Category Archives: discipleship

On Christian discipleship.

On church growth and rural churches

Posted on December 30, 2014 by igalindo

I recently visited with a pastor of a small rural congregation (average Sunday morning attendance is between 40 to 50). He’s been at that church for ten years and enjoys pastoral ministry. He is intelligent and well-educated, with a divinity … Continue reading →

Posted in congregational life, discipleship, leadership | Tagged | Comments Off on On church growth and rural churches

Personality type and religious leadership

Posted on December 1, 2014 by igalindo

Personality Type and Religious Leadership reports the result of research done by Roy M. Oswald and Otto Kroeger at the former Alban Institute. Around 1983 Oswald began using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) to help church professionals across denominations understand … Continue reading →

Posted in books, development theory, discipleship, leadership | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Personality type and religious leadership

Church curriculum resources

Posted on October 14, 2013 by igalindo

In honor of Theological Libraries Month & American Archives Month the library staff at Columbia Theological Seminary sent this helpful list of curricular resources for congregations. These resources are available at the library’s curriculum lab (located in the children’s library). … Continue reading →

Posted in bible, children, Christian Education, curriculum, discipleship, liturgical seasons, Sunday school, teaching | Comments Off on Church curriculum resources

Planning for Christian Education Formation released

Posted on February 28, 2010 by igalindo

The new book by GRACE members Israel Galindo and Marty Canaday, Planning for Christian Education Formation: A Community of Faith Approach (Chalice Press) is immediately available in print and e-book format.

Posted in administration, assessment, books, Christian Education, congregational life, curriculum, discipleship, liturgical seasons, Sunday school | Comments Off on Planning for Christian Education Formation released

Speaking the truth in love

Posted on August 3, 2009 by igalindo

I’m revisiting some of the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Few have written better on the matter of community. I came across his thoughts on speaking the truth in love in community that I find timely. I’ll confess I remain perpetually … Continue reading →

Posted in books, congregational life, discipleship, personal growth | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Book review: Learning the Way by Williams

Posted on March 23, 2009 by igalindo

I’ve just received in the mail a copy of Learning the Way, by Cassandra Williams (Alban Institute, 2009). I was asked to write the forward to this book. Here is an edited version:

Posted in books, Christian Education, congregational life, discipleship | 1 Comment

Orthodoxy and orthopraxy

Posted on February 11, 2009 by igalindo

A perennial struggle for religious educators and pastors is finding ways to connect orthodoxy to orthopraxy. Achieving “right belief” (head knowledge) seems so very easy compared to achieving “right behavior.” Too often there is a disconnect between what congregational members … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Education, discipleship, humor | Comments Off on Orthodoxy and orthopraxy

Purpose-driven or faith-driven?

Posted on August 6, 2008 by igalindo

Full disclosure: I’ve not read Warren’s fabulously successful Purpose Driven Live. There is a copy of it in our home as my wife was required to read it as part of a staff development team-building activity at the church where … Continue reading →

Posted in books, discipleship, personal growth, philosophy, vocation | Comments Off on Purpose-driven or faith-driven?

Book review: The Equipping Church, by Mallory

Posted on May 5, 2008 by igalindo

Pastor led churches often struggle with how to most effectively utilize the time and talents of their pastoral staff without creating burn-out and rapid clergy turnover. Sue Mallory’s book The Equipping Church (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001) has provided a biblical … Continue reading →

Posted in books, congregational life, discipleship, personal growth | Tagged | Comments Off on Book review: The Equipping Church, by Mallory

Harton on Discipleship

Posted on March 6, 2008 by igalindo

GRACE member Mike Harton as a featured piece in the denominational newspaper The Religious Herald. Check it out here. Mike currently is Interim Dean of the Faculty at the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond.

Posted in discipleship | Comments Off on Harton on Discipleship