by Sam Rainer | Jan 21, 2011 | Uncategorized
The paint team needed one more can. The construction team needed a few more tiles. The water team needed one more day to finish a water wheel. The medical team encountered unseen hurdles. But the frustration of unfinished projects in the Amazon jungle only made our... by Sam Rainer | Jan 8, 2011 | Uncategorized
I returned last night from a two-week mission trip in the Amazon jungle, ministering among the Wai Wai people. Once I collect my thoughts (and recover from jet lag) I will blog about short-term mission trip lessons for the established church. In the meantime, I am... 
by Sam Rainer | Dec 12, 2010 | Uncategorized
Some problems have staying power. And good leaders admit it when a solution to a problem will not come to fruition. Allow me to offer you two perspectives—one from the solution side and the other from the problem side. First, leaders can select the right problem to... by Sam Rainer | Nov 8, 2010 | Uncategorized
Dear Erin, Few understand the pressures of being a pastor’s wife. Your life is more public than most. You receive more scrutiny than other church members. Many place higher expectations on you than anyone else in the church. And you love the role. In fact, you thrive... 
by Sam Rainer | Oct 15, 2010 | Uncategorized
The NOC is almost here—November 3-5 is quickly approaching. The National Outreach Convention—or “NOC”—is one of the largest annual gatherings in the US focusing on one simple question: how do we reach more with the message of the gospel? It’s a 3-day experience in San... by Sam Rainer | Sep 24, 2010 | Uncategorized
Personal preferences—it’s a topic that gets much water cooler talk within church leadership circles. Many pastors decry the elevation of churchgoers’ preferences above God’s mission. Rightly so. Anything that comes between God’s people and God’s mission is evil. It’s...
