Cornerstone Pastors Network

Every day in the news media, there are stories about sexual abuse, shootings or embezzlement in the church. The key method of prevention is to change our thinking about predators. They are smart, cunning and have a plan to bring crime to your congregation! Stories from around the nation show that predators can quickly find vulnerabilities in your church. The 8 Principles of Shark Thinking are illustrated through a predator at Wheat Fields Good News Church (a factitious composite example) and from recent real cases in the national media.

For 35 years, David Fletcher, founder of XPastor.org and the “Hey Fletch” column, led churches from 1,000-8,000 members, single and multi-site, churches with camps, schools, apartments and cafes. Fletch brings an objective perspective, broad knowledge and vast experience to this PRC. He has a heart for pastors and is a “church doctor”. He brings biblical principles and best practices to your church’s unique culture and setting.

David received two graduate degrees from Dallas Seminary and did executive education classes at the Kellogg School of Management and Harvard Business School. He loves to walk and exercise with his wife, Tami, and he loves scuba diving and rowing 10,000 meters a day.

Every day in the news media, there are stories about sexual abuse, shootings or embezzlement in the church. The key method of prevention is to change our thinking about predators. They are smart, cunning and have a plan to bring crime to your congregation! Stories from around the nation show that predators can quickly find vulnerabilities in your church. The 8 Principles of Shark Thinking are illustrated through a predator at Wheat Fields Good News Church (a factitious composite example) and from recent real cases in the national media.

For 35 years, David Fletcher, founder of XPastor.org and the “Hey Fletch” column, led churches from 1,000-8,000 members, single and multi-site, churches with camps, schools, apartments and cafes. Fletch brings an objective perspective, broad knowledge and vast experience to this PRC. He has a heart for pastors and is a “church doctor”. He brings biblical principles and best practices to your church’s unique culture and setting.

David received two graduate degrees from Dallas Seminary and did executive education classes at the Kellogg School of Management and Harvard Business School. He loves to walk and exercise with his wife, Tami, and he loves scuba diving and rowing 10,000 meters a day.

The friendless pastor is doing so much solo work, there’s little time for cultivating friendship…does this sound like you?

Jesus said, “I no longer call you servants; instead I call you friends.” (John 15:15-17) If you’re attempting to do ministry life without friends, you are heading in a dangerous direction. None of us should be flying solo. Even with the demands for our time and attention on the sharp incline, don’t for a minute think you can be effective and lonely at the same time. In this month’s conversation, Steve Macchia will facilitate reflection on the importance of spiritual friendship for every pastor. What are the hurdles to cultivating friendship? What about the blessings and joys that accompany meaningful spiritual friendship?

After serving eleven years on the pastoral staff of Grace Chapel in Lexington, MA and an additional fourteen years as President of Vision New England, Steve Macchia founded Leadership Transformations in 2003. Since then he’s served as President of LTI as well as Director of the Pierce Center for Disciple-Building at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he also serves on the teaching team in the Doctor of Ministry department. He also teaches a Doctor of Ministry course on “Spiritual Replenishment” as an adjunct faculty member at Phoenix Seminary. Steve is an ordained minister, conference speaker, ministry leader, retreat facilitator, ministry mentor/coach, and spiritual director. He’s also the author of several books, including  Broken and Whole (InterVarsity Press), Crafting a Rule of Life (InterVarsity Press), the Baker Best-seller Becoming A Healthy Church (Baker Books), Becoming A Healthy Church Workbook (Baker Books),  Becoming A Healthy Disciple (Baker Books/LTI Publication), Becoming A Healthy Disciple: Small Group Study and Worship Guide (LTI Publication),  Becoming A Healthy Team(Baker Books/LTI Publication),  Exercises for Becoming A Healthy Team (LTI Publication), Legacy: 60 Life Reflections for the Next Generation (LTI Publication, 2017),  Outstretched Arms of Grace (LTI Publication), Path of a Beloved Disciple

The friendless pastor is doing so much solo work, there’s little time for cultivating friendship…does this sound like you?

Jesus said, “I no longer call you servants; instead I call you friends.” (John 15:15-17) If you’re attempting to do ministry life without friends, you are heading in a dangerous direction. None of us should be flying solo. Even with the demands for our time and attention on the sharp incline, don’t for a minute think you can be effective and lonely at the same time. In this month’s conversation, Steve Macchia will facilitate reflection on the importance of spiritual friendship for every pastor. What are the hurdles to cultivating friendship? What about the blessings and joys that accompany meaningful spiritual friendship?

After serving eleven years on the pastoral staff of Grace Chapel in Lexington, MA and an additional fourteen years as President of Vision New England, Steve Macchia founded Leadership Transformations in 2003. Since then he’s served as President of LTI as well as Director of the Pierce Center for Disciple-Building at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he also serves on the teaching team in the Doctor of Ministry department. He also teaches a Doctor of Ministry course on “Spiritual Replenishment” as an adjunct faculty member at Phoenix Seminary. Steve is an ordained minister, conference speaker, ministry leader, retreat facilitator, ministry mentor/coach, and spiritual director. He’s also the author of several books, including  Broken and Whole (InterVarsity Press), Crafting a Rule of Life (InterVarsity Press), the Baker Best-seller Becoming A Healthy Church (Baker Books), Becoming A Healthy Church Workbook (Baker Books),  Becoming A Healthy Disciple (Baker Books/LTI Publication), Becoming A Healthy Disciple: Small Group Study and Worship Guide (LTI Publication),  Becoming A Healthy Team(Baker Books/LTI Publication),  Exercises for Becoming A Healthy Team (LTI Publication), Legacy: 60 Life Reflections for the Next Generation (LTI Publication, 2017),  Outstretched Arms of Grace (LTI Publication), Path of a Beloved Disciple

The events of Easter stand at the living center and bedrock foundation of the Christian faith. No season has greater claim to our attention, deeper hold of our affections. And yet, many of us feel a vague dread as another Easter season approaches: how do I speak of Christ’s passion and death and resurrection in ways that are both faithful and fresh? How do I tell the old, old story as though it’s late-breaking news? In this webinar, pastor, professor and author Mark Buchanan will explore three ways to bring fresh vitality to your Easter message, and to help your people – and your own heart – hear, believe and rejoice that Christ is risen, he is risen indeed.

Mark is an associate professor of Pastoral Theology at Ambrose Seminary in Calgary, AB, and formerly was pastor of New Life Community Baptist Church in Duncan, BC. His work has been published in numerous periodicals, including Christianity Today, Books & Culture, Leadership Journal, and DiscipleshipMagazine. He is also the author of Your God Is Too Safe, Things Unseen, The Holy Wild, The Rest of God, Hidden in Plain Sight, and Spiritual Rhythm. He has also written Your Church is Too Safe and the Four Best Places to Live. His upcoming book (summer 2019) is called Walking.

Mark and Cheryl live in Cochrane, Alberta, and have 3 children that are all grown up & on their own.

The events of Easter stand at the living center and bedrock foundation of the Christian faith. No season has greater claim to our attention, deeper hold of our affections. And yet, many of us feel a vague dread as another Easter season approaches: how do I speak of Christ’s passion and death and resurrection in ways that are both faithful and fresh? How do I tell the old, old story as though it’s late-breaking news? In this webinar, pastor, professor and author Mark Buchanan will explore three ways to bring fresh vitality to your Easter message, and to help your people – and your own heart – hear, believe and rejoice that Christ is risen, he is risen indeed.

Mark is an associate professor of Pastoral Theology at Ambrose Seminary in Calgary, AB, and formerly was pastor of New Life Community Baptist Church in Duncan, BC. His work has been published in numerous periodicals, including Christianity Today, Books & Culture, Leadership Journal, and DiscipleshipMagazine. He is also the author of Your God Is Too Safe, Things Unseen, The Holy Wild, The Rest of God, Hidden in Plain Sight, and Spiritual Rhythm. He has also written Your Church is Too Safe and the Four Best Places to Live. His upcoming book (summer 2019) is called Walking.

Mark and Cheryl live in Cochrane, Alberta, and have 3 children that are all grown up & on their own.

Regardless of what form, style, or history of the church you serve in, our present day missionary context removes the option to do more of the same, or just make minor tweaks. The world and those we serve will no longer respond to church in the same form or fashion. What missionary context needs more than any single thing is…Missionaries. People that understand how to cross the street and make meaningful engagement with the lost world around us. Join us for a great learning experience with Hugh Halter who has specialize in missionary training for the local church the last 25 years. Hugh says, “When Jesus called us to make disciples, was essentially giving us the mandate to make church a missionary farm system.”

Hugh lives with his wife Cheryl in Alton, IL. After two church plants, Hugh and Cheryl moved from Denver in 2016 where Hugh pioneered the Lantern Network, a new-trappist kingdom and business collective. He has authored eight books and shares his time encouraging and training the greater body of Christ for doable and tangible engagement with the world around us.

Regardless of what form, style, or history of the church you serve in, our present day missionary context removes the option to do more of the same, or just make minor tweaks. The world and those we serve will no longer respond to church in the same form or fashion. What missionary context needs more than any single thing is…Missionaries. People that understand how to cross the street and make meaningful engagement with the lost world around us. Join us for a great learning experience with Hugh Halter who has specialize in missionary training for the local church the last 25 years. Hugh says, “When Jesus called us to make disciples, was essentially giving us the mandate to make church a missionary farm system.”

Hugh lives with his wife Cheryl in Alton, IL. After two church plants, Hugh and Cheryl moved from Denver in 2016 where Hugh pioneered the Lantern Network, a new-trappist kingdom and business collective. He has authored eight books and shares his time encouraging and training the greater body of Christ for doable and tangible engagement with the world around us.

Without interruption, every church has the potential to go through a very similar life cycle. Most start, grow, thrive, lose momentum, decline and eventually end-but that’s not God’s plan for the church. Churches can get stuck in any phase of growth on their way to sustained health. They can also get stuck sliding down the other side of the life cycle, experiencing the pain of ineffectiveness and decline. Our data has found 80% of churches are plateaued or in decline. Join Tony Morgan for an honest, practical conversation about what it takes to get unstuck.

Tony is founder and chief strategic officer of The Unstuck Group, a company that helps churches get unstuck through consulting and coaching experiences designed to focus on vision, strategy and action. For 14 years, Tony served on the senior leadership teams at West Ridge Church in Dallas, Georgia, NewSpring church in South Carolina, and Granger Community church in Indiana. He’s written several books, as well as articles that have been featured with the Willow Creek Association, Catalyst and Pastors.com. He writes about leadership regularly at tonymorganlive.com His latest book, The Unstuck Church: Equipping Churches to Experience Sustained Health, is available from Thomas Nelson.

Without interruption, every church has the potential to go through a very similar life cycle. Most start, grow, thrive, lose momentum, decline and eventually end-but that’s not God’s plan for the church. Churches can get stuck in any phase of growth on their way to sustained health. They can also get stuck sliding down the other side of the life cycle, experiencing the pain of ineffectiveness and decline. Our data has found 80% of churches are plateaued or in decline. Join Tony Morgan for an honest, practical conversation about what it takes to get unstuck.

Tony is founder and chief strategic officer of The Unstuck Group, a company that helps churches get unstuck through consulting and coaching experiences designed to focus on vision, strategy and action. For 14 years, Tony served on the senior leadership teams at West Ridge Church in Dallas, Georgia, NewSpring church in South Carolina, and Granger Community church in Indiana. He’s written several books, as well as articles that have been featured with the Willow Creek Association, Catalyst and Pastors.com. He writes about leadership regularly at tonymorganlive.com His latest book, The Unstuck Church: Equipping Churches to Experience Sustained Health, is available from Thomas Nelson.