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Articles from J. Val Hastings | Selfgrowth.com
- For Overworked Pastors, a Restful Vacation Takes Preparation - by Submitted on Aug 23, 2012 from J. Val HastingsA 2012 study by American Express found that 140 million Americans were planning to travel this summer (as reported on the USA Today Travel blog). Yet in my conversations with clients, what I’m hearing is that if they are planning a vacation (and many aren’t), it’s not something they’re looking ...
Views: 931 - Coaching Skills Bridge the Gap for Overwhelmed Pastors - by Submitted on Jul 21, 2012 from J. Val HastingsThere are many things that seminary training doesn’t cover, including how to effectively lead, empower and equip today’s volunteers, congregations and church staff. As a result, pastors may take an overly controlling approach, or step back and surrender to the chaos, neither of which is ...
Views: 1107 - Baby Step Your Way to Achieving Your Vision - by Submitted on Mar 20, 2012 from J. Val HastingsWorking towards a big vision is a powerful experience. As a compass, a vision can be a decision-making tool for all of your day-to-day actions. If the action will take you towards your vision, you do it. If it won't, you don't. Simple? Yes. Easy? No. Vision work can be daunting as well, and I ...
Views: 1888 - Coaching Your Way through the Scriptures – Jacob's Story - by Submitted on Mar 15, 2012 from J. Val HastingsI’ve long been inspired by the powerful coaching lessons found throughout the Scriptures. As a pastor, coach and coach trainer, it’s only natural for me to look to this ultimate source for inspiration and example. Is there any end to the coaching wisdom in the New and Old Testaments? I ...
Views: 927 - Vision Comes Before Action - by Submitted on Jan 19, 2012 from J. Val HastingsSome say the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. I disagree. The journey of a thousand miles begins by identifying the destination. Before you do the important work of setting your 2012 goals, you must get out the Windex and clear up your view of where you/your team/your ...
Views: 1519(1 vote) - The Power of Play - by Submitted on Jul 12, 2011 from J. Val HastingsChurches, faith communities and other organizations are all looking to cut corners and costs these days. So when it comes to staff development, they're squeezing out the fun events where people can play and be creative in favor of more concrete and serious activities. Why is that a ...
Views: 1063 - What is the Economic Halo Effect? - by Submitted on Mar 11, 2011 from J. Val HastingsChurches wonder: Are we relevant to the community, are we making a difference, how can we have a bigger impact? On February 1st in the Philadelphia Inquirer, there was a fascinating article about "the economic halo effect." In a research study, 12 congregations were measured by 54 separate ...
Views: 963 - The Key to Keeping Seminary Students in the Church - by Submitted on Feb 13, 2011 from J. Val HastingsToday's seminary students are 40-50 years old, on average. They're on their second or third career, many coming out of corporate America. And while they're committed to making a difference in the world, most of them aren't planning to do that in a church setting. They see what's going on in ...
Views: 860 - Change Grows Best in a Culture of Appreciation - by Submitted on Jan 13, 2011 from J. Val HastingsIs it too late to suggest a New Year's resolution? If I had my wish, each and every church would commit to the resolution of creating a culture of appreciation. Coaches and church leaders often have the same goal – to help people create internal or organizational change. That is certainly ...
Views: 988 - Stressful Times at Church? Do What I Say, Not What I Do! - by Submitted on Aug 12, 2010 from J. Val HastingsIn a list of the most stressful jobs you can have, being a minister came in as one of the top ten. Pastors weren't surprised by that at all, but what if things were different? What if we practiced what we preached? When I mention the stressful nature of ministry to people outside of the ...
Views: 2054 - Pastors: Steer Into The Shift Or Be Left Behind - by Submitted on Jul 12, 2010 from J. Val HastingsMinistry is going through a shift – really, a kind of death (of the pastor-centered approach to ministry) and resurrection (of a team approach). We see it in the numbers: more and more pastors out of work, more and more churches closing their doors, less and less money available for programs and ...
Views: 1591 - Is Little League Killing the Church? - by Submitted on Jun 04, 2010 from J. Val HastingsI was clicking around my LinkedIn account, minding my own business, when I ran into church consultant Barbara Stechert. She had started a juicy discussion by writing that organized children's sports is either the new religion or is killing the old church. People were very emotional in their ...
Views: 1628 - Just What is the Pastor's Role, Anyway? - by Submitted on Jul 08, 2010 from J. Val HastingsAt every church, there is usually a Board of Directors or some other governing body that hires the pastor, creates a job description and a set of expectations for that pastor, and evaluates how the pastor is doing in their role. These expectations are laid out to the pastor, of course, but ...
Views: 1776(1 vote)