Do You Know Why You’re Having Church This Sunday?
Do you know why you’re having church this Sunday? In other words, do you know your mission? Here are four simple principles to help you gain clarity:
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.
Do you know why you’re having church this Sunday? In other words, do you know your mission? Here are four simple principles to help you gain clarity:
Over the years of working with churches, we’ve heard some bad advice. So here are the 7 best (worst) church leadership quotes of all-time:
There’s a lot of talk about how churches are dying. There’s a lot of talk about how pastors are quitting. But as we get to work with pastors every week, we get to see a lot of positive things happening.
I want to acknowledge the situation of thousands of leaders who have the title of leader but haven’t been given the authority to function as the leader.
How often do we pray for the blessing of God on our ministry? Yet, if we’re honest, we wouldn’t be able to handle that kind of blessing if God really brought it.
Winning in ministry doesn’t mean losing at home. Nor does winning at home mean losing in ministry. Here’s how we know:
Would you say your church uses social media strategically? What’s holding you back? You might be held back by a lack of understanding of social media’s real potential for ministry. Or maybe there are some fears or roadblocks keeping you from really leaning into it.
There is a prevailing message that I have been sharing for the past year with pastors and churches throughout America. It’s simple and it’s probably not as flashy as you’re hoping it is, but here it is:
We have some 95Network one-day events coming up in Fall 2019 — if you’re in the area, we’d love to meet you:
Here’s the truth: When we get caught up on differences that really don’t matter in the long-run, we are limiting our effectiveness for ministry.
The topic of church growth has been used in many unhealthy ways over the years, causing a lot of pastors to experience insecurity about their ministry, and permitting some to become complacent.
The reality is that most pastors have never cheated on their spouses with another person. But many are having a different type of affair on a weekly basis.

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.
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.
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.
In this episode, Dale Sellers & Joseph Bennett interview trauma counselor Bridget Trammell about trauma, triggers, religious abuse, purity culture, and practical steps pastors can take to heal and lead healthier churches.
We usually have it backwards. . . Most of us rest from work. However, God’s desire for us is that we work from rest.
Fault leads to shame; responsibility leads to freedom. Responsibility shows you what you can actually change and release what you cannot control.
Discernment stays human. AI can help refine communication, brainstorm, or summarize—but leaders must verify and own what’s shared.
Connection starts with God first. If leaders are not connected to God, they will not lead people into meaningful connection.
Kids ministry deserves top-tier support. If the mission includes evangelism and disciple-making, the next generation should be resourced accordingly.
Most pastors aren’t refusing rest—they’re trapped by systems. Without a plan (and a bench), even a short break can feel impossible.
Preparation beats panic. Healthy leaders build a plan before the crisis—then execute calmly when disruption hits.
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.
