Apostles of a New Future: Leading the Church with Courage

Apostles of a New Future: Leading the Church with Courage

by | Jun 10, 2025

We are living through a time of extraordinary unraveling—politically, culturally, and even spiritually. Life-long values and democratic institutions are being challenged, dismantled and deconstructed. Hope is in short supply. The Church is not immune. As expectations change, congregations are unsure of their place in a shifting world.

But what if decline and confusion are not the end—but the beginning of renewal? What if this is your invitation to become an Apostle of a New Future?

This is the final blog in a three-part series based on my keynote, Re-Thinking Renewal in Perilous Times. In the first blog, we explored how to lead with hope even when the world is falling apart. In the second, we wrestled with rediscovering the heart of ministry in a culture of fear.

Now, I am inviting you to turn toward the future. What kind of leader will you be in this pivotal moment for the Church? And how can you lead the church with courage in this time of profound change?

 

The Myth That Playing It Safe Will Save the Church

Before we address how you can lead, let’s confront a damaging myth: That if you can just avoid rocking the boat—stay moderate, stay neutral, stay inoffensive—you can preserve what little remains. Many institutions—media, legal, higher education, retail stores—have already adjusted their values to align with the current administration. They have tossed DEI initiatives, negotiated settlements to avoid lawsuits, and adjusted their public values to comply with the changing landscape. But the Church was never meant to play it safe.

The truth is, playing it safe has never saved anyone. Not a person. Not a people. And certainly not Jesus or the Church. The early Christians were audacious. They faced empire with songs, injustice with solidarity, and persecution with unshakable joy. They weren’t afraid to carry bold messages—radical love, sharing of resources, inclusive community, and resurrection power. Why would you settle for anything less today?

 

Beethoven’s Audacity

During my keynote at the Closing Retreats for Creating a Culture of Renewal® cohorts, I shared the story of Ludwig van Beethoven. It wasn’t for the sake of classical trivia—it was for the sake of your spiritual courage.

Beethoven composed his most powerful, history-defining music, the 9th Symphony, from which comes Ode to Joy found in many hymnals, when he was profoundly deaf. Can you imagine that?

When he could no longer hear the music with his ears, he heard it in his soul. He wrote from within. From memory, yes—but also from vision. From deep resonance. From a place beyond circumstance. That’s what Christian leadership looks like for you right now.
You may no longer hear the music of cultural relevance, institutional power, or packed pews the way you once did.

But if you listen, you still hear the music of the Spirit. You can write the next movement of God’s work in the world from within. Not by replicating the past, but by composing a bold, new symphony of renewal.

Like Beethoven, you must create from a place deeper than the inputs from around you. A place of divine resonance, Spirit-led imagination, and apostolic courage.

 

Apostles of a New Future: The Courage to Choose

Let me be clear that this is a pivotal moment for the Church. It is a time for us to stand for Gospel values of inclusion, hospitality, love of God, love of neighbor, love of stranger. The question is: is it a pivotal moment for you—as a leader of the Church?

Will you serve empire? Or will you continue to midwife and serve the kingdom?
Will you baptize authoritarianism in the name of stability?
Or will you align with apostles of justice who risk for the sake of love?

These are not theoretical questions. They are spiritual decisions that shape everything. Your preaching. Your presence. Your prayers. Your willingness to follow Jesus wherever he leads—even into the heart of conflict, compassion, and costly grace. This is no time for neutrality.

As an apostle—a messenger of Jesus—your message matters. Every apostle needs a message. So let me ask you. What is your message?

  • Maybe it’s this: Love God. Love neighbor. No exceptions.
  • Or this: Empathy is resistance.
  • Or my personal favorite: There is no us vs. them. We live in a we-world.

Whatever your message is, be clear. And carry it. Preach it. Post it. Live it.

Let your people see it in your leadership, your vision, your pastoral care, your justice work. Because you are not only a disciple. You are an apostle. An apostle of love. An apostle of justice. An apostle of renewal. And the world needs that now more than ever.

 

The Five A’s of Apostleship

To live into this apostolic moment, it’s time for you to embody what I describe in my book Believe Like Jesus: Rising from Discipleship to Apostleship as the Five A’s of Apostleship.

  1. Authorized – You are commissioned by Christ. Not just to maintain a building or perform rituals, but to lead renewal.
  2. Anointed – You are spiritually gifted. Your calling is not generic—it is Spirit-empowered.
  3. Appointed – You were born for this moment. Your leadership is not an accident.
  4. Accountable – You don’t do this alone. You’re part of the Body. You’re answerable to a higher calling and a community.
  5. Ambassador – You represent a kingdom that cannot be shaken. And you carry its values into a world desperate for them.

That’s your job description. That’s your identity. That’s your calling.

 

Dos and Don’ts of Courageous Leadership

Do:

  • Do speak your message with boldness.
  • Do trust the deeper music of the Spirit within you.
  • Do evolve your methods to serve your mission.
  • Do anchor yourself in daily spiritual practice and fierce love.
  • Do form communities of renewal that support, challenge, and commission you.

 

Don’t:

  • Don’t settle for playing it safe.
  • Don’t spiritualize silence in the face of injustice.
  • Don’t ignore your own soul in the name of service.
  • Don’t postpone courage for another time. That time is now.

 

Next Steps / Takeaways

This is your call to lead courageously. The world doesn’t need more church leaders protecting tradition for tradition’s sake. The world needs you—a bold apostle who carries a message of love, justice, and Spirit-led renewal, no matter the cost. And you don’t have to do this alone.

Join me this July for RISE Into Spiritual Transformation, a six-week interactive experience for leaders like you who are ready to:

  • Rediscover your bold, Spirit-born message.
  • Reconnect with your call and claim your apostleship.
  • Lead with clarity, courage, and the power of the Five A’s.

This isn’t just another class. It’s a launching pad. A spiritual ignition point. A new composition written in the key of hope. RISE is where your next chapter begins.

Let this message of hope rise in you—and through you.

 

Copyright © 2025 rebekahsimonpeter.com.  All Rights Reserved.

Rediscovering the Heart of Ministry in a Culture of Fear

Rediscovering the Heart of Ministry in a Culture of Fear

by | Jun 4, 2025

In a time when fear and uncertainty dominate the headlines—and often our congregational conversations—it’s easy to lose sight of why we said yes to ministry in the first place. But what if these perilous times could become fertile ground for deep spiritual transformation? What if fear wasn’t the end of the story, but the beginning of a more faithful, courageous one?

This blog is the second in a three-part series drawn from my keynote, Re-Thinking Renewal in Perilous Times. In the first blog, we explored “How to Lead with Hope When the World is Falling Apart.” In this post, we’ll dig into how to reclaim the heart of ministry when fear clouds the way. You’ll walk away with a renewed sense of calling, concrete guidance on what it means to lead from the heart, and tools to cultivate resilience in your congregation. Even in a culture of fear.

 

Fear Has Displaced Faith

Let’s name what’s real. Many churches today are shrinking, budgets are tightening, and denominational rifts are deepening. Add to that the personal toll ministry takes—overwork, burnout, and loneliness—and it’s no wonder that even the most faithful leaders question whether they can keep going.

In these conditions, fear often takes over. Fear of failure. Fear of irrelevance. Fear of saying the wrong thing. Fear of not doing enough. As fear grows, faith seems to shrink. The heart of ministry—serving God’s people with passion, purpose, and clarity—can begin to feel like a distant memory. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

There is a way to reconnect with your first love: the call of God on your life. But before we get there, we need to dispel a common myth. That is the myth that if you just work harder that things will get better.

 

The Myth That If You Just Work Harder, Things Will Get Better

There’s a persistent myth in ministry that says, “If I just work harder, pray more, serve longer, things will get better.” But the truth is, burnout doesn’t yield fruit. Over functioning doesn’t renew your spirit. And more effort without alignment to your true calling only leads to more exhaustion.

The real breakthrough comes not from pushing harder, but from pausing long enough to rediscover the heart of why you do what you do.

 

My Wake-Up Call in Ministry

Years ago, I hit my own wall in ministry. I was pastoring a church that had all the typical signs of decline: dwindling attendance, worn-out leaders, and a community that seemed more interested in the past than the future. I was trying to do everything myself—preach, teach, visit, organize, educate—and I thought if I just tried harder, it would all come together.

But instead, I started to lose my sense of joy. I felt lonely and persecuted. My prayers went unanswered. My energy waned.

It wasn’t until I took a step back and asked a deeper question—“What is the heart of my calling?”—that things began to change. I realized that ministry isn’t about keeping up appearances or managing decline. It’s about empowering people to steward Jesus’ big dream. It’s about embodying hope in the face of fear. It’s about spiritual transformation.

This insight became the seed of what is now Creating a Culture of Renewal®. And it still drives my work today.

 

How to Reconnect with the Heart of Ministry

Here’s what I’ve learned—both through personal experience and coaching hundreds of church leaders from around the country—about reclaiming your heart for ministry in a culture of fear:

  1. Acknowledge the Fear—Don’t Ignore It
    Fear thrives in the shadows. When we name it, we disarm it. Begin your leadership conversations with honesty about the fears people are carrying—about the church, their lives, or the world. You’ll build trust by being real.

 

  1. Reconnect with Your Why
    Remember the moment you first felt God’s call. What moved you? What broke your heart? What inspired you to lead? Go back to that. Journal about it. Preach about it. Let that original call renew your vision.

 

  1. Shift from Maintenance to Mission
    Churches stuck in maintenance mode quickly fall into despair. But churches centered on mission—even small, local, humble missions—find purpose again. Ask your people: What is God calling us to do right now, in this place, with what we have?

 

  1. Practice Resilient Spiritual Leadership
    Spiritual transformation begins with you. Carve out time for prayer, breathing, rest, and play. When your soul is nourished, your leadership flows from a deeper place. When you lead from that space, people notice.

 

  1. Cultivate Courageous Conversations
    Fear shuts down dialogue. But hope opens it up. Lead your congregation through intentional conversations about the future—not to preserve the past, but to co-create what’s next. Listen deeply. Speak boldly. Lead with love.

 

Dos and Don’ts

Do:

  • Do revisit your original call often.
  • Do share stories of faith overcoming fear.
  • Do involve others in discerning your church’s next faithful step.

 

Don’t:

  • Don’t pretend everything’s fine when it’s not.
  • Don’t isolate yourself—community is essential for resilience.
  • Don’t wait for “someday” to lead with heart. That time is now.

 

Next Steps/Takeaways

Are you ready to rediscover the heart of ministry—and lead from a place of spiritual power rather than fear?

Join me for RISE Into Spiritual Transformation, a dynamic online experience launching this July. In RISE, you’ll explore the essential inner work of apostolic leadership, learn how to align with your God-given call, and connect with a community of faithful change-makers just like you. All in six weeks.

This isn’t just another class or online course—it’s a spiritual awakening for church leaders ready to transform themselves and their ministries.

Let’s move beyond survival. Let’s lead with hope, courage, and clarity.

Let’s rediscover the heart of ministry in a culture of fear.

 

Copyright © 2025 rebekahsimonpeter.com.  All Rights Reserved.

How to Lead with Hope When the World Is Falling Apart

How to Lead with Hope When the World Is Falling Apart

by | May 27, 2025

We are living in a time when crises seem to pile on daily—wars rage, democracy is dismantled, institutions we once trusted are unraveling, and polarization is tearing communities and congregations apart. The Church is not exempt. Many leaders are burned out, congregations are shrinking, and hope can feel in short supply. And yet, this is precisely when the light of Christ is most needed. Your leadership matters more now than ever—not just for the survival of your church, but for the transformation of the world. That’s why it’s so important to learn how to lead with hope when the world is falling apart.

This blog kicks off a three-part series inspired by my recent keynote, Re-Thinking Renewal in Perilous Times. Over the next few weeks, we’ll explore what it means to embody a renewed kind of leadership that isn’t overwhelmed by the chaos of the world but is energized by the Spirit to transform it. Each blog will address a core challenge facing Christian leaders today and offer concrete steps toward spiritual vitality, missional clarity, and lasting impact. Whether you’re clergy or laity, this series will equip you to face perilous times with power, love, and a sound mind.

 

What’s Weighing Church Leaders Down

We are living in perilous times. Church leaders face the triple threat of congregational fatigue, cultural division, and spiritual apathy. Add in climate anxiety, global unrest, and political upheaval, and it’s no wonder even the most faithful are quietly asking, “Where is God in all this?”

It’s tempting to respond with more programming, more preaching, or more performance. But none of those can address the deep soul weariness that plagues our people. Or ourselves.

If you’re a leader who is trying to inspire renewal while battling your own burnout, you need more than good intentions. You need a new paradigm. That’s where re-thinking renewal comes in.

 

The Myth of More

One of the most pervasive myths in church leadership today is that renewal comes from working harder and doing more. The truth? Real renewal comes from doing differently. It’s not about more output, it’s about more alignment with God’s power, presence, and purpose.

 

My Journey to Rethinking Renewal

When I first entered ministry, I believed that if I worked hard enough, prayed deeply enough, and served long enough, I’d see transformation. And I did. Sometimes. But far too often, I encountered systems stuck in scarcity, people afraid of change, and leaders who looked successful on the outside but were falling apart on the inside.

Over time, I discovered that renewal isn’t something we manufacture; it’s something we make space for. As I began to rethink how I showed up as a leader, from striving to surrender and moving from control to collaboration, things started to shift.

In Creating a Culture of Renewal®, I now teach church leaders how to partner with God to co-create a new future. And it begins with re-thinking what renewal even is.

 

What Renewal Really Looks Like

So what is real renewal?

  • Renewal is not a return to the past. It’s not about recreating the “glory days” of full pews or booming Sunday Schools. That nostalgia can keep us stuck. Renewal is about moving forward in faith, not backward in fear.
  • Renewal is not a one-time event. It’s a way of being. It’s a posture of curiosity, courage, and co-creation with the Spirit. It’s how we live and lead in a world where old systems are breaking down.
  • Renewal starts with us. Before your church can be renewed, you must be renewed. That means paying attention to your soul. Listening to your body. Attuning to the Spirit. And trusting that God is still at work—even when it looks like the whole system is crumbling.

 

How to Lead with Hope When the World Is Falling Apart

Leading with hope doesn’t mean denying reality. It means being deeply rooted in God’s presence so you can offer something different than fear or despair. Here are three paradigm shifts that make hope possible, even now:

 

  1. From Panic to Presence
    Perilous times activate our survival instincts. But leading from panic only spreads more fear. Renewal begins when we learn to lead from presence—not performance. That means slowing down, listening deeply, and making space for God to speak. It’s countercultural, but it’s powerful.
  2. From Scarcity to Spirit
    Churches often operate from a scarcity mindset: “We don’t have enough people, money, or energy.” But the Spirit doesn’t work on spreadsheets. The early church didn’t grow because they had abundance—they grew because they believed in God’s abundance. Start asking: “Where is the Spirit already at work?” and join in.
  3. From Control to Co-Creation
    As leaders, we like to have plans. Control feels safe. But the renewal God is birthing won’t be micromanaged. It’s messy, unpredictable, and Spirit-led. When we shift from controlling outcomes to co-creating with God and our people, we allow something truly new to emerge.

These shifts breathe new life into tired systems. But they start with your own willingness to lead differently. The good news? You don’t have to do it alone.

 

Simple Wisdom for the Journey

Do

  • Take time for personal spiritual renewal before you lead others.
  • Cultivate silence and solitude as spiritual practices.
  • Invite your congregation into honest conversations about where they see God at work.
  • Look for small signs of life—and celebrate them.

 

Don’t

  • Rush into the next program or initiative just to feel productive.
  • Avoid hard truths. Denial is the enemy of renewal.
  • Try to do it all yourself. Collaboration is key.
  • Discount the power of the Spirit moving in unconventional ways.

 

Next Steps and Takeaways

If you’re ready to lead with hope when the world is falling apart, join me for a 90-minute interactive seminar: “How Christian Ministries are Achieving Success: An Introduction to Creating a Culture of Renewal®.”

In this online session, you’ll:

  • Discover why many churches are struggling—and how to turn things around.
  • Explore three barriers to renewal and the breakthroughs that overcome them.
  • Envision a Spirit-led path to transformation for your ministry.

This seminar is your next step toward real, lasting impact.

Register now and start creating the kind of change your church—and your soul—has been longing for.

 

 

Copyright © 2025 rebekahsimonpeter.com.  All Rights Reserved.

When the Real Crisis Isn’t Out There—It’s In The Church

When the Real Crisis Isn’t Out There—It’s In The Church

by | May 14, 2025

When I gathered with a group of pastors this week on Zoom, I expected us to talk about political turmoil and economic uncertainty. After all, it’s what’s on everyone’s mind. But that’s not what these leaders were most concerned about.

What they were really wrestling with was something closer to home: a growing fear that their churches aren’t strong enough to deal with the challenges ahead. And worse, that there’s nothing they can do about it. So what happens when the real crisis isn’t out there, it’s in the church?

That shift changes everything.

 

The Hidden Crisis in Church Leadership Today: Feeling Spiritually Stuck

One pastor shared how her new church had been without a permanent leader for over 17 months. In that time, it lost its sense of mission. People were showing up, but they didn’t know why anymore. The mission statement wasn’t posted anywhere and, frankly, no one could recall what it might have said.

Another pastor is serving a growing church. That should be good news, right? But with growth has come a wave of resistance. Some members are now trying to micromanage the process, gossiping and backbiting in the midst of positive change.

Another noted that success itself can be unsettling. As new people join, older members withdraw. It’s as if the very progress leaders are praying for ends up triggering anxiety in the system.

It was clear to me that these pastors weren’t lacking vision or faith. They were facing the emotional and spiritual strain of trying to lead people who feel tired, stuck, or quietly resigned. And they were wondering, “Is bold leadership even possible anymore?”

 

Strengthening the Core: What Actually Makes a Church Resilient

That question led us back to the foundation: What makes a church strong in the first place?

Together we named some essentials—mission, vision, values, life-giving ministries, authentic relationships, and grounded spiritual practices. These aren’t fancy strategies. They’re the deep, steady anchors of a church’s identity.

One pastor, new to her appointment, said she’s committed to helping the church move forward even if progress is slow. That willingness to lead patiently and persistently resonated throughout the group. In a world demanding instant results, she modeled a different kind of leadership—one rooted in hope, not hurry.

We also revisited what makes each congregation unique. Churches highlighted a range of strengths: neighboring well, making disciples, loving their communities, nurturing intercessory prayer teams, and creating space for new expressions of faith to emerge.

These aren’t add-ons. They are the DNA of vibrant ministry. And they deserve to be named, celebrated, and integrated into every part of church life.

 

From Fear to Hope: How Churches Are Finding a Way Forward

As our time together deepened, we began naming not just challenges but assets. We saw glimpses of transformation already underway:

  • A shift from fear to hope.
  • A clearer understanding of each congregation’s unique context.
  • A willingness to create space for new ministries and new leaders to emerge.

We asked how to make these assets more than just momentary wins. How do they become a lasting part of a church’s DNA?

The answer lies in visibility and intentionality. That means staying connected—not just on Sunday mornings, but through newsletters, social media, neighborhood presence, and regular pastoral outreach. It means resisting the temptation to shrink back in the face of fear and instead choosing to lead with boldness and presence.

Celebration Is More Than a Party—It’s a Leadership Strategy

One of the most powerful moments in our session came when we turned to a surprising topic: celebration.

It’s easy to overlook. But celebration is one of the most important tools a leader has. It’s how we mark growth, affirm calling, and re-energize tired hearts. In seasons of struggle, celebration becomes a spiritual practice of resistance against despair.

We named personal and collective wins—becoming more proactive, trying new technologies, overcoming fear of rejection, accepting God’s approval, and remembering our worth as leaders. As we did, the tone of the entire session lifted. The energy shifted. Hope resurfaced.

Celebration reminded us that we’re not starting from scratch. God is already moving. We just have to notice.

 

What If Your Church Is Already Strong Enough?

Here’s what I want to leave you with: The fear that your church isn’t strong enough is understandable. But fears aren’t facts. The Church has always found its way through hard times—not because of perfect plans, but because of faithful leaders who showed up, got honest, and stayed the course.

Your leadership matters. Your voice matters. And yes, your church can be strong enough—not by avoiding crisis, but by rising to meet it.

We’re in a season that calls for new kinds of ministry success—measured not just by numbers, but by spiritual resilience, courageous vision, and faithful next steps.

 

Free Seminar: How Christian Ministries Are Achieving Success

If this resonates with you, I invite you to go deeper. Join me for an upcoming interactive online seminar: “How Christian Ministries Are Achieving Success.”

We’ll explore what’s working right now in real churches—and how you can lead with strength and clarity, even in uncertain times. You’ll leave with practical tools, fresh insight, and the encouragement you need to keep going.

 

 

Copyright © 2025 rebekahsimonpeter.com. All Rights Reserved.

Courageous Leadership: Lent Practices for Church Leaders

Courageous Leadership: Lent Practices for Church Leaders

by | Mar 11, 2025

Friends, it’s hard to believe that just five years ago, the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic. And today, the complexities of our world continue to challenge us. It’s a time that calls for courageous church leadership, and that’s precisely what Lent invites us to embrace.

I’ve spent years helping churches thrive by creating a culture of renewal. I believe Lent isn’t just about somber reflection. It’s a powerful opportunity to lean into the suffering of Jesus as he walked toward the cross. And while we know the glorious end of the story – the resurrection – it’s crucial that we sit with the raw, real challenges Jesus faced. Because, let’s be honest, we’re all facing significant challenges right now. Lent couldn’t be more timely.

The traditional Lenten disciplines – prayer, fasting, and almsgiving – aren’t dusty relics. They’re dynamic tools for effective leadership. Let’s explore how we can use these Lent spiritual disciplines to navigate these turbulent times with grace and strength.

Prayer: Cultivating Vision and Bold Action

Prayer, in my experience, isn’t passive. It’s the engine of vision and bold action. It’s about connecting with God, yes, but it’s also about tuning into the divine whisper that guides our next steps.

During Lent, let’s commit to a deeper level of prayer for church leaders. This means:

  • Practicing Gratitude: Even amidst the chaos, let’s intentionally give thanks. Gratitude fuels our resilience.
  • Offering Ourselves: Daily, let’s surrender our agendas to God, asking for the wisdom and strength to lead with purpose.
  • Interceding for Others: Let’s lift up our communities, our nations, and our world in prayer. Let’s pray specifically for those who are suffering.

But remember, prayer isn’t just about talking to God. It’s about listening for God. This is where true leadership emerges. Pay attention to those nudges, those insights, those “aha” moments that come during prayer. They are often God’s call to action.

For Church Leaders:

  • Foster a Culture of Listening Prayer: Encourage your teams to practice listening prayer, not just petitioning. Create space for shared discernment.
  • Use Prayer for Strategic Planning: Don’t just pray for comfort. Pray for clarity, for vision, for innovative solutions to the challenges your church faces.
  • Teach Practical Prayer Skills: Offer workshops or resources on prayer practices that empower your people to connect with God in meaningful ways. Think Lectio Divina, Ignatian spirituality, or centering prayer.
  • Create Sacred Space for Lament: Acknowledge the grief and pain that people are carrying. Create space in worship and small groups for lament, for honest expression of sorrow.

Fasting: Disrupting the Status Quo and Embracing Innovation

Fasting isn’t just about giving up chocolate. It’s about disrupting the status quo. It’s about creating space for fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to church revitalization.

This Lent, I challenge you to consider fasting from:

  • Complacency: Are you settling for “good enough”? Fast from the fear of change.
  • Apathy: Fast from the temptation to disengage from the world’s problems.
  • Mindless Consumption: Fast from the endless scroll, the constant barrage of information that distracts us from what truly matters.

Fasting, in this context, is about creating space for clarity, for focus, for the kind of disruptive thinking that can revitalize our churches.

For Church Leaders:

  • Lead with Courageous Vulnerability: Share your own fasting journey with your congregation. Let them see that you’re willing to be challenged and transformed.
  • Encourage Innovative Fasting: Don’t just suggest traditional fasts. Invite your people to fast from things that hinder their creativity and engagement.
  • Use Fasting to Fuel Innovation: Before a brainstorming session, have your team engage in a brief period of fasting and prayer. See how it sharpens their focus.
  • Challenge the “Way We’ve Always Done It”: Use Lent as a time to question assumptions and explore new ways of being the church.

 

Almsgiving: Mobilizing Generosity for Maximum Impact

Almsgiving isn’t just about writing a check. It’s about mobilizing generosity for maximum impact. It’s about channeling our resources – our time, our talents, our finances – to make a real difference in the world.

This Lent let’s move beyond transactional giving and embrace transformational giving. Let’s ask:

  • Where can our generosity have the greatest impact?
  • How can we empower others to thrive?
  • How can we be agents of justice and reconciliation?

Almsgiving, in this sense, is about strategic investment, about building a world where God’s love is tangible and transformative.

For Church Leaders:

  • Teach Generosity as a Spiritual Practice: Help your congregation understand that giving is an act of worship, a way to participate in God’s work.
  • Partner Strategically: Don’t just support any cause. Identify organizations that align with your church’s values and have a proven track record of impact.
  • Empower Your People to Serve: Create opportunities for your congregation to volunteer their time and talents. Connect them with meaningful service projects.
  • Advocate for Systemic Change: Encourage your congregation to be informed and engaged citizens, advocating for policies that promote justice and equity.

Lent: A Call to Courageous Leadership

Friends, Lent is a call to courageous leadership. It’s a time to embrace the disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving in ways that empower us to be bold, innovative, and impactful.

As church leaders, we have the privilege and responsibility to guide our congregations through this season. Let’s lead with vision, with courage, and with a deep commitment to making a difference in the world. Let’s use this Lent to equip our communities to be agents of hope, transformation, and God’s unwavering love.

Ready to lead your church with more courage and vision? Take this opportunity to expand on the spiritual strengths you are building by scheduling a 45-minute Discovery Session with me. Or, be my guest at our free seminar How Christian Ministries are Achieving Success.

 

Copyright © 2025 rebekahsimonpeter.com. All Rights Reserved.

Believe in Your Ability to Rise Again: 3 Ways to Believe Like Jesus

Believe in Your Ability to Rise Again: 3 Ways to Believe Like Jesus

by | Feb 19, 2025

We are facing tough times in the world around us. Mainline churches are under attack for uplifting the mercy of Christ. The democracy as we know it is being changed from the inside out by unelected officials. The mission field is rapidly expanding as government workers are being summarily laid off or let go. The separation of church and state seems to have vanished as ICE and TSA officials enter churches at will to detain undocumented workers. The work of politics has positioned itself squarely in the realm of ethics.

As Christian leaders, we are called to notice, reflect on, and respond to matters of ethics. In fact, originally the separation of church and state was developed just so that churches would not feel constrained to speak to issues of the day.

I am writing to encourage you to hold on to your high calling. Not only that, as many values we have held dear seem to tumble down around us, I want you to believe in your ability to rise again. And to bring others along with you.

Resurrection is one of the key tenets of the Christian path. Not only did Jesus rise from the dead, he raised others as well. And he believes that we can rise too. Whether you take resurrection to be a literal or metaphorical reality, rising from the dead speaks to the buoyancy of both the human spirit and the divine spirit within us.

When it comes to participating in our own resurrection, we have much to learn from Jesus. Faced with the worst of dead-end circumstances—an unjust death by crucifixion— Jesus feels dread and moves forward anyway. Jesus believes in the reality of resurrection and puts that belief ahead of his fears. It’s not that he discounts the pain that awaits him. He doesn’t. Instead, he chooses to trust God in the worst moments of his life.

 

3 Ways to Believe Like Jesus

As you trust in your ability to rise, and to bring others along with you, here are 3 lessons we can learn from Jesus about how to believe in resurrection.

  1. Stay aware. Jesus stayed aware of what was happening around him and the implications of the decisions being made about his life. He didn’t bury his head in the sand, simply hoping for resurrection.

From Jesus we learn that as painful as times may be, it’s important to stay aware. So many people I know are opting out of watching the news, or staying informed because it is too depressing. Or too anguishing. While it’s important to keep one’s heart lifted, it is equally important to keep one’s feet firmly planted in the reality of changes taking place around us. Only in this way can you effectively speak, lead and minister to the people around you, and anticipate needs to be met. You can’t ignore the present if you are planning on resurrection.

 

  1. Trust the Guidance of God and the Prompting of the Holy Spirit. Jesus prayed during the worst time of his life. Rather than being frozen in fear, he actively sought out the wisdom of God.

From Jesus we learn to believe in the potent power of prayer. During these days of a rapidly changing landscape in our country, and around the world, pause to tune in to the guidance of God, the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and the needs of your own soul. Divine guidance is what we most need right now.

 

  1. Activate the ministries of the church. Before Jesus faced crucifixion, he conscientiously trained the Twelve to carry on his ministries: healing the sick, proclaiming the Kingdom, and casting out demons. First trained as disciples, they were ready to be sent out as apostles to carry on Jesus’ mission.

From Jesus we learn to believe in the future. We must train people to be ready for ministry. Now is the time to activate the ministries of the church—both comfort and challenge ministries. Comfort ministries offer comfort to those in need. The need for basic human dignities such as food and housing as well as hope and support is growing.  Challenge ministries challenge the root causes of hunger, homelessness, etc. Challenge ministries in these days may look like calling on your government representatives to push back against immoral or unjust or illegal executive orders. Or alerting undocumented workers how to avoid illegal detainment and deportation.

Sometimes, it seems that life hands us dead ends. Bleakness is all that lies before us. While things are bound to be better in heaven, what about life now? How are we to go on in situations like these?

 

A Bonus Lesson  Find joy and gratitude. Remember that in God’s world, there are no dead ends. New life always comes. Be ready for it by finding joy and gratitude in each day. Let your light shine.

Yes, resurrection can seem elusive when times are tough, and fear has a sort of irresistible allure. It sometimes seems a safer bet to catastrophize, to believe in a fearful outcome, than to place our faith in a positive future.

 

Put your Belief in Action

Beliefs shape your thoughts; thoughts fuel your actions; actions demonstrate your faith, and your faith reinforces your beliefs. So, as you begin to believe like Jesus, you will find that you are now able to think new thoughts, take new actions, and develop new faith. Mountains and mulberry trees start to move. The people around you begin to respond in new ways. And the world becomes a brighter place.

  • Believe: Believe in the reality of resurrection by placing more faith in God’s positive future than in your fear. If you have faith in the possibilities of the future, you don’t need evidence that good things will happen. Your choice to believe like Jesus is all the proof you need.

 

  • Answer the Call: Answer the call of possibility, of belief in resurrection. That doesn’t mean you won’t have doubts from time to time, or that you won’t have fears. As Rooster Cogburn in the 1969 movie True Grit, John Wayne famously said, “Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway.” That’s as good a mantra for an apostle as any. Courage is being scared to death and having the faith of Jesus anyway. Don’t pretend you have no fear, but turn that fear around. Don’t let it shut you down. Instead, use it as fuel.

 

  • Practice: A friend of mine used to say, “It ain’t over till it’s over, and if it ain’t good, then it ain’t over.” Develop the practice of looking for the good in each situation. Amplify it. Write about it. Talk about it. Lift it up. Rename your problems as opportunities and act as such. I don’t want to make light of it, but Jesus can see beyond the horror of crucifixion to the good that lay beyond it. He isn’t naïve, nor does he ask us to discount our own pain. Rather, Jesus invites us to see the good that comes out of even the worst of circumstances, like the deep family connections that have resulted from my mother’s ALS.

 

Believe In Your Ability to Rise Again

If you are looking for new ways to embrace the power of resurrection and the faith of Jesus in your ministry and those around you, I invite you to join me for RISE: 40 Days to Spiritual Transformation.

I created this course for leaders like you to embark on a transformative journey based on my powerful new book, Believe Like Jesus: Rising from Faith in Jesus to the Faith of Jesus. This immersive online experience will guide you in awakening the divine potential within, empowering you to live with the same unwavering faith and miraculous power that Jesus embodied.

Throughout six dynamic sessions, you will explore core principles such as spiritual authority, the power of prayer, divine purpose, resilience, and co-creating miracles with God. You’ll gain practical tools to apply these transformative teachings to your spiritual growth and daily life in these challenging times.

The first session is Tuesday, March 4, 2025 and we will meet weekly until Tuesday, April 8, 2025 from 6:30 – 7:45pm Central Time. Single and Group registration options are available. This could be the turning point you’ve been seeking, so register today!

 

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