What are some practical and fun things people in our congregation do to focus on the sacred aspects of Christmas? An influential pastoral role at Christmas is helping families pay attention to the sacred, spiritual dimension of the holidays. Leonard Sweet’s book, Dance the Soul Salsa, calls on people to mezuzah their lives, meaning to make mundane moments sacred.

What is the best action I can take to increase giving before the end of the year? The last 31 days of the year are usually prime time for generosity. In fact, 30% of charitable giving is done in December. Individuals and business owners are looking for ways to use their discretionary resources—one way to make the ask.

Why do I need to have consistently regulated sleep for my long-term health? Our frenzied lifestyles push us to run on sugar, caffeine and hi-octane stress during the day. Lack of sleep devastates our overall well-being and health.

On May 10, 2023, over 260 pastors and ministry leaders from across the Alberta and Northwest Territories gathered for a roundtable, family forum-styled conference to discuss what it means to “Belong, Grow, and Serve” together in the ABNWT PAOC family. Here’s what we’re learning.

Church finances can be difficult to manage. Many times it’s a cause of stress, and we think, “If only we had more”. Well, let’s start by being good stewards of what we have. Churches often make these four financial mistakes

Have you ever asked why aren't people coming back to your church? I know this seems a little opposite of how we typically view church; come here, and we’ll fill you up for the week. But, I would say we have an opportunity here to reframe what church looks like in this season and meet people where they’re at. The gospel never changes, but our methods can change constantly.

Ignoring physical health symptoms causes them to get worse. I’ve learned to see them as dashboard warning signs, like the check engine light on my car, anxiety symptoms can actually be helpful. Guest author Joel Pulako gives insights and steps to addressing mental health challenges.

What does a vitalized church in Canada actually look like? The reality is every church is on a trajectory and we can’t look at an individual month or year, but we need to look at the overall trends and characteristics of a church that is vitalized. Let’s look at 5 characteristics of a vitalized church.

How do we find rest in the rat race? Unless we deliberately balance this heightened activity with consistent rest, we can easily over-extend and be left in a deficit position emotionally.

October has traditionally been designated as Pastors' Appreciation Month. Appreciation and honour of pastors is not limited to one month, but October is a time to make space for thanking those who lead and shepherd congregations.

What happens when you're asked to take on a responsibility that is not only challenging but appears to be failing? How do you respond? God had much bigger plans than we do. When we step out in faith, he ministers to people's hearts in absolutely stunning ways.

How can our church make a difference in our local public schools? Why not walk across the street to your local public school and see what the question, “What do you need and how can we help?” leads to?

God, can you please help us because, without You, we're done for! Understanding the times calls us to action, not to fear and dismay in the midst of chaos.

Why should I be concerned about personal accountability? The imperative of accountability in leadership.

How can I intentionally invest in my young pastor? ABNWT's pathway for developing our incredible young leaders continues...

Why are churches unable to stay open and grow? In an age where the Canadian population is growing, churches nationwide seem to be shrinking. The media calls it “the age of secularism,” but I call it a “wake-up call for the churches in Canada.”

Is there a place I can find trustworthy support for the call of God in my life? We increase the opportunity for success by surrounding ourselves with those who raise us up.

Our Canadian churches have the greatest opportunity to reverse the trend of decreasing Christian influence in Canada. It works when we obey Christ and shed off everything else. We invite you to join us at the Church Vitalization Summit on August 29 and 30 for two 90-minute virtual sessions on reversing the trend in Canada.