ministry Archives - The Artios Center for Vibrant Leadership

From Plow to Pulpit – a life lived in preparation for ministry

Lisa Harp Hinds2023-09-12T14:44:40-06:00

by Nick Nimchuk Pastor Nick Nimchuk served the Church of God (Seventh Day) as a minister in both Canada and the United States for almost 40 years. The following is his story – the story of a young man who went searching for his purpose in life, and found that purpose as a pastor. Whether he knew it at the time, his early life was in preparation for ministry. At the age of 14, I considered myself a man In the fall of 1948 at the age of 14, I considered myself a man and I wanted to prove to my [...]

From Plow to Pulpit – a life lived in preparation for ministryLisa Harp Hinds2023-09-12T14:44:40-06:00

Ministry—”the Baptist Way”: Fresh Leadership Insights from an Unlikely Source

Lisa Harp Hinds2023-08-29T14:58:44-06:00

by Whaid Rose By the time Jesus began His public ministry, Judaism had morphed into a legalistic system of do’s and don’ts. Its purveyors were far more concerned about external performance than a personal relationship with God. For this reason, Jesus needed someone who would penetrate that system in preparing the way for His new ministry of truth and grace. God provided such a person in the man we know in Scripture as John the Baptist. In announcing his birth, the angel declared, “As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: “The voice of [...]

Ministry—”the Baptist Way”: Fresh Leadership Insights from an Unlikely SourceLisa Harp Hinds2023-08-29T14:58:44-06:00

Serving Jesus Even When Your Eyes Reflect Poop

Lisa Harp Hinds2023-08-22T11:08:46-06:00

by Amber Mann Riggs Is this what I’m destined to become? Recoiling with disgust at the abject prospect, I now eyed these women with cynical wariness. Yes, they seemed normal. And up to that moment, they had triumphed as beautiful, intelligent, thoughtful, interesting pillars of womanhood. But now, all of this faded in the shadow of their complete obsession with potty-training. Trapped in a conversation circle in which these women wielded complete control, I found myself an unwilling captive of the no-longer-secret Society of the Hiney-Wipers. The conversation was not just teetering on a precipice overlooking a sewage treatment plant. Even worse, it. was. boring. Foreshadowing can be a dreadful, dreadful thing. Case in point: [...]

Serving Jesus Even When Your Eyes Reflect PoopLisa Harp Hinds2023-08-22T11:08:46-06:00

How to Fold Laundry… As Unto Jesus

Lisa Harp Hinds2023-08-22T10:58:08-06:00

by Caitlin Meadows I just abandoned my laundry basket. It’s over half-full of warm, clean clothes. The rest are folded on the couch. Normally I don’t leave chores half-finished. My perfectionism usually won’t allow it. But, the writer in me has the ability to usurp the perfectionist in me. When inspiration strikes, I drop what I’m doing and let the words pour out of my head, through my hands, and onto paper (or, in this case, computer screen). Right now is one of those moments. Friday is laundry day in the Adam/Caitlin Meadows home. As I fold my husband’s clothes I [...]

How to Fold Laundry… As Unto JesusLisa Harp Hinds2023-08-22T10:58:08-06:00

How Can Pastoral Ministry Be Small-Group Based Team Ministry?

Lisa Harp Hinds2023-08-17T14:38:48-06:00

by Loren Gjesdal The church has been my world. It has been my primary social circle, the highlight event of my week, and the most rewarding place to labor. Church has been my safe sanctuary from a declining culture. No longer. Paul tells the Ephesian church that the leadership gifts of the Spirit are given by God for “the equipping of the saints for the work of service….” (Eph 4:12). The church is to be much more than a place of sanctuary, it is to be a place of training. This means that as a church leader, I don’t come just [...]

How Can Pastoral Ministry Be Small-Group Based Team Ministry?Lisa Harp Hinds2023-08-17T14:38:48-06:00

FINISHING WELL, an interview with the late Pastor Ken Knoll

Lisa Harp Hinds2023-08-24T13:26:46-06:00

Shortly after Pastor Ken Knoll retired from almost 50 years of pastoral ministry, he sat down with Israel Steinmetz to talk about "finishing well". While he finished his years of vocational ministry well, Pastor Ken envisioned many more years of everyday ministry ahead of him as he volunteered in his grandkids' school and continued to encourage and support his church family. He remained involved in the county-wide pastor's prayer group and the community events coordinated by an interdenominational network of churches. He and his wife, Mary Jean, took on the leadership role of coordinating their denomination's biannual conventions. Thus, even though [...]

FINISHING WELL, an interview with the late Pastor Ken KnollLisa Harp Hinds2023-08-24T13:26:46-06:00

What is Your Picture of an Ideal Family?

Brian Franks2022-06-30T13:04:36-06:00

By Loren Gjesdal What is your picture of an ideal family? A “Leave it to Beaver” household of two parents, two kids and a happy resolution to every problem in 30 minutes? Or even more simply, “No muss, no fuss, no drama today, please?” Just what would constitute an ideal family anyway? Is the ideal even possible, and if so, what would we have to do to pursue it? If we could imagine the first family in a world where Adam and Eve never ate from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil… If they were never evicted from [...]

What is Your Picture of an Ideal Family?Brian Franks2022-06-30T13:04:36-06:00

Are We Loving Each Other?

Brian Franks2022-06-30T13:07:17-06:00

By Lisa Harp Hinds Are we loving each other? Meeting each other’s needs? How are we modeling Christ? Are we letting fear, frustration, and/or our need for individuality and some measure of control over our own lives get in the way of loving each other? INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE HOLY BIBLE God’s Word contains instructions on how we are to treat each other. In Matthew 7:12, Christ Jesus tells us, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” In other words, if we want people to treat us kindly, then we [...]

Are We Loving Each Other?Brian Franks2022-06-30T13:07:17-06:00

Building Beautiful Churches for Jesus

Brian Franks2022-06-30T13:08:09-06:00

By Whaid Rose Building Beautiful Churches for Jesus: Why the post-COVID church must redefine itself and its mission. Once upon a time a local church decided to build larger facilities to accommodate its rapid growth. It was a wealthy church, so it spent lavishly in making sure the new campus was the finest in town. Building program complete, an auspicious dedication event was convened. The keynote speaker was a former senior pastor who had national name recognition, which drew community and media attention. But as he arose to deliver his message, the appearance of a giant hand high above the stage—as [...]

Building Beautiful Churches for JesusBrian Franks2022-06-30T13:08:09-06:00

Answering God’s Call: Living for a Greater Cause

Brian Franks2022-06-30T13:09:46-06:00

By Whaid Rose LIVING IN A FALLEN WORLD The sobering reality of life in a fallen world confronts us early in Scripture. In Genesis 4 we find a homicide, and by chapter 6 we read this sad commentary: Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart (verses 5-6). At that point it would have been justifiable for God to wipe the slate clean [...]

Answering God’s Call: Living for a Greater CauseBrian Franks2022-06-30T13:09:46-06:00

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