The Foundation Principle: What Are You Building On?
Whether we like it or not, the past few weeks have not only revealed the kind of builder we are, it has also revealed what we are building on.
Real guidance for pastors navigating the challenges of everyday ministry.
Leading a small or midsize church comes with unique pressures. From burnout and soul care to church strategy and team development, our articles and podcast guides address the issues church leaders face every week.
Whether we like it or not, the past few weeks have not only revealed the kind of builder we are, it has also revealed what we are building on.
When time is called and we are able to re-engage with one another in public services – let’s not be too hasty in putting it all back together in the same way, just like it was before COVID-19.
With entries from Karl Vaters, Tony Morgan, and many other ministry leaders, we pray this resource is a daily encouragement to you as you navigate this season of life and ministry.
Recently, our friends at City Church in Albany, NY (Michael is one of the pastors in our network) reached out to us with a resource they had put together that listed the steps they had taken in response to COVID-19.
Here are 10 ways to effectively lead your church through COVID-19. And really, you may discover these ideas are good practices during any season:
No doubt the past week has changed so much so quickly. COVID-19 left many churches confused and conflicted about what the best next steps are as restrictions continued to be shared by our leaders to help contain the spread of the virus.
If we want to leverage our online presence to reach our community, it starts with our website and the digital content we create. Not our church app.
Put simply, revitalization that results in changing the appearance of our ministry without changing the approach of our ministry will only be short-lived.
We often see churches who either intentionally or unintentionally create barriers for their community in how they’re structured and how they “do” church.
These two things have a ripple effect across every area of the church. And addressing them is a crucial way to gain more momentum in our efforts to make a real difference in our communities for Jesus.
We have some 95Network one-day events for pastors coming up in Spring 2020 — if you’re in the area, we’d love to meet you:
As a leader (especially a young leader), you will often encounter more critics than encouragers. Here’s some encouragement:

Discouraged. It’s how every leader has felt at one point or another when we want to be somewhere we’re not. Dale navigated his own experiences of disappointment in himself and uncovered key truths about leadership in ministry that can anchor and guide us today.
Dale Sellers of 95Network believes this trend is largely due to discouragement among our pastors. Many church leaders begin ministry with dreams of making an eternal impact. But years of striving, stress, and strain have left them feeling defeated, disillusioned, and stalled.
Thankfully, there is hope that ministry can turn around for the discouraged pastor. As a former minister who’s been in the trenches, Dale Sellers reveals that:
In STALLED, you will discover your sweet spot and realize you are closer to being “there” than you know.
All episodes will be posted here on the website, and are also available wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted by Caralee Culpepper and Dale Sellers, our executive director, and a former small church pastor, our 95Network podcast is a wealth of information specifically for small-church pastors—delivered in a candid, kind, and concise way. We cover pressing topics in modern ministry, annual trends, and more.
Most pastors aren’t refusing rest—they’re trapped by systems. Without a plan (and a bench), even a short break can feel impossible.
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Equipping can’t be reduced to a weekly performance; it requires presence, relationship, modeling, and shared life.
“If you got a pulse, he’s got a purpose for you.” Retirement isn’t the end of ministry; it’s a new season with fresh opportunities to serve, mentor, and impact the kingdom.
Self-awareness protects leaders from self-deception. Honest feedback is a guardrail for character and culture.
Build discipleship around practice, not just information. People grow through doing, feedback, and repetition in relationships.
Prayer is the engine, not the accessory. Easter effectiveness is not primarily about production, but about God’s presence.
Less Is More—With Intentionality. Doing less with your whole heart is better than doing more and being worn out. Fewer tactics executed with great intentionality will be more effective than an overwhelming production.
Have the Conversation Before There’s a Problem. You can’t wait for something negative to happen before talking to volunteers. Schedule regular check-ins not just about their area of service but about their lives.
The personal God gets personal with us. Biblical counseling explores the active, desiring heart beneath behavior and connects it to Christ’s finished work and the Spirit’s present ministry.
We regularly share practical insights for pastors leading small and midsize churches. If you’d like our latest articles, podcast episodes, and resources delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for the 95Network newsletter.
