Sam Rainer

Latest

• 
  Jan 8, 2023

  15 ways lead pastors can drive their staff nuts

  Most lead pastors will act differently around the staff they work with for hours each day compared to other congregants they may see in passing once or twice a week. This dichotomy is not necessarily bad. But things go sideways when the lead pastor plays nice with the congregation while poorly leading the staff.

• 
  Jan 1, 2023

  5 leadership resolutions for your church in 2023

  Leadership is a gift from followers. Graciously accept this gift by resolving to serve the people around you by putting them first. Make 2023 the year of serving others.

• 
  Dec 26, 2022

  Why churches resist change from new pastors (and what you can do about it)

  Why have so many pastors’ honeymoons ended after the first few months? Resistance to change is one of the largest hurdles in leadership.

• 
  Dec 18, 2022

  What is an appropriate severance for pastors on their way out of a church?

  What about paying a pastor severance? Whether to pay a pastor a severance depends upon the scenario, ministry tenure, and church budget. 

• 
  Dec 12, 2022

  5 demographics churches fail to know about their communities

  Last year, I wrote an article about four often-missed demographics by churches. I will continue the theme this year with five more demographics churches fail to know about their communities. I’ll use my community in Bradenton, Florida, as an example.

• 
  Dec 4, 2022

  How to be more vulnerable without freaking out your church

  Every person needs friends who can help lighten the load of a heavy season. But you should not use your position as a pastor or church leader to trap people into hearing about your problems.

• 
  Nov 27, 2022

  What I learned from being a bi-vocational pastor

  I served as a bi-vocational pastor of a tiny church in central Kentucky. We started with six people. It was my first pastorate, and I had no idea what I was doing.

• 
  Nov 20, 2022

  How to handle incessant urgency for pastors, church leaders

  In this case, his urgent concern was not malicious. But that’s the problem. People mean well when they call you in urgency.

• 
  Oct 30, 2022

  Pastors with initiative build healthier church relationships

  Many pastors rigorously protect their study time in God’s Word. The same intensity should apply to personal relationships.

• 
  Oct 16, 2022

  Leading the church when you doubt yourself

  Leaders must recognize doubt for what it is. Pastors especially must be open to the fact they will have doubts. The only response is to worship through the doubt.