The premiere of the second season of 13 Reasons Why has continued the show’s tradition of graphic content and controversial subject matter for younger viewers. Gwen Bartlett offers her thoughts on navigating the cultural implications of 13 Reasons Why and her advice on discussing these serious topics with your...
13 Reasons Why 13 Reasons Why became a cultural phenomenon when it was released by Netflix in the spring of 2017. It sparked debates about mental health, violence, bullying, sexual assault, and suicide. A shocking number of copycat suicides were attributed to the show, and many discussed whether or...
This week, Chris Bartlett has a story for us, which ultimately asks us, “How are we meeting the needs of our community?” Everyone who steps into a church is looking for something, but how are we helping them find it?
How do you connect with the people in your ministry? We all must live the best story available to us, and in this video, Chris talks about how we use this in our ministries.
Super Bowl 52 was viewed by over 103 million people. Each viewer watched for their own reason: the commercials, to root for a team, to root against a team, and, for many, the halftime show. Justin Timberlake was welcomed back to the halftime show 14 years after the “wardrobe...
Polar Bear vs. Buffalo, who wins? Finally, we have a scientific way to know (as well as a fun game to play on retreat or as a time-killer). Chris Bartlett gives us the Animal Crackers Cage Fight and tells us how we can use it on retreats, conferences, &...
In this video, Chris talks about a process for finding the perfect volunteers & evaluating the current leaders in your ministry! Do your volunteers “get it?” Do your volunteers “want it?” And do they have the “capacity?”
This post is a follow up post to the Widowed by Ministry post. It contains practical tips and clear fruits of a minister who has ordered their marriage above the ministry and below or within their relationship with God. Let’s dive in. Yes, No, and Go. To protect your...
I love the black and white decisions, like the time I got the call that my three year old daughter was in the hospital with a broken leg. It was a no brainer, drop everything and go. One phone call on the way mobilized my volunteers to cover the...
For anyone who has been in ministry for some time, you’ve witnessed or done too many bake sales, car washes, or pulpit pleas to fund ministry events (honestly, even if you’ve just done one, it may feel like too many). Well I say, “off with its head!” We need...