Practical steps to bring effective change to your ministry.

In this third episode Patricia Jehle gives us some practical steps and ideas to help bring about that change within your ministry organization. In this episode she presents the reasons for remaining with the ministry, when to tweak and when to change completely. When and why to change a ministry is a hard call.  Patricia Jehle addresses the issue of when to hang fast and when to change a ministry, part three of a three-part series on decision-making. Our Christian Ministry Maven for these episodes is Patricia Jehle, a university instructor in Switzerland and a business coach. In this episode Patricia gives us some practical steps and ideas to help bring about that change within your organization. In this episode she presents the reasons for remaining with the ministry, when to tweak and when to change completely. She answers this question from a missionary in the field:

"Give us tips and practical tools on...

Tips on understanding what success in ministry looks like, when to hang fast, and when to quit.

When and why to change a ministry is a hard call.  Patricia Jehle will be addressing the issue of when to hang fast and when to change a ministry, part two of a three-part series on decision-making. Our Christian Ministry Maven for these episodes is Patricia Jehle, a university instructor in Switzerland and a business coach. In this episode Patricia gives us tips on what success in ministry might look like, when to hang fast, and when to quit and move on. She answers this question from a missionary in the field:

"Give us tips and practical tools on making decisions about change, moving forward, or terminating a ministry that isn't productive or standing fast with a hope for future breakthroughs."

Today's podcast will be on listening to God to make a decision regarding making a ministry change or not. This process seems, in some ways, rather daunting, but in other ways, quite...

How can ministry workers make effective decisions about major changes to their ministry?

Patricia Jehle answers this question from a missionary in the field — "Give us tips and practical tools on making decisions about change, moving forward, or terminating a ministry that isn't productive or standing fast with a hope for future breakthroughs." Today's podcast will be on listening to God to make a decision regarding making a ministry change or not. This process seems, in some ways, rather daunting, but in other ways, quite simple. It is daunting when we feel we might get it wrong, but I believe God will guide you in your decision-making process. It is simple when thinking about God's big picture and what He wants in general for all of us. This is the first in a three part series on decision-making. Our Christian Ministry Maven for these episodes is Patricia Jehle, a university instructor in Switzerland and a business coach.  

Click the green play button to...

Organizational Coach Dr. Ken Thiessen talks about how healthy congregations and ministries manage anxiety.

This is the last episode of his series outlining the unhealthy ways anxiety manifests itself in congregations and Christian ministries. It is important to understand how anxiety dominates much of the unhealthy decision making processes and broken relationships within faith-based ministries and congregations. Click the green play button to listen to this episode:

You will recall that in Episode 16 Dr. Thiessen identified these five unhealthy ways anxiety hampers good communication and conflict resolution within Christian ministries:

• Triangulation — people talk about people rather than to people
• Self-differentiation —  relationship is contingent on agreement
• Blaming and Scapegoating — Who's the one who made this mess?
• Multigenerational transmission process — an endless cycle of looking to replace  "the problem...

 An international security expert provides five valuable tips for planning the safety of short term mission trips.

"My experience in the security sector has given me a good appreciation for planning.  Those groups that literally “wing it” on international trips put themselves in harm’s way without proper preparation. God gave us brains to think and plan. Let’s use the gifts God has given us! Safety should always be a priority in your preparation process when traveling to places your group is not familiar with. So, I have five easy and practical recommendations for those of you planning a team mission trip to another country".

Click the green play button to listen to this episode:

These five tips will increase your mission team’s safety and help your team members enjoy their ministry experience.

1. Assign responsibility for security planning and briefing to a member of your mission team.
2. Assign responsibility for host country research and...

Organizational Coach Dr. Ken Thiessen talks about "over-functioning and under-functioning" — another of the five unhealthy ways anxiety manifests itself in congregations and Christian ministries.

Who are the "over-functioners" and "under-functioners"? These are people who take on the burdens of responsibility for everything, and those who avoid responsibility for anything. In your ministry context or in your congregation, is there somebody who always picks up the ball? These people oftentimes volunteer for everything. They're the backbone of ministry organizations and churches, because guess what? Everybody knows that John is going to step forward and volunteer. A lot of times, John volunteers for stuff that he's not necessarily gifted at. God hasn't called him to do that, but if I'm sitting on the sidelines, I don't have to worry things, because I just know that John is going to pick it up. It is important to understand how anxiety dominates much of the...

How can ministry workers in the field receive member care for trauma counselling?

Our Christian Ministry Maven for this episode is Patricia Jehle, a university instructor in Switzerland and a business coach. Often the questions of why and how to find member care for overseas ministry workers and missionaries are real and pressing.  Patricia Jehle addresses the issue of critical incident trauma often experienced by ministry workers and how to find help. Patricia points out the why and options for missionary and other ministry workers receiving member care while they serve in remote locations. Our Ministry Maven responds to this listener's request:

"One of our close missionary partner families were brutalized by thieves in their own home several years ago. I had to get them to hospital and then arrange for their evacuation home. Now I can't sleep through the night and constantly have nightmares. I can't seem to focus. My ministry is suffering. I know I'm suffering...

Organizational Coach Dr. Ken Thiessen talks about "multi-generational transmission process" — the fourth of the five unhealthy ways anxiety manifests itself in congregations and Christian ministries.

You're probably thinking to yourself "What does "multi-generational transmission process" mean?" Well, let's describe a scenario. A church has a problem with a pastor. They say "The solution is we need to find ourselves a different pastor." So they begin to put pressure on and send not-so-subtle messages to their current pastor saying "You know, maybe God's calling you to another ministry situation." And the pastor moves on. Usually it's messy for the pastor and family and for the church. They call a new pastor, and guess what? Before long, they're seeing some of the same patterns happening. Why is that? Well, what happens at an organization is once they've blamed and scapegoated "the problem person," then the system exerts pressure on that person to leave...

Today's question comes from a pastor, and is: "How can I maintain a good rapport with my family when I'm so busy leading this church?"

Our Christian Ministry Maven for this episode is Patricia Jehle, a university instructor in Switzerland and a business coach.  Patricia points out the why and how of making your family a priority when involved in a busy ministry. In this QT4CM episode she outlines a strategic approach for sustainable work life balance:

• Take time to reflect and assess your personal and professional values.
• Prioritize "God first, your family second, and your ministry third.
• Reframe ownership and responsibility for success:  It is God's ministry, not yours.
• Organize conversations with family and ministry stakeholders to clarify expectations.
• Proactively set home and work boundaries.
• Schedule time first for God and family in your daily agenda, then add work tasks.

Click the green play button to listen to Patricia:

How to write a fundraising letter

Anna Burns of the Great Commission Foundation gives us tips on letter writing to your supporting community.

She shares these four tips:

1.  Keep the letter short. 

2.  Personalize the letter. 

3.  Tell your story in the letter. 

4.  Make it easy to donate.

5.  Follow up!

Click the green play button to listen to Anna:   

Anna Burns is with The Great Commission Foundation.

Click here for the "Ask Anna" article she referred to in this episode.

Click here to subscribe to Anna's Fundraising Tips newsletter.

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