Jump directly to the Content

Neither Jew nor Greek … Republican nor Democrat

Mark Batterson on leading a church in our nation’s capital during a divisive election season.
Neither Jew nor Greek … Republican nor Democrat

Sunday’s contentious presidential debate provided yet another reminder of how sharply divided our nation is—and how desperately we need leaders who can bring us together. Pastor and bestselling author Mark Batterson knows all about reaching across the aisle. He’s led National Community Church (NCC) in the heart of Washington, D.C. for 20 years. Today NCC is a multisite church that attracts mainly single 20-somethings, many of whom work for Congress or the Administration. We talked to Batterson about leading a congregation in D.C. during a divisive election cycle, his ministry successes and failures, and about his latest book, Chase the Lion.

Your new book, Chase the Lion, is about seizing opportunities even when there is a high risk of failure. What “lions” have you’ve chased?

I’ve chased a few 500-pound lions. Some of those lions got the best of me. One was an attempted church plant in the Chicago area when I was 22.

It’s amazing how much you ...

March
Support Our Work

Subscribe to CT for less than $4.25/month

Homepage Subscription Panel

Read These Next

Related
Sustainability in Short-Term Missions
Sustainability in Short-Term Missions
Sending teams and money isn't enough; churches must aim for sustainable ministry.
From the Magazine
The Evil Ideas Behind October 7
The Evil Ideas Behind October 7
The Hamas attacks in Israel have a grotesque ideological history and deserve unflinching moral judgment.
Editor's Pick
What Christians Miss When They Dismiss Imagination
What Christians Miss When They Dismiss Imagination
Understanding God and our world needs more than bare reason and experience.
close