Leadership

Three Lessons I’ve Learned in My First Three Years as Lead Pastor at First Christian Church

Apr 3, 2025 | Leadership, Ministry, Personal

Three years ago today, Ashley and I stood onstage with our girls as I was introduced as the Lead Pastor at First Christian Church. I stepped into my role full of vision, passion, and maybe just a little bit of naivety. Or a lot. The journey has been both deeply rewarding and incredibly challenging. There have been wins, losses, unexpected plot twists, and moments of sheer exhaustion. But through it all, God has been good and faithful. And I have grown in some ways I never expected.

I’m definitely still a work in progress, but here are three lessons I’ve learned in these three years that I hope will encourage and challenge you, whether you’re a pastor, a leader, or simply someone trying to live faithfully in the calling God has given you.

The Principle of Small Things Matter

Mar 29, 2025 | Leadership, Ministry

We often think leadership is about big moments—casting vision, making key decisions, or rallying a team toward a common goal. And while those are certainly crucial, what if I told you that the success or failure of your leadership often hinges on the smallest things?

Navigating Political Differences: How to Protect Relationships and Keep the Peace

Feb 24, 2025 | Culture, Current Events, Discipleship, Faith, Leadership, Ministry

We live in a time when – more than ever before – political differences are creating deep divisions even among close family and friends. Conversations quickly turn heated, relationships feel strained, and it can be tempting to cut people off altogether to avoid the tension. But followers of Jesus are called to something higher. How do you protect a relationship – or repair one that has been damaged by a disagreement related to opposing political views or convictions?

Six Principles to Make 2024 Your Best Year Ever

Dec 31, 2023 | Discipleship, Leadership, Ministry, Productivity

Here we are, closing out another year and just like the past few, this one has been a crazy ride. It's safe to say that almost all of us have experienced some highs and lows this year. But for some of us, "high" and "low" just don't do justice to what we've been...

Eat the Frog First

Aug 22, 2018 | Leadership, Productivity

If you and I sat down over coffee and compared "to do" lists, I'll bet we'd have one thing in common more often than not: each of our lists would have a few items that have been on there for a while that we just never seem to get to. In my experience there seem to be...

A Word for Church Leaders

Jul 25, 2018 | Leadership, Ministry

[DISCLAIMER: Experience tells me that somebody is about to get offended, so right off the bat it needs to be said that I am SO THANKFUL for Ryan Rasmussen, our elders, and leaders at First Christian Church - Canton! They are awesome guys, and in NO WAY does what I'm...