Leadership

LANDOVER, Md. – As a gifted entrepreneur, TOMS founder Blake Mycoskie wanted to amass tons of money, then give it away when he reached 60 or 70 years old.

Be successful, then give back, he thought.

"I knew I'd be blessed from that. I thought 'that is life,'" the 33-year-old Californian said Friday during The Global Leadership Summit in South Barrington, Ill. more >>

The truth…there is a “new town square” and our Churches better have a visible-and I would argue-leadership position in it. Historically, town squares have been where people congregate to interact with one another…to celebrate, to seek accurate and important information affecting their community. It is where people seek assistance, look for opportunity and ultimately seek truth. The town square is where people were called to action to address emergencies, save lives, save souls… Often the town square revolved around the Church building or Synagogue. Today however, many places of faith are about to miss out on the most significant change occurring in the town square, and it resides at the finger tips of most everyone they serve.

The “New Town Square” is mobile. It is as convenient and close as everyone’s hand. And Just like the more traditional town square, the New Mobile Town Square has vendors, shops and various commercial interests popping up and surrounding it… creating an economy of commerce, philanthropy, and influence. Mobile devices, due to their ease of use, increasing band width and smart phone capabilities are already being utilized by commercial and social interests.

So what presence does the church, ministry, synagogue…in general institutions of faith have in the “New Town Square”? For most, the answer is nothing or a minimal presence at best. Unfortunately, if the Church does not act quickly and with clear intention there will be huge missed opportunities to further its support, both monetarily and ultimately the loyalty of those they serve. more >>

Ted Haggard, the evangelical leader who fell from grace after a gay sex scandal in 2006, announced on Wednesday that he will start a new church in Colorado Springs.

With his wife, Gayle, and three of his sons by his side, Haggard told reporters that the St. James Church that he incorporated three weeks ago will soon be an active church.

Initially, Haggard said he incorporated St. James for accounting purposes to organize payments he and his wife receive from talks at churches. He explained that they pay for their own traveling expenses and St. James would help organize reimbursements. more >>

American evangelist Luis Palau will preach to an overflow crowd of up to 20,000 people at a megachurch in mainland China this month.

Registered church Chong Yi in the eastern city of Hangzhou will host the evangelist for the March 20 event.

Chong Yi Church is designed to seat only about 5,400 people, but senior pastor Joseph Gu said he believes they can fit 10,000 people into the various buildings on the church property, said Fred Conklin, a full-time volunteer with the Luis Palau Association who is handling the ministry’s China relations, to The Christian Post. more >>

The head of Focus on the Family recently shared that he has been grappling with the idea of what real strength is.

Jim Daly, president of the influential pro-family group FOTF, shared in his blog “Finding Home” that he is nearly done with his new book Stronger, due to be released this fall. In the book, Daly explores what God says about true strength.

“I’ve come to see that, more often than not, I am most usable when I’m weak, broken, powerless – not some sort of spiritual Rambo,” Daly wrote in his blog. “It’s what Paul, a follower of Jesus, was getting at in his message to the members of the fledgling Corinthian church: ‘For when I am weak, then I am strong’ (2 Corinthians 12:10).” more >>

President Obama’s support among born-again Christians has decreased after a year in office, a new survey shows.

Among all born-again Christians, 35 percent are satisfied with the job the president is doing, according to a survey conducted by The Barna Group. Back in the 2008 election, 42 percent of all born-again adults voted for then Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

“The study suggests that many Americans may be losing their patience with President Obama,” the Barna survey noted. “[I]t appears that many committed Christians who were supportive of Mr. Obama during the election campaign are substantially less supportive of him today.” more >>