Leadership Journal was first published in 1980. Its last issue is the one you're holding in your hand (viewable here). Over 36 years and 145 issues, the journal has championed faithfulness and effectiveness in church leaders.
I joined the journal in 1982, and since then, I've gotten quite an education in all things leadership. I was shaped by the wisdom the journal gleaned, including Max Depree's now-famous description: "The first task of a leader is to define reality." I've requoted that regularly and pondered it often.
Being able to print articles (and cartoons) about leadership and telling the stories of ministry failures and successes has been a joy. I always came away from my conversations with church leaders impressed and amazed at the courage and calling of so many, in so many different situations.
Our readers benefited, and so did our writers, at least according to one. Columnist Mark Buchanan recently penned this note: "I want to thank my friends at LJ for their skill, heart, and dedication. You were the first to make a home for me as a writer, and have nourished and encouraged me in that role now for nearly 20 years, and have walked alongside me in ministry for nearly 30. I will dearly miss your companionship and wisdom."
While we will miss the joie de vivre of compiling a quarterly journal, and including so many of you in that process, our commitment to the ministry of encouraging and equipping church leaders continues.
In 2016, instead of publishing a print journal, our parent company, Christianity Today, will be launching two new initiatives to engage and equip church leaders.
First, we will present a special section in Christianity Today called "The Local Church." Leadership Journal's Richard Clark will be heading that up, and you can read his description of the coming attractions here. All current subscribers of Leadership Journal will automatically receive Christianity Today, with this new feature, starting in March 2016.
Second, we're crafting a new website, CTPastors.com, which will offer tested wisdom on the practical skills required to do ministry in today's world. It will be launched soon, featuring all your favorite articles from Leadership Journal as well as fresh content (and new Leadership cartoons!). Heading this up will be Kevin Miller, who has served both as editor of Leadership Journal and as a pastor of Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton, Illinois.
In striking the colors on this last issue of Leadership Journal, the words of our first editor, Paul Robbins, in the first year of the journal come to mind: "Whenever I think of [ministry difficulties], I'm reminded of a word picture a friend shared with me: 'The next time you're down—hurt, discouraged, depressed—try to imagine God with a very worried look on his face, pacing back and forth through heaven, wringing his hands and saying, "My goodness, what are we doing to do with Paul Robbins' problem?"' My friend's picture has never failed to ease a smile across my face, strike a tune in my soul, and help me face another day."
And it's true. I look forward to working with Richard and Kevin to make the future even better than the past as we serve the servants who lead the church.
