Fierce Conversations: Managing Board Conflict

Alan Pue

My friend Bill Simmer is famous for his many colorful and sometimes painfully honest quotes. The phrase “fierce conversations” is one of those. He employs that quote to remind us that finding common ground that truly advances the purposes of an organization will, of necessity, require honest exploration of divergent ideas about how best to resolve contentious issues. It is a clearly biblical idea of which the author of Proverbs reminds us when he writes, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). It is, however, a process that can be uncomfortable. Read More...

Draw Families In—And Keep Them Coming Back

George Jacobus

All four of my kids attend Brazos Christian in Bryan, Texas. Fortunately, we live right next to the school, but the majority of the families will drive 10 to 20 miles. The public school district in our community has great schools, repeatedly beats the national average in test scores, and frequently excels in athletic competitions. On the way to our school, families often pass three, four, or sometimes five good schools their kids could attend. Read More...