I’m growing in my awareness that, more than I like to admit, I put a significant amount of thought and energy into avoiding discomfort, maintaining personal equilibrium, and keeping relational tensions at a minimum so that I can stay focused on my own goals. Most of the time, I do all this without realizing it. Why? Because, in my heart of hearts, I believe discomfort is bad, I believe my character is mature enough, and I believe MY goals are the same as God’s goals for me. Therefore, anything that disturbs my life, relationships, or efforts needs to be defended against, removed, or ignored.

I don’t think I’m the only leader who struggles with this way of thinking. However, if it goes unchallenged, we will end up avoiding some of the very things that God wants to use for our growth and deepening trust in Him. If we live in self-protection against what might disturb us, our character and our faith will be significantly stunted.

After finishing a series on spiritual formation, let’s not ignore one of the most “forming” ways we engage with our world. Let’s tune into the often quite powerful and forming effect of how we engage with technology.

Whether you’re an elder, staff member, group shepherd, or ministry leader, it’s not easy to know how to lead through (or even know how to respond to) someone who tells you they’re here from the church next door, or when someone you know and love tells you they’re leaving the church. So how do we shepherd people well who are changing churches, coming or going? Here are some learnings I’ve had over the years.