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LATEST POSTS
I am stunned when a church applies the best practices in church finances and sees a fourfold increase in an area of their income. I will never forget the day when a pastor I was coaching shared [...]
Life is short, have an affair. That’s Ashley Madison’s advice. Ashley Madison’s marketing byline is both disgusting and devastatingly simple: connect people who want to commit adultery. However their site was hacked and their client’s details were made public. [...]
Pastors experience deep frustration and confusion when their churches stop growing. Churches are certainly not alone when it comes to decline. Many organizations get stuck and decline into maintenance mode and sadly even into impotence. If that were [...]
Excellent church management is essential for healthy church growth. However, effectively managing a church can be complex and challenging. My conversation with Gavin Courtney explores church administration systems that support growth, with a focus on communication and shared responsibility. [...]
With over 40 years of ministry experience, I’ve learned that crafting memorable Sunday experiences is crucial for effective discipleship. Your Sunday services are the front door for new visitors and regular members alike. It’s that pivotal time [...]
In my four decades of ministry, I’ve discovered a universal truth: a vibrant prayer life is essential for healthy pastors and thriving churches. Let me show you four simple and proven ways to improve your prayer life. [...]
Let’s face it – no one likes a boring meeting. And if we’re honest, church leadership meetings sometimes get a bad rap for being, well… a little on the dry side. But here’s the good news: it [...]
One of the biggest challenges I hear from everyday Christians is how to get comfortable sharing their faith. Many of us feel awkward or ill-equipped to talk about Jesus in a natural, non-pushy way. If you can [...]
In April 2024, I was sitting by the ocean in southwest Western Australia, enjoying a perfect autumn day and reflecting on God’s plan and the twelve years since Di and I launched Grow a Healthy Church in 2012. [...]
The Delicate Balance of Humour in Preaching A joke in a sermon can help people listen. It can also distract them from everything else you say. A controversy involving Josh Howerton prompted me to reflect on where [...]
What’s our succession plan? Who’s the next pastor? What’s next for our church? And what’s next for me as I hand over my church? You will ask many questions in a succession process. In recounting our story [...]
In my four decades of ministry experience, I’ve seen churches of all sizes navigate through sunny and stormy weather alike. One of the most challenging climates to navigate is the financial strain caused by economic downturns. Churches [...]
Why do churches hesitate to lead an annual giving campaign? I have served in ministry across continents for four decades. Whether in Australia, where I pastored for 30 years, or in Asia, Africa, Europe [...]
One disastrous result of the Covid pandemic is the drift away from church by thousands of believers. During that horrible season, Christians gave up on church even if they didn’t give up on Christ. It became too [...]
In 2009 Dianne and I began our succession planning. After decades of pastoring in our church, C3 Church Hepburn Heights, we were keen to move into the next phase of our lives. Di and I were both hungry [...]



















