Gary L. McIntosh > Quotes

“The majority of tragically fallen Christian leaders during the past ten to fifteen years have been baby boomers who felt driven to achieve and succeed in an increasingly competitive and demanding church environment. Most often their ambition has been a subtle and dangerous combination of their own dysfunctional personal needs and a certain measure of altruistic desire to expand the kingdom of God. However, because ambition is easily disguised in Christian circles and couched in spiritual language (the need to fulfill the Great Commission and expand the church), the dysfunctions that drive Christian leaders often go undetected and unchallenged until it is too late.”
― Gary L. McIntosh, Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership: How to Become an Effective Leader by Confronting Potential Failures

“Here is how Karl Menninger defines loyalty: Loyalty means not that I agree with everything you say or believe you are always right. Loyalty means that I share a common ideal with you and that, regardless of minor differences, we fight for it, shoulder to shoulder, confident in one another’s good faith, constancy, and affection.[16]”
― Gary L. McIntosh, Staff Your Church for Growth: Building Team Ministry in the 21st Century

“The one who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely the one who dropped it. Lou Holtz”
― Gary L. McIntosh, There's Hope for Your Church: First Steps to Restoring Health and Growth

“What’s natural eventually turns inward to bring stability, but then the church becomes so stable that no one wants to grow anymore. People begin to guard the structure and programs already in place, so it is difficult to close out an older ministry, let alone start a new one.”
― Gary L. McIntosh, Taking Your Church to the Next Level: What Got You Here Won't Get You There

“There is surely nothing quite so useless as doing with great efficiency what should not be done at all. Peter Drucker”
― Gary L. McIntosh, Taking Your Church to the Next Level: What Got You Here Won't Get You There

“development”
― Gary L. McIntosh, There's Hope for Your Church: First Steps to Restoring Health and Growth

“Restoring a sense of mission and vision for the future is a crucial challenge that must be accomplished if the church has any chance of survival. Calling the congregation back to the mission of the church and developing a new vision for the future is essential.”
― Gary L. McIntosh, Taking Your Church to the Next Level: What Got You Here Won't Get You There

“training,”
― Gary L. McIntosh, Taking Your Church to the Next Level: What Got You Here Won't Get You There

“We cannot cause growth; we can only create a climate in which growth can take place.”
― Gary L. McIntosh, One Size Doesn't fit all: Bringing out the Best in any Size Church

“If we don’t meet people’s felt needs, we will never meet their real needs.”
― Gary L. McIntosh, One Size Doesn't fit all: Bringing out the Best in any Size Church

“It is not unkind to say that the ingrownness of many congregations is the antithesis of the Great Commission to make disciples.”
― Gary L. McIntosh, One Size Doesn't fit all: Bringing out the Best in any Size Church

“However, because ambition is easily disguised in Christian circles and couched in spiritual language (the need to fulfill the Great Commission and expand the church), the dysfunctions that drive Christian leaders often go undetected and unchallenged until it is too late.”
― Gary L. McIntosh, Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership: How to Become an Effective Leader by Confronting Potential Failures

“Auren Uris, a highly respected researcher and writer in the fields of human resources and management, supports the importance of small teams. He writes, “There is growing evidence that the most creative problemsolving or decisionmaking will occur in small, odd-numbered groups (5, 7, 9).” He advises, “If you want originality and creative contributions, . . . keep the group small. Five people is the number many researchers suggest for optimum efficiency, freedom of exchange and cooperation.”[5]”
― Gary L. McIntosh, Staff Your Church for Growth: Building Team Ministry in the 21st Century

“Teams need both leadership and management. Popular author Stephen R. Covey explains: Leadership deals with direction—with making sure that the ladder is leaning against the right wall. Management deals with speed. To double one’s speed in the wrong direction, however, is the very definition of foolishness. Leadership deals with vision—with keeping the mission in sight—and with effectiveness and results. Management deals with establishing structure and systems to get those results. It focuses on efficiency, cost-benefit analyses, logistics, methods, procedures, and policies.[6]”
― Gary L. McIntosh, Staff Your Church for Growth: Building Team Ministry in the 21st Century

“As North American culture glides toward secularism, significant numbers of church attendees view their church as a place where they gather in safety with others who hold similar beliefs and values. To them, the church is a home where they come each weekend to be healed, comforted, and encouraged before they venture back into an unfriendly world. Instead of being pioneers, venturing out to reach a lost world, numbers of churches have settled down to maintain the farm.”
― Gary L. McIntosh, The 10 Key Roles of a Pastor: Proven Practices for Balancing the Demands of Leading Your Church

“As God’s people, we are to be welcomers just as God is a welcomer. When we welcome newcomers to church, we are demonstrating the gracious love and care of God himself.”
― Gary L. McIntosh, Beyond the First Visit: The Complete Guide to Connecting Guests to Your Church