July 2014

On Not Getting Killed

I have a lot to learn about Jesus’ kind of love

Great psychological thrillers, combined with innumerable episodes of crime drama, have given me a healthy appreciation of the dangers of picking up hitchhikers.

In sum: hitchhikers bad. First nicey nicey and uber-friendly. Then stabby stabby and a cold, shallow grave. Generally and basically, it's not the way I want to end my life. So up to this point, absolutely and categorically ...

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A Safe Place to Break Down

An interview with Simone Halpin, director of women’s care at Moody Church

Simone Halpin is director of women's care, part of the women's ministry team at historic Moody Church in Chicago. She sat down with Gifted for Leadership to tell us about an inspiring new ministry to women escaping sex trafficking in her city.

Simone, tell us about Naomi's House.

Naomi's House is a new ministry of Moody Church in Chicago. It will be a suburban home for women ...

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Lead Me On: Mouthy Mistakes

God gave you a voice–use it

I talk too much.

It's a habit. I talktoofast and talktoomuch.

Sometimes I could stand to zip it. I'm working on it.

However, I hate to contribute to what has been a common refrain in society–a common refrain also in some churches. The refrain goes like this: women might need to PIPE DOWN already.

God's opinion on the matter appears to have a refrain more like this: Do not neglect ...

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The Ministry of Orthography

How do you spell team?

We hear it said often, "There's no "I" in team." Yes, that's a fact, but unfortunately some clichés are said so much they lose their power. We know team means working together effectively for the common good, a joint project with shared vision and goals. But the question is; do you really care about working together for a team goal–especially in ministry? Do you really ...

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Shut Up and Show Up

Become a minister of presence

My husband and I couldn't eat or sleep. We couldn't think clearly enough to work and yet couldn't imagine being home with the walls caving in around us. We had cried until we were surprised there were any tears left. The news we had received was devastating. We found ourselves in one of those time-stands-still experiences that we had seen happen to others but never expected ...

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When Artists and Engineers Collide

Building a team of very different minds

The outreach team at our church had a daunting task. We were responsible for attracting the unchurched, making newcomers feel welcome, and helping reach out to our community in practical ways. All of us were enthusiastic about doing just that, but not all of us agreed on the best methods to accomplish such a herculean task.

Robert* was a man who loved charts. He immediately ...

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Whole-Brain Creativity

Contrary to popular mythology, everyone is an artist

If you spend five minutes scrolling through your Facebook feed, you are bound to come across at least one post that promises to help you determine whether you are right- or left-brain dominant. The lateralization theory explains your thinking and behavior based on which hemisphere calls the shots: the left (making individuals more rational, logical, precise, and having a strong ...

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Don't Miss This Great Giveaway for Church Leaders!

Enter to win our valuable Summer Prize Pack, including Logos 5 and Leadership Journal

Gifted women, we've got a great opportunity for you to win some valuable resources for your ministry. Don't miss your chance to win Leadership Journal's Summer Prize Pack. This includes the powerful Logos 5 Bible study suite and a free subscription to Leadership, our sister resource and an iconic professional journal for church leaders.

Practical, inspirational, and steeped ...

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Identity and Worship Speak into the Life of a Leader

An interview with worship and executive pastor Gail Song Bantum
Identity and Worship Speak into the Life of a Leader

Reverend Gail Song Bantum is the Worship and Executive Pastor at Quest Church in Seattle, Washington. She is passionate about leadership development and leads seminars in diverse contexts. This is what she had to say when we sat down to talk about leadership:

As women, and particularly Christian women leaders, we talk a lot about identity and living our calling. What are some ...

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Offer Support, Not Shame

10 things I’ve learned while walking with wives of sexual offenders
Offer Support, Not Shame
Image: Lightstock

The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) reports that one in six American women is a victim of attempted or completed sexual assault in her lifetime. Forty-four percent of victims are under the age of 18. The fact that these offenses are being perpetrated so regularly within the church should serve as a severe beacon to the Christian community. Now is the time ...

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