LEAD Ministry

It's always a good time to begin thinking about the next step in congregational ministry and every congregation can benefit from strategic planning!

LEAD's unique Strategic Planning process starts with listening to God in scripture, congregation and the neighbors.

Consider LEAD to do this important work with your leaders! Next info meeting is Sept 23 at 11:30amCT - https://bit.ly/4bqhkZ

The Daily LEAD podcast is back with new episodes!

What if one of the greatest dangers in leadership is what you don’t know? As we begin a new season, we’re turning to the leadership lessons found inside one of the most creative organizations in the world: Pixar. Drawing from Ed Catmull’s Creativity, Inc., this episode explores his powerful warning: “If you don’t strive to uncover what is unseen and understand its nature, you will be ill prepared to lead.” We’ll talk about leadership blind spots, why success can sometimes hide dysfunction, how our position can actually limit what we see, and why the people closest to the work may understand things we don’t. Great leaders don’t assume they have the whole picture—they stay curious enough to ask, “What am I not seeing?”

Listen NOW on your favorite platform or at leadconnects.org/podcast/

Sacred Art: An old technology that still speaks
By Deacon Peggy Hahn (she/her), Consultant at LEAD

Built between 532 and 537 by Emperor Justinian I, Hagia Sophia was the world's largest cathedral for nearly a thousand years. Standing beneath its breathtaking mosaics, it is nearly impossible not to sense the Divine in the grandeur of the space. Yes, it was converted into a mosque in 1453. Minarets were added. History changed its purpose. Yet the Christ-story still speaks. Read more here - leadconnects.org/sacred-art/

Registration extended through TODAY for LEAD's Fall 2026 Love Our Neighbors Cohort!

We have room for 1-2 more congregations. Register at leadconnects.org/love-our-neighbors-cohort/ You will gain skills and a process to love your neighbors through strategic listening.

The Daily LEAD podcast is on a break. We will be back with new episodes on Sept 10th! It's a great time to catch up on past episodes you missed!

Build community with other leaders with LEAD's NEW opportunity - The LEAD Exchange!

A network for deacons, pastors and ministry leaders focused on - Listening More. Learning Together. Leading Creatively. Meets 2x a month for only $100 a month!
Two cohorts start in October!

Your Guide - Deacon Peggy Hahn

Learn more and sign up here by Sept 21st - leadconnects.org/the-lead-exchange/

"In Search of Paul" - A LEAD Pauline study pilgrimage to Turkey and Greece for rostered leaders and inquiring disciples. We are leaving post-Easter, April 6-22, 2027.

Full info at: leadconnects.org/in-search-of-paul-2027/

Registration closes 10/31/2026.

$1000 scholarships available for leaders rostered 10 years or less.

TODAY is THE DAY to get registered - leadconnects.org/love-our-neighbors-cohort/ for LEAD's Fall 2026 Love Our Neighbors Cohort - to learn skills and process to learn to love your neighbors through strategic listening.

As our neighborhoods, world, and connections to one another continue to change each day, it becomes vital for our congregational leaders to strengthen their roots in the neighborhoods where they are planted. We don’t have to do this work alone - we can do this together in community.

Your congregation is constantly communicating spoken and unspoken values and beliefs all of the time through your website, emails, social media, printed communications, etc. Unfortunately, sometimes churches send messages they don’t intend to by the choice of pictures, too many fonts, or the message is confusing or incomplete for the intended audience.

You can TAKE ACTION NOW by registering for LEAD’s Communication Audit and get clarity on your communications! Learn more at leadconnects.org/communications-audit/

Register here by Sept 4th - leadconnects.org/love-our-neighbors-cohort/ for LEAD's Fall 2026 Love Our Neighbors Cohort - to learn skills and process to learn to love your neighbors through strategic listening.

As our neighborhoods, world, and connections to one another continue to change each day, it becomes vital for our congregational leaders to strengthen their roots in the neighborhoods where they are planted. We don’t have to do this work alone - we can do this together in community.