Forest Lakes District EFCA: Recent Episodes
Forest Lakes District
In 2024, perhaps more than any other time, we hear about quiet quitting, burnout, exhaustion, high turnover and the great resignation. Whether you are leading staff or volunteers, a strategic focus on building a healthy culture is the antidote to all these issues. What are the values and behaviors that define your team? You can have a great vision and strong prayer effort, but if you don't pay attention to culture, you will not have success.
Tim Stevens will share insights from the turnaround taking place at Willow Creek Community Church following the traumatic events of 2018 and the soon-after devastating impacts of Covid and racial unrest, and how an intentional focus on culture is fueling the change from the inside out.
En 2024, quizás más que en cualquier otro momento, escuchamos sobre la renuncia silenciosa, el agotamiento, la fatiga, la alta rotación y la gran resignación. Ya sea que estés liderando al personal o a voluntarios, un enfoque estratégico en construir una cultura saludable es el antídoto para todos estos problemas. ¿Cuáles son los valores y comportamientos que definen a tu equipo? Puedes tener una gran visión y un fuerte esfuerzo de oración, pero si no prestas atención a la cultura, no tendrás éxito.
Tim Stevens compartirá conocimientos sobre la transformación que está ocurriendo en Willow Creek Community Church después de los eventos traumáticos de 2018 y los devastadores impactos posteriores del Covid y la agitación racial, y cómo un enfoque intencional en la cultura está impulsando el cambio desde adentro hacia afuera.
In a culture that celebrates busyness and experiences its negative effects, the followers of Christ have an opportunity to celebrate rhythms of rest. Rest is a God-given gift that enables us to renew, recreate, refocus, and reconnect. In living out Sabbath Rest as Christians, we distinguish ourselves as non-anxious, unhurried, peace-filled people. While the Gospel must be proclaimed with the words that we speak, it must also be proclaimed with the lives that we live.
En una cultura que celebra el ajetreo y experimenta sus efectos negativos, los seguidores de Cristo tienen la oportunidad de celebrar los ritmos del descanso. El descanso es un don de Dios que nos permite renovarnos, recrearnos, reenfocarnos y reconectarnos. Al vivir el descanso sabático como cristianos, nos distinguimos como personas sin ansiedad, sin prisas y llenas de paz. Si bien el Evangelio debe proclamarse con las palabras que decimos, también debe proclamarse con la vida que vivimos.
What is needed to lead a healthy ministry team? What pitfalls can you avoid? How can you deal with team conflict? This workshop will answer these questions as we look at methods and resources for establishing healthy ministry teams. We will take a look at realistic expectations, conflict resolution plans, team rhythms along with various assessments and resources that can help maintain team health.
¿Qué se necesita para liderar un equipo ministerial saludable? ¿Qué obstáculos se pueden evitar? ¿Cómo se pueden abordar los conflictos en el equipo? Este taller responderá a estas preguntas mientras analizamos métodos y recursos para establecer equipos ministeriales saludables. Analizaremos expectativas realistas, planes de resolución de conflictos, ritmos de equipo junto con diversas evaluaciones y recursos que pueden ayudar a mantener la salud del equipo.
A look at how we blend discipleship with personal and organizational leadership development. This workshop will discuss practical ways that we can be disciples, make disciples, and intertwine this with our leadership. We are all leading someone - how do we lead them well and live out the Great Commission of Christ to go and make disciples?
Una mirada a cómo combinamos el discipulado con el desarrollo del liderazgo personal y organizacional. Este taller discutirá maneras prácticas en las que podemos ser discípulos, hacer discípulos y entrelazar esto con nuestro liderazgo. Todos estamos liderando a alguien: ¿cómo los guiamos bien y vivimos la Gran Comisión de Cristo de ir y hacer discípulos?
Relating to prickly people is a lot like dancing with porcupines. It’s difficult, to say the least. Relating is a delicate art requiring knowledge of differing social skills. Competitor, avoider, accommodator, compromiser, and collaborator are categories, drawn from the work of researcher Dr. Jay Hall Ph.D. This seminar can help you understand your own conflict style and the styles of others. You’ll discover a practical program for creating and improving personal, family, work, and community relationships. With techniques for reducing tension and conflict, tips for improving communication, and ideas for increasing your tolerance of others, the Dance of the Porcupines seminar will help you to get along with even the prickliest people in your life.
Relacionarse con personas susceptibles es muy parecido a bailar con puercoespines. Es difícil, por decir lo menos. Relacionarse es un arte delicado que requiere el conocimiento de diferentes habilidades sociales. Competidor, evasor, complaciente, conciliador, colaborador son categorías extraídas del trabajo del investigador Dr. Jay Hall Ph.D. Este seminario puede ayudarle a entender su propio estilo de conflicto y los estilos de los demás. Descubrirá un programa práctico para crear y mejorar las relaciones personales, familiares, laborales y comunitarias. Con técnicas para reducir la tensión y el conflicto, consejos para mejorar la comunicación e ideas para aumentar su tolerancia hacia los demás, el seminario La danza de los puercoespines le ayudará a llevarse bien incluso con las personas más susceptibles de su vida.
Ministry has become an increasingly challenging vocation because of the unique leadership dynamics in the local church setting. Studies show that between 50% - 85% of Pastors leave ministry within the first 5 years out of seminary. Key factors include that Pastors were not well connected, did not see matters of soul care and self-discipline as important, and were not able to effectively manage or resolve conflict. We become emotionally unhealthy thus affecting relationships; we do ministry in our own strength leading to burnout. Churches are only as healthy as their leadership. Burnout is our emotion’s way of putting on the brakes and bringing high-achieving, goal-oriented persons to a stop before they self-destruct physically and emotionally. We will discuss how to recognize and confront burnout and then focus on a strategy to avoid burnout, enabling you to lead from a position of health and stability.
El ministerio se ha convertido en una vocación cada vez más desafiante debido a la dinámica de liderazgo única en el entorno de la iglesia local. Los estudios muestran que entre el 50% y el 85% de los pastores dejan el ministerio dentro de los primeros 5 años después de salir del seminario. Los factores clave incluyen que los pastores no estaban bien conectados, no consideraban importantes los asuntos del cuidado del alma y la autodisciplina y no eran capaces de gestionar o resolver conflictos de manera eficaz. Nos volvemos emocionalmente insalubres, lo que afecta las relaciones; hacemos el ministerio con nuestras propias fuerzas, lo que conduce al agotamiento. Las iglesias son tan saludables como su liderazgo. El agotamiento es la forma que tienen nuestras emociones de poner los frenos y detener a las personas de alto rendimiento y orientadas a objetivos antes de que se autodestruyan física y emocionalmente. Hablaremos sobre cómo reconocer y enfrentar el agotamiento y luego nos centraremos en una estrategia para evitarlo, lo que le permitirá liderar desde una posición de salud y estabilidad.
Creating a purposeful and impactful weekend experience does not happen by accident. It comes through prayer, communication, planning, and a healthy relationship between the lead pastor and worship pastor/leader. The lead pastor & worship pastor/leader partnership can be one of the most difficult to manage. In this session, you will hear perspectives from both the lead pastor & worship pastor/leader. We are going to look at what needs to happen to create a God-honoring worship environment as well as how to eliminate tension in the process.
La creación de una experiencia de fin de semana con un propósito y un impacto no ocurre por accidente. Se logra a través de la oración, la comunicación, la planificación y una relación saludable entre el pastor principal y el pastor/líder de adoración. La relación entre el pastor principal y el pastor/líder de adoración puede ser una de las más difíciles de manejar. En esta sesión, escuchará las perspectivas tanto del pastor principal como del pastor/líder de adoración. Vamos a ver qué debe suceder para crear un ambiente de adoración que honre a Dios, así como también cómo eliminar la tensión en el proceso.
It has been said that the greatest barrier to individuals with disabilities integrating into church communities is not inaccessible facilities, but rather inaccessible hearts. Creating positive church cultures that welcome and equip all people for Gospel service is a clear calling for every ministry leader. Come and hear firsthand examples of successful, integrated ministries that value all individuals and God’s unique calling upon their lives.
Se ha dicho que la mayor barrera para que las personas con discapacidades se integren a las comunidades de la iglesia no son las instalaciones inaccesibles, sino más bien los corazones inaccesibles. Crear culturas eclesiasticas positivas que den la bienvenida y capaciten a todas las personas para el servicio del Evangelio, es un llamado claro para cada líder ministerial. Venga y escuche ejemplos de primera mano de ministerios exitosos e integrados que valoran a todas las personas y el llamado único de Dios para sus vidas.
A Biblical Foundation for the Body with Practical Application to Physical Health.
Don’t do ministry on fumes. Learn a biblical view of the body and the basics of body stewardship to bolster your well-being while you serve the Lord with your whole self. Because your physical health impacts your spiritual health, it's important to know why your body matters.
No hagas ministerio con las fuerzas agotadas. Aprende una perspectiva bíblica del cuerpo y los fundamentos del cuidado del cuerpo para fortalecer tu bienestar mientras sirves al Señor con todo tu ser. Debido a que tu salud física impacta tu salud espiritual, es importante saber por qué tu cuerpo importa.
In this episode, we chat with Leann Benson from Protect My Ministry. If you are working to make sure that your church is a place of safety for your flock, please give this a lesson! We discuss the why, how & heart behind all things "child protection."
Resources Mentioned:
FLD Resource Guide - Protecting the Vulnerable
Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention
Get the FLD Partner Discount
Welcome to our new podcast series called "Get Resourced!" where we connect you to hepful resources for your faith, ministry & discipleship.
____
In this episode we interview Michael McKittrick. Michael provides training and coaching for pastors and leaders who desire to grow in their ability to preach and teach effectively. This is part two, so be sure to check out part one!
This interactive workshop will explore and envision how to use women’s ministries to make disciples who make disciples. Intentionality is a key, but it is a unique process for each ministry context. Whether your ministry is small or large, new or established, come learn a disciple-making framework, evaluate your own ministry efforts, and hear from each other, with the goal of leveraging your ministry to further God’s Kingdom.
Plus, enjoy the one minute music break to the tune of "Let's Hear It for the Boy". It applies, we promise!
Is your church ready to make disciples of all nations in your community? Hear from Alex Rivero as he discusses five principles to effective disciple-making in our rapidly changing, multicultural world.
Local churches are called to be a light in their local communities. Come and hear what it could look like to create partnerships and be the hands and feet of Christ outside the walls of your church building!
Panelists: Phil & Rita Schounard, Doug Schneider, David Smith & Jordan Heesch
As much as 20% of the population has some form of neurodiversity (e.g. autism, ADHD, dyslexia, etc.), and many can struggle, along with their families, to fully engage with the life of the church. They often suffer in silence, feeling misunderstood and having difficulties relating with others and even comprehending scriptural truths. Karen Maurer, an occupational therapist, pastor’s wife, and member of the EFCA Disabiltiles and Special Needs team, will discuss some of the unique learning styles, relationship needs, and environmental supports that are important to consider while ministering alongside a diverse body of believers.
Are you looking to build and implement a residency or internship program in your church? Hear from some of our ministry leaders who are doing it! We discuss practical how-to’s, common pitfalls, implementation strategies, the heart behind these programs & how discipleship is central to doing these well!
Panel Includes - Scott Sterner (Interviewer), Dave Bondeson, Bev Krizan, Steve Berg & Kurt Owens.
Leading in ministry, whether it’s working with students or leading a congregation can bring a profound sense of loneliness. Why is that? How do we navigate this gap, and how does God work in and through us for good? Listen in as Pastor Marc discusses how the Bible addresses this issue.
As we walk with God over a lifetime, we each go through different stages of faith… and so does our congregation! As leaders, it’s important that we know what these stages of faith are, where people commonly get stuck, and how we can create ministry environments that not only meet people where they’re at, but also help them to take next steps in their journey with God.
In this episode, Tiffany & Daniel of Blackhawk Church will talk through these different stages of faith and how we can use them to be more intentional as we lead, teach, and create opportunities + environments for spiritual growth.
Welcome to our new podcast series called "Get Resourced!" where we connect you to hepful resources for your faith, ministry & discipleship.
____
In this episode we interview Michael McKittrick. Michael provides training and coaching for pastors and leaders who desire to grow in their ability to preach and teach effectively.
We discuss how the Word brings internal transformation which leads to a different way of living for believers. He dives into how we can allow the Word to lead the way when it comes to preaching and teaching within our churches. We desire for our handling of the Word to be faithful and effective, so dive in with us as he talks through how to do that well!
Check out Michael's Website: https://wordtraining.org/
How does outreach lead to discipleship? What does it look like to 'do discipleship' by simply walking alongside people? Join us for this conversation with Jordan Heesch of Bridgepoint Church in Wisconsin Dells. We discuss local outreach, global missions & discipleship within the church. Important topics also discussed: Barbecue & Coffee - you don't want to miss it!
Join us for an encouraging conversation with Keelea Chartrand of Woodlands Church. Keelea discusses her discipleship journey, how her perspective of child discipleship has changed over the years, and shares how seminary intersects with discipleship & ministry.
Resource-
PB&J Guide
Building unity and a healthy culture within the elders, volunteers and staff.
In order to have a unified team, a healthy culture must be in place. In this episode, you will explore how to build and keep a healthy culture along with balancing the team dynamics between Elders, Staff & the congregation.
The Church often lacks missional leaders but not members. What would it look like to identify the unprepared and create a pathway to prepare them for a mission? In this episode you will hear what it might look like to increase your church's ministry and missional bandwidth by developing the people right in front of you.
Fasting is one of the most often feared and misunderstood spiritual disciplines within the church. However, “of all the purposes for fasting found in Scripture, fasting in order to strengthen prayer receives the most emphasis by far. In fact, in one way or another, all the other biblical purposes of fasting relate to prayer. Fasting is one of the best friends we can introduce to our prayer lives.” -Donald Whitney
What would your life look like if you practiced Biblical fasting coupled with prayer? What about your church? Join church leadership from across the FLD for an overview of the powerful spiritual discipline of fasting followed by an open discussion of how Biblical fasting may be practiced both individually and collectively to see the hand of God move in your life and in your communities!
Seminar Handout
How do you do premarital counseling? Is it effective? What's the goal, and how do you know if you're being successful? What should you prioritize, and how can you best equip marriages for lifelong, God-glorifying success? This workshop aims to answer these questions, and provides free resources for premarital counseling.
Here is a link to the resource mentioned during the workshop: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Eci_ATuEcdc1TM4lryewni2DLKSmAYUc?usp=sharing
(If you make a copy of the files above, they will be editable.)
Fellowship, Evangelism, and Discipleship are the essential elements of the Christian life. Listen as Naomi addresses the need for these to be applied to those living with special needs. In this workshop, you will learn how to approach those living with special needs and bring them into all of these elements of the church.
Join us for our second discipleship conversation with Bill VanKirk. In this episode we expel the myths about what discipleship does and doesn't need to look like. Bill also shares his personal story of discipleship, as well as some encouraging stories of discipleship within his church.
Discipleship Resources-
- Gospel Powered Parenting - William P. Farley
- Resources from The Navigators-
- Beginning with Christ
- Growing in Christ- Course
Welcome to our NEW SERIES! We are thrilled to be sharing stories of discipleship throughout Forest Lakes churches. We are excited to introduce you to our first guest, Cindy Groshek. Cindy shares about her journey with Jesus, false beliefs she needed God to break down, and what discipleship relationships look like in her life and ministry.
Resource Recommendations:
- Good News for Those Trying Harder - Alan Kraft
- Gospel Fluency - Jeff Vanderstelt
- Growing in Life Together - Jeff Vanderstelt
- Participant Guide
- Leader Guide
According to a recent study of churches, only 6 to 7.5 percent are growing through conversions. The majority of churches who are experiencing growth, are doing so through transfer growth from other churches. In response to this problem, and a growing heart for becoming conversion communities, five healthy churches in our district have been engaged in cohort with the Church Evangelism Institute of the Billy Graham Center of Wheaton College. In this two-year journey, participating leaders are learning strategies and practices for helping their churches to become conversion communities growing from the harvest. This workshop will feature a presentation on the strategies CEI has developed based on research. You will also hear from the leaders working to implement these strategies in their lives, leadership, and congregations.
We know that believers grow as they abide in God's word, but how do we equip people to be in the word for themselves and to teach others how to do the same?
We too often rely on curriculums that give people step by step instructions on how to study a passage, like GPS. What if we could teach them how to read a map so that they could study any passage through simple, reproducible principles?
This session will give an overview of principles you could use to equip people to study God's word and demonstrate one of those principles.
A pastoral or leadership transition comes with growing pains, but it does not have to completely rock your church! Come learn what it looks like to implement a healthy pastoral transition in your congregation. Matt Metzger & Chris Dolson of Blackhawk Church recently walked through this transition and will be sharing about their process & giving some tips and tricks for a successful transition. You do not need to just be a Senior Pastor to attend. If your church has an upcoming transition, this workshop is for you!
These have been difficult times and families are experiencing stressors and pressures at high levels. This is reflected by the significant onset of mental health challenges in our children. We have an opportunity to minister to families in ways that extend compassionate care and support. This training educates and familiarizes you on the characteristics and dynamics of distress in the family and offers building blocks for resilience and support.
Reignite the missionary identity of your church. In this workshop we will help you develop a tool you can use to better understand how God wants to use your church to reach your community with the Gospel.
We will provide a brief overview of the three main components of a Cultivate Cohort:
- Developing a missional strategy for the makeup of your unique community.
- Casting a clear and compelling vision for your church to make an impact for
Jesus in your city, town, county or neighborhood. - Becoming more intentional about making disciples who make disciples
We will also share how to prayerfully prepare your church to meaningfully participate in an upcoming Cultivate Cohort.
For two decades, I had a full time administrative assistant to help with retreats. Though each successive woman I hired planned to be long-term, after a few years, she’d resign. I was blind to my hidden heart idol of control. God opened my eyes and showed me how He could overcome this idol and others! Beautiful fruit replaced the rotten fruit in my life and ministry. Listen to learn more!
We know that God is the Protector. We also know that He tells us to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
This seminar will encourage you to “harden” your church or ministry as a potential target. In today’s world, the church, the Bible and its believers draw potential criticism, demonstrators, and attacks. We must be aware - taking proactive steps to plan for medical, natural and man-made issues and emergencies.
Due diligence to protect those attending our churches is required by law and a priority for church leadership. Come to this seminar to learn more about safety equipment, policies and procedures, best practices. Come with questions!
We want to have the greatest impact we can on our students. My goal is that you leave this training with a nugget you can take home that will make you a more effective preacher. For those who do not have a defined process for how to set up a message, or would like to understand a different way to work through a text, we will talk through a process of how to prepare a sermon. We will also talk about engaging our students by the way we communicate His Word.
One Hope Research recently released a 54-page report on religious attitudes and behaviors of teenagers in the United State. In this study, they found that 51% of teens (ages 13-19) identify as Christian. However, the research also revealed that only 8% of those who identified as “Christian” would classify as a “committed Christian” who upholds a biblical worldview. From this research, we can conclude that the majority of teens are graduating from student ministries without a firmly grounded and fully formed biblical worldview. In this session, we will seek to establish that apologetics (defending one’s faith) is a vital aspect of student ministries, overview the types of apologetic topics that are most relevant to Gen Z, and demonstrate how to effectively teach apologetics in a student ministry setting.
“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” - Peter Drucker. Thinking through a great strategy is very important. The end goal is creating a powerful and empowering culture. This is the way to lead your ministry to be part of a disciplemaking movement that can multiply disciples in your ministry, your church, and beyond. As you know, you are preparing youth to multiply disciples for generations as college students, co-workers, parents, future church leaders, and beyond. You get seven years max, maybe a few more if they stick around locally. Join the conversation with me about how to create a disciplemaking culture in your student ministry.
Mental health continues to be a challenge for students today - and all signs show this problem isn't going anywhere. This seminar designed to be a mix of teaching as well as round-table discussion so we can learn from one another in the areas of counseling and coming alongside of students in the areas of anxiety, stress management, and other mental health concerns. We will look at today's most recent stats, best-practices, as well as encourage one another in this area as we learn together.
Do you have a youth group that passionately engages in worship? Students that have a heart of worship and are willing to lead their peers before the throne? Working with students to build a youth-led worship team can be filled with frustration, challenges, discipleship, skill/spiritual growth, joy, and hopefully youth who “get it.” In this workshop, we’ll explore ways to start and grow a healthy youth-led worship ministry.
Students need space to laugh, connect, and have meaningful conversations about life’s biggest questions. Small Group Leaders create and facilitate this space. We need to train and care for volunteers in a way that shapes them to love and lead students in their faith journey. We need to pastor them so that they can pastor students. This workshop will explore both the philosophical and practical elements of what it means to be a good small group leader, equipping you to raise up volunteers who embody the love and grace of Jesus in the lives of students, walking alongside them as they grow in their confidence of who they are, where they belong, and what they were made for.
In this episode, you will hear from certified counselor, Steve Johnson. Steve has helped many pastors and their family members identify the sources of stress and the impact that they can cause. Learn about the warning signs of unbalanced living, lack of margin, and stress that leads to isolation, feeling overwhelmed, and potential burn out.
Carlton Harris, EVP of National Ministries for the EFCA, shares about how ministry can be isolating at times. He encourages us to take steps towards initiating authentic relationships to ensure that we do not do ministry alone!
Jon Payne, the FLD Superintendent, highlights fact that we are BETTER TOGETHER! He offers thoughts about how encouragement (both giving & receiving) is biblical and vital for ministry.
Kevin Huff speaks about what it looks like to identify and develop spirit led leaders in ministry spaces.
Scott Sterner, Forest Lakes Associate Superintendent, talks about how our churches should be comprised of a team of teams, and what a strong 'teams culture' could look like.
Casey Johnson is the Church Multiplication Director of the Forest Lakes District. In this episode, he discusses the heart and purpose of multiplying churches and how discipleship plays a huge role.
Jen Ferris from ReachGlobal Crisis Response talks about what it looks like to come alongside people in your congregation or community who have experienced trauma.
In today’s Podcast we hear from Dr. Julio Valera from Rio Grande Bible College on Reaching Our Growing Latino Population with the Gospel. This session was recorded at the FLD Spring Leaders Conference in 2022
In today's podcast we hear from Dr. Matthew Eppinette on "Navigating Taking Life, Making Life, & Faking Life in our MedTech World". This session was recorded at the FLD Spring leaders conference in 2022.
In today's podcast we hear from Jolene Philo on how volunteers and staff can create a special needs ministry in your church. This audio comes from the FLD Spring leadership conference in April of 2022.
In this podcast Dr. Charles Yu teaches on understanding God’s vision of a multicultural kingdom in a polarized world. This audio comes from the FLD Spring leadership conference in April of 2022.