I've started lots of things. In the CliftonStrengths, my 2nd strength is Activator. I like to start things and dive into them. Since I was in high school, I liked to start things.
All of that was in my teenage years and early 20's! In my adult life, it meant starting my first podcast in 2005, creating new ministry, and planting a church at 35. You can say I like starting things! Herein lies one of the reasons I believe in self-publishing as a new tool in 2025. I had a conversation with a friend yesterday about it. He has a few great ideas but was hesitant about self-publishing because of what it meant in years past. Some would say the only people who self-published were the ones who couldn't get a traditional publishing deal. People even used the term "vanity publishing" to describe it. But the game has all changed. In previous emails I shared what I've learned from Nicholas Cole and his conversation with Ali Abdaal focuses on the high points. It isn't about writing that one special book, but realizing the low barrier for entry with Amazon KDP allows writers to publish multiple books deeply focused on a single idea. My book Is My Church Healthy is only 70 pages, and is a walk through of a single idea I use with local churches in my day job. It is the first book in a larger series focused on normal-sized church vitality. Here is the concept. Modern self publishing allows writers and creators to do. Rather than a book being some stand alone idea, it is simple a bi-product of a larger loop of ideas. Digital Writing (on places like X and Substack), podcasts, YouTube, and email lists are all part of the same economy of ideas. Books just let you go deep into an idea. I truly think we are going to see this concept explode in the next 5 years. That is why I am committing to it long term. This strategy isn't focused on notoriety, but idea sharing. Books have a specific role to play in it. On sticking with it. If you have ideas, I think you should do the same thing. Start and Stick. Chad - PS. About Is My Church Heathy. I have finished up the manuscript. This week I am focusing on getting it uploaded to Amazon and prepping it for launch. Hopefully, you'll be able to get your copy in the next few weeks. Thanks for coming along for the ride. |
I steward Productive Pastor, a podcast and community of ministry leaders focused on how productivity and strategic ministry in the average church. I write about practical approaches to ministry productivity. I also write emails about church stability/development and my own theological musics in our current social moment.
A few years ago, I was in prayer, thanking God for taking me through a challenging season of life. While doing this, I realized that in times of significant personal turmoil, it isn’t odd for the same time to be spiritually enriching. I’ve been reflecting on that idea since then. One day, I made a big map of all the high times and low times in life, and then started mapping spiritual seasons on top of it. I discovered that in several instances, a difficult patch of life had been preceded by a...
I travel for work. I’m on the road 2-3 days a week sometimes. I average 28,000 miles a year. I travel. A lot. In my travels, there is this gas station I stop at a lot. It’s the only “good” gas station on a 60 mile stretch of interstate here in Louisiana. Technically, you could call it a truck stop, because it offers multiple diesel pumps and the inside is fantastic. Sit-down food options, plenty of caffeinated beverages, and all the other things you might want. But it is a horrible GAS...
After 20 years of working at a church, I have seen countless approaches to my own ministry productivity. Now, I am in an admin role and boots on the ground since I work within the denominational system. I've been thinking through some shifts over the past month, and I realize these are applicable to a broader spectrum. Especially if you are stepping into a staff-sized church of a few hundred people. I am low-key curious about how this would have affected my last full-time ministry gig when I...