhood memory of success...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 205: LEADERSHIP & EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
Today we kick off a 2-week series of pods entitled Leadership & … Leadership and Communication Leadership and Seismos Moments Today we start with Part 1: Leadership & Communication. Effective communication is a super important skill, but it is hard. No matter...
LEADERSHIP & SEISMOS MOMENTS
Leadership tosses a variety of storms our way . . . some are garden variety storms; others are white-knuckle events. In today’s post I want to unpack a familiar passage of Scripture with you, explore some of the larger storms leadership tosses at us, and then outline...
LEADING FROM ALIGNMENT EPISODE 204: THE CO-VOCATIONAL BALANCING ACT
In 2015, more than 38% of pastors in the U.S. were co-vocational. Almost every church has at least one co-vocational pastor on their team. Tim Diehl defines a co-vocational pastor as a person who serves as a pastor in a church and carries one or more other jobs in...