What if the healthiest thing a pastor could do is stop trying to control the outcome? Kurt Fredrickson, author of the new book Compelled, joins Markus Watson to argue that most congregations are stuck thinking like machines when they were built to grow like gardens instead. Garden, Not Machine The image on the…
Most of your congregants were never taught that their jobs might be doing something to their souls. They assume work is neutral at best, a distraction from “real” spiritual life at worst. Matt Rusten, president of Made to Flourish and author of Pastoring for Monday, makes the case that work has been central to God’s…
Angela Weszely didn’t go looking for a calling on abortion. Twenty-one years ago she took a job at a Christian pregnancy center in Chicago, and within her first interview she found a brochure in the lobby that made her uncomfortable: statistics about children raised by single parents, framed to steer women away from adoption and…
What if the most dangerous thing a pastor could do is simply want to be the pastor? That question sits at the heart of this conversation with JR Woodward, National Director of the V3 Movement and author of The Scandal of Leadership. Drawing on the work of philosopher René Girard, lay theologian William Stringfellow, and…
Most pastors don’t have an information problem. They’ve read the books, sat through the classes, and can talk theology for hours. What’s harder to come by is a way of actually living differently because of it. That’s the question at the center of this conversation: not what it means to know about following Jesus,…
There’s a word Jeff Crosby uses that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about: unselfed. It’s what happens when you read a memoir by someone whose life looks nothing like yours, or a novel set in a world you’ve never inhabited. You step out of your own story for a while. And when…
Powered by youtube embed Discussion Questions: How does Jana Holiday define the connection between administration and stewardship, and how does this perspective challenge traditional views of administrative work? Jana Holiday discusses stewardship as “open-handed care” compared to dominion, which is more controlling. How can leaders discern their own tendencies between these two postures, and…
Powered by youtube embed code generator Discussion Questions: How did Richard Riccardi’s background as a “cradle Catholic” inform his perspective as he visited different churches and faith traditions? What were some of the misconceptions about church that Richard Riccardi sought to address through his journey and his book? Richard Riccardi described being warmly welcomed…
Powered by youtube embed Discussion Questions: How does the concept of “sacred listening” challenge traditional approaches to youth ministry, and what specific changes could it inspire in your context? Josh Packard emphasizes the importance of trust shifting from institutions to relationships. In what ways can churches intentionally prioritize and build trust with young people?…
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These are not… what you signed up for!
These are not… supposed to consume all your energy!
These are not… why the church exists!
This guide will help:
A message that feels like good news for you, your people, and the world.
Participation with God in the healing of the world.
Life and leadership from a place of deep union with Jesus.
Believe me…
I know how hard church leadership can be.
Here’s the good news…
You don’t have to flounder. You can feel confident knowing that your leadership and your ministry are making a difference!
Invite me to speak to your team, your church, or even for one-on-one coaching.
I’ll help you and your organization live your calling so that, together with God, you can heal the world.
In an ever-changing world, it’s really hard to know how to be a church that makes a difference. When we’re at a loss, church leaders often imitate other churches.
But that doesn’t work because every church’s context is different!
Flourishing churches don’t imitate other churches. But healthy church leaders do help them engage in these seven practices.
How many of these are you doing?
“Markus Watson knows from experience that without a compelling vision, churches instinctively turn inward. But without the capacity to trust each other as a healthy and courageous community, the most enthusiastic mission-driven congregation settles for becoming a spiritual country club for the baptized. An excellent and engaging communicator and a wise and resilient coach, Markus Watson is the kind of consultant, speaker, coach and leader who can inspire a community and its leadership to be their very best selves.”
Dr. Tod Bolsinger, author of Canoeing the Mountains and Vice President and Chief of Fuller Leadership Platform at Fuller Theological Seminary
“Markus is an outstanding teacher, group facilitator, and peer coach. His teaching style is upbeat, light-hearted, and disarming even when approaching topics that stretch and challenge his audience. I highly recommend him.”
Pastor Jason Coker, Senior Pastor of Oceanside Sanctuary
“Markus is a leader of profound character who has a passion to serve the Body of Christ and the world around him. He is a gifted communicator and able to clearly convey substantive thought in a way that is easy to comprehend. It is always a pleasure to work with him.”
Micah Lunsford, Director and Founder of Resonance: A Theological Journal
“Markus is a solid preacher who shares God’s word in practical ways that people can apply to everyday life. He enjoys developing leaders by unpacking the God-given dreams placed inside them that need to get out to benefit the world. He loves guiding leaders through a dynamic process of discovery and development through. I encourage you to contact Markus and begin the journey together!”
Dr. Nate Landis, Founder and President of Urban Youth Collaborative, San Diego
“Markus leads those around him with a passion that is uplifting, encouraging, and unparalleled. His ability to articulate his stories of real life experiences, intertwined with his messages, keep you leaning forward in your seat, engrossed in his words, wanting to hear more.”
Jimm Greer, Founder and CEO of UMTR2ME (You Matter To Me), suicide prevention organization
