May 18, 2022
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Jessica L. Anschutz of the Lewis Center staff shares how congregations can begin to reach four groups of people through ministry on digital platforms.
In-depth Interview with Olu Brown
How can church leaders embrace rather than fear the future? Lewis Center Director F. Douglas Powe interviews Olu Brown on how leaders can “normalize next” and begin living their future now by engaging innovative thinking, creative partnerships, and hybrid strategies to fulfill their mission.
Whether it’s due to post-pandemic fatigue, lingering health concerns, or broader cultural shifts, volunteerism hasn’t bounced back as readily as other aspects of congregational life. Susan Beaumont outlines seven ways to revitalize volunteer engagement.
The Right Question
Leaders do not need answers. Leaders must have the right questions.
Instead of responding to ideas by noting weaknesses, Indra Nooyi, former CEO of PepsiCo, discovered that asking probing questions often led to constructive dialogue rather than defensiveness. One example of her probing is this request:

Help me understand how this comes together?
What can you do when 20% of your congregation does 80% of the serving, learning, and leading? The Increasing Active Engagement Tool Kit includes videos, narrated presentations, outlines of key points, and supplementary materials to help you get and keep people involved and engaged.
Subscribe to the Lewis Center’s YouTube channel for video podcast episodes, leadership strategies and tips, free video resources, and much more.
Strong and growing congregations typically have a very high percentage of people who are actively involved in learning, serving, and leading. 50 Ways to Increase Active Engagement offers tips to help you lift up the ministry of volunteering in your congregation.
Leading Ideas is made possible by contributions to the Lewis Center for Church Leadership from readers like you. Thank you.
Join the Lewis Center’s Dr. Ann A. Michel and Dr. Lovett H. Weems Jr. for their online summer courses from Wesley Theological Seminary. Each course is 1 academic credit hour or 1.5 CEU credits.

  • CM-142-OL Healthy Stewardship in the Local Church (June 6–10) with Dr. Michel.
  • CM-137-OL Church Finances (July 11–15) with Dr. Weems.
“Quotable” Leadership
“An act of love, a voluntary taking on oneself of some of the pain of the world, increases the courage and love and hope of all.”

Dorothy Day
If you’re a pastor preparing to begin ministry in a new setting, The Right Start Video Tool Kit leads you in ending your current ministry well, developing a personal transition plan, and making the most of your first days, weeks, and months in your new congregation. Includes the free COVID-19 Supplement. Available in Pastor’s and Group Training Versions.