HealthThe Plateau Is a Leadership Problem Before It Is an Attendance Problem
What congregational research says about why churches stall between 150 and 250, and the three structural moves that get them unstuck.
HealthFind your desk
Every article is written to one leader's actual job. Pick yours and read what was written for you.
I
Senior Pastors
Vision, preaching, elder boards, staffing, and the weight of the whole.
- Started Versus Launched: D. Brandon Campbell on Bringing Church Experience to Gwinnett County
- Pastor Succession Planning: What Andy Stanley's Handoff Teaches Every Church
- Evangelism on Social Media: Equip Your People to Start the Conversation, Then Take It Offline
II
Associate & Under-Shepherds
Associates, elders, deacons, small group and care leaders.
- Church Guest Follow-Up: What to Do in the First 72 Hours and the Six Weeks After
- How to Disagree With Your Senior Pastor Without Undermining the Church
- Hospital Visits: A Practical Theology for the Room
III
Worship Leaders
Praise team leaders, music directors, and production volunteers.
- Congregational Singing Is Down. Here Is What Brings It Back.
- Auditions Without Wounds: Saying Not Yet Kindly
- Setlist Flow: Arranging Songs Around the Sermon Text
IV
Youth Pastors
Youth pastors, student ministry volunteers, and next-gen leaders.
- Screening and Safety Policies That Protect Students and Leaders
- Small Group Curriculum That Teenagers Do Not Roll Their Eyes At
- Parent Partnership: The Meeting Every Youth Pastor Should Hold
Pillar One
Growth
Evangelism, assimilation, multiplication. Healthy numbers that come from healthy systems, not gimmicks.
Explore GrowthPillar Two
Health
Leadership culture, discipleship pathways, conflict, governance, and the pastor's own soul.
Explore HealthPillar Three
Connection
Small groups, guest follow-up, volunteers, and the community outside your doors.
Explore ConnectionLeader Tools
Free tools built for ministry work. Try the Church Health Pulse right here; it runs entirely in your browser.
Church Health Pulse
8 questions · 2 minutesSermon Series Builder
Powered by SermoniTurn a book of the Bible or a theme into a titled, outlined series with big ideas for each week.
Guest Follow-Up Writer
Free toolDrafts a warm, personal three-touch follow-up for first-time guests in your church's voice.
Setlist Flow Planner
Free toolSuggests song order, keys, and transitions around your sermon text and service length.
Youth Lesson Outline
Free toolA 45-minute student lesson: hook, text, discussion questions, and a take-home challenge.
The Leader's Library
Books our editors keep returning to, sorted by the leader who needs them most.
Leading from the Second Chair
Serving well under another leader without losing your voiceView on Amazon
How To Manage God's Money
A Bible-based blueprint for building wealth without compromising your faithView on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate, Church Leader Today earns from qualifying purchases. It never changes what we recommend.
Tools we recommend
Platforms and publications worth a church leader's time.
Sermon preparation
Sermoni
Research, outline, and prepare sermons faster, with your study and your voice at the center.
Try SermoniDiscipleship & assimilation
GROWTH
Track every person from first visit to active disciple, so no one slips through the cracks.
Explore GROWTHFaith and business
CP Mag
Christianpreneur Magazine: faith, business, and leadership for those building beyond the pulpit.
Read CP MagLeader Letters from Eric V. Hampton
Nearly 30 years as a senior pastor and executive pastor. Now leading operations for a church of 10,000+ weekly.
Leader Letter · Oct 24, 2026
Just Because It's Working Doesn't Mean It's Sustainable.
Discover why successful church programs can become unsustainable and learn three questions every pastor should ask before planning for 2027.
Leader Letter · Oct 17, 2026Your Church Has a Culture. But Is It the One You Intended?
Discover how church leaders shape culture through everyday decisions, accountability, and the behaviors they reward or tolerate.
Leader Letter · Oct 10, 2026Delegation Doesn't Eliminate Responsibility
Delegation is essential for healthy church leadership, but accountability still matters. Discover four practical ways pastors can delegate without…
Leader Letter · Oct 3, 2026Don't Break the System to Get the Superstar
What can church leaders learn from the Kawhi Leonard and Clippers situation? Great leaders protect culture, accountability, and organizational systems even…
All Leader Letters at ericvhampton.comChurchLeaderOSChurchLeaderOS: Complete Leadership Development SystemLead yourself, lead others, lead the organization.Pew PatternsPew PatternsWhy the saints are sittin', switchin', and searchin'.Succession GuideChurchLeaderOS: Pastoral Succession GuidePlan the handoff before you need it.Free AssessmentThe Healthy Church Systems AssessmentFree diagnostic for your church's systems.Visit Eric's store
Free Resources
- Hartford Institute for Religion ResearchResearchFaith Communities Today national survey data on congregations.
- Lifeway ResearchResearchPastor and congregation surveys, free reports and articles.
- Barna Group ArticlesResearchTrend data on pastors, Gen Z, and church engagement.
- Carey Nieuwhof Leadership PodcastPodcastWeekly interviews on leadership, culture, and change.
- Planning CenterSoftwareCheck-ins, services planning, and people management, with free starter tiers.
Proven Resource
Feature · Connection
Alpha: Why a 30-Year-Old Course Still Opens Doors
A close look at the meal, talk, and discussion format that churches of every size keep using to welcome people with questions about faith.
- Best for
- Outreach and guest assimilation
- Cost
- Free materials; you supply the meal
- Effort
- 11 weeks, one host team
The Monday Brief for church leaders
One research insight, one practical move, and one free tool. Written for your role, in your inbox before staff meeting.