Reader,

In recent episodes of You Were Made For This I’ve been talking about the power of listening. It’s been in the context of interpersonal relationships.

But I came across something interesting a few weeks ago that speaks to the importance of listening from an organizational perspective.

The Washington Post reviewed a book by two pastors from Orlando titled, The Great Dechurching: Who’s Leaving, Why Are They Going, and What Will It Take to Bring Them Back?. I’ll have links to all of this below.

I am intrigued by the end of the review where the authors give their advice for what it’s going to take to bring people back to church. Quoting from the review,

Congregations will need what the authors call “relationship wisdom” and a “quiet, calm and curious demeanor” where leaders are quick to listen and slow to speak.
“The path forward,” they write, “is not easy, but it is simple.”

Not the typical leadership advice we normally hear, is it?

Because someone listened…

As I've been saying the past few weeks, I’d love to get a brief story from your life that starts with Because someone listened…

Links mentioned above

​Episode 202: The Best Stories​

​Episode 203: Three Reasons For Being Stingy in Sharing Your Story​

​Washington Post Book Review​

​The Great Dechurching​

Until next week, be wise, calm, curious, and …. listen,

John Certalic

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