Robert Campbell, pastor of Santa Margarita Community Church (EFC), recently released his book You Are There: Restoring Churches, People and Places. One of the reviewers wrote, "This book is an encouraging and pastoral gift to the church today...I am often asked what it practically looks like for a local church to care for creation and love their neighbors- this book is a very good, helpful answer."  Another reviewer wrote, "It doesn't attempt to provoke guilt or anger. Rather it talks hopefully and matter-of-factly about appreciating God's handiwork, learning from creation and leaning into the natural seasons, all as part of what it means to be a follower of Christ."

With encouragement and support from Shane Stacey, leader of ReachStudents for EFCA, Jared Burke of Christ Community Church (EFC) is hosting the first Orange County Evangelical Free ChurchYouth Pastors meeting on Monday, May 16, from 11:30 am to 1 pm at Christ Community Church, 25382 MacKenzie St, Laguna Hills, CA. Lunch will be served courtesy of Christ Community Church.

EFCA West recently created a Ministry Opportunities with EFCA West Churches page on the website.  The page creates a space where EFCA West churches can post staff positions they are seeking to fill, whether part-time or full-time. Contact Paul Schliep (Paul.Schliep@EFCA.org) if you have a staff position to post. The page will simply list the position, a short description and a contact person at the local church for those wanting to apply.

Augustine, bishop of Hippo in the 5th century AD, wrote, "No man can be a good bishop if he loves his title but not his task."  In this month's Something to Talk About, Bob Osborne addresses the issue of having titles, which can be very useful, as opposed to loving titles, which can be very destructive.  Of Titles and Tasks provides a basis for discussing these distinctions and the challenges leaders face in balancing "we are all parts of the same Body" with "who's in charge of what?"

Most articles about church bulletins are written by those who create them, not those who use them.  To remedy this, Celine Murray has written from the perspective of the first-time visitor.  Read "Church Bulletin Do's and Don'ts: A Visitor's Perspective" and then pass it along to those in your church responsible for producing the bulletin each week.

In conducting exit interviews with visiting guests, the first thing usually mentioned is the pastor's preaching.  But when the interview continued, those surveyed by Thom Rainier's group discovered there are "Seven Personality Traits Guests Like in a Pastor."  Most of these traits fall in the general category of "relational skill," and these first impressions were often lasting. 

Recently North Coast Training sat down with Albert Tate, founder and lead pastor of Fellowship Monrovia.  Albert is an excellent communicator and a passionate pastor.  You can read a synopsis of the conversation here or listen to the entire conversation at the bottom of the web page.

Dan Reiland suggests there are five reasons people listen to someone speak, and each reason requires something different or something more from the speaker.  After each reason given in "Why Do People Listen to You?," Dan gives suggestions on how to develop as a speaker and a person in order to better communicate. As a communicator, it's always good to remember that people have a choice about whether or not they will continue listening to you over time.

It is estimated that 90% of ministry leaders around the world have very little to no training. These leaders are eager to be educated and trained in areas that most of us are well-equipped to teach. SOS International is a global leadership training ministry that has been equipping leaders since 1979. They have trained leaders from more than 90 countries. SOS International currently has invitations from academic institutions, denominations, ministerial associations and special conferences for experienced ministry personnel to build up the Body of Christ.  Check out their website at www.sosinternational.us or contact Rich Frazer, President, at richfrazer@gmail.com.

In his article "If You Want to Create Great Things, Stop Punishing Failure," Len Wilson suggests that how you respond when someone on your team fails can foster creativity and innovation, or create a culture of fear and hesitancy.