by Rebekah Simon-Peter | Jun 14, 2022
In 1999, I was co-pastoring a church in Parker, Colorado when the Columbine shooting happened in the community next door. At that time, school shootings were relatively infrequent. It was wholly unbelievable that it had happened in our community. Even more unthinkable...
by Rebekah Simon-Peter | Apr 13, 2021
Three Tips for Church Leaders in Weird and Crazy Times How do you lead well as a church leader in a weird and crazy world? Most church leaders were trained to lead congregations during times of relative stability. You knew you would have to work harder than your...
by Rebekah Simon-Peter | Oct 19, 2020
George Bullard’s pivotal work, The Life Cycle and Stages of a Congregation, reinforces what the author of Proverbs once said, “Without a vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18, KJV). It turns out this proverb holds true for churches, too. Bullard demonstrates that...
by Rebekah Simon-Peter | Jul 6, 2020
As conversations about race, racism, and racial justice heat up, you may be wondering what you can do to engage your congregation and your community in addressing racism. Where should you begin? March for Black Lives Matter? Write letters to the editor? Support people...
by Rebekah Simon-Peter | Jun 9, 2020
Over the last three months, the church pivoted quickly to be able to serve people in a new way. You have made changes that needed to be made for years. You have moved from being building-bound to offering online worship, from attendance-based giving to online...
by Rebekah Simon-Peter | Jun 1, 2020
“What should we focus on during our first Sunday back in the building?” someone recently asked me. “Celebration,” I said, without thinking. “Celebrate who you have become through this pandemic. A crisis of this proportion has expanded your capacity. Own it....