Ron Edmondson
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I am CEO of Leadership Network. I was previously pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church, a church leader and the planter of two churches. I am passionate about planting churches, but also helping established churches thrive. I love assisting pastors, and those in ministry think through leadership, strategy, and life. My specialty is organizational leadership, so in addition to my role as a pastor, as I have time, I consult with church and ministry leaders.I have more than 35 years of leadership experience, mostly as a self-employed business owner, and have been in full-time ministry for over 15 years. I have successfully led the restart of one church and the planting of two churches, and now we are seeing God’s hand tremendously in church revitalization. I have a seminary masters and a master’s in organizational leadership. I also once helped lead (as an elected official) a mid-sized city, where I served as Vice Mayor and Finance Chair. The greatest times for me are with my wife Cheryl and our amazing adult sons, Jeremy, his wife Mary, and our youngest son Nate. Over 20 years ago, I founded a non-profit ministry called Mustard Seed Ministry, which provides devotional resources, conducts family, marriage, and parenting, and church leadership seminars. My INTJ personality on the Myers Briggs indicator means I have big ideas, I love creative and critical thinking and I love to see progress. I am usually around people, but crave downtime. For years I was usually training for either a half or full marathon. Running was my most productive thinking time. Knee problems in recent years have caused me to stop running, but I’m committed to finding the time I need to fuel my mind, body, and spirit.

I write several times weekly on leadership, church, and family. To sign up for my blog on a reader or by email, click HERE. I do interact with my readers, so feel free to contact me. You can email me at ron.edmondson@gmail.com.I am also on Google+ at http://www.gplus.to/ronedmondson,
Twitter at www.twitter.com/ronedmondson and Facebook at www.facebook.com/ronaedmondson. My devotional site is www.mustardseedministry.com

Ron Edmondson Posts
  • Thoughts on Managing Conflict as a Leader

    As a leader, there are many times I feel like the mediator between opposing viewpoints. I’m... Read more

  • 5 Words of Encouragement for Church Planters

    Having been a church planter twice, I understand the unique challenges facing planters. They are... Read more

  • 3 Ways Change has Changed

    Change has changed. Have you noticed? Of course, you have. It’s all around us. You might not have... Read more

  • 5 Bad Reasons to Plant a Church

    There are some bad reasons to plant a church. Please understand, I love church planting. When I... Read more

  • A Leadership Lid Leaders Can Never Avoid

    There is a huge leadership lid leaders can never avoid. I have witnessed firsthand. In fact, it’s... Read more

  • You Must Do THIS if You Want to Attract Leaders

    If you want to attract leaders to your team there is one thing you must do – above everything... Read more

  • 7 Ways We Make People Feel Unwelcome At Our Church

    Over the years, I have seen signs like the one in this post and the first word that pops in my head... Read more

  • When I Allow It to Fail or When I Step in to Rescue

    I try to create a leadership culture where failure is considered a part of the learning process.... Read more

  • 7 Suggestions for Pastors When You Lose a Good Team Member

    I have some suggestions for pastors (or leaders) when they lose a good team member. This post came... Read more

  • 7 Ways to Lose Favor with Leadership

    There are some common ways to lose favor with leadership. Now before that sounds arrogant, please... Read more

  • The Life of an Idea on a Healthy Team

    A healthy team gives the potential for life to every idea. Every idea has a chance to live.... Read more

  • 7 Misunderstandings of the Leadership Vacuum

    Many times a leader can be clueless about the real health of the organization they lead. The best... Read more

  • Phrases to Ban When Developing Ideas

    The best ideas in an organizational setting often come by getting a group together and throw out... Read more

  • 5 Ways Leadership Can’t Be “Normal” Anymore

    Leadership is so much different today than when I first started leading almost 35 years ago. To... Read more

  • 7 Suggestions to Successfully Lead Change

    Every organization — whether a church, business or nonprofit– needs change in order to continue... Read more

  • 7 Dangers for the Isolated Leader

    I was coaching a pastor trying to help a church grow again. The previous pastor left town after a... Read more

  • 4 Suggestions for Finding the Right Mentor

    I have had many mentors who have invested deeply in my life. The person I am is in great part... Read more

  • 3 Things That Are Often Unclear On a Healthy Team

    Clarity is often king in organizational dynamics. Words do matter and clear communication is vital... Read more

  • My “System” For Handling Difficult People in the Church

    I was talking with a pastor that I coach recently. He asked me how I handle difficult people in the... Read more

  • 7 Things I Know about People with whom I May NOT Agree

    I have learned I don’t agree with everyone. And everyone doesn’t agree with me. I could say... Read more

  • A Huge Reason We Can Expect Smaller Crowds Upon Church Reentry

    One reason we can expect smaller crowds upon church reentry is not the virus. That’s part of it... Read more

  • 7 Phrases to Ban When Trying to Discover New Ideas

    The best ideas in an organizational setting often come by getting a group together and searching... Read more

  • 7 Ways To Make Really Fast Leadership Decisions

    here are those moments in leadership when you have to make quick decisions. If COVID-19 has taught... Read more

  • 3 Questions Every Church Leader Needs to Ask NOW

    As churches begin to prepare for re-opening our buildings, I think there are three important... Read more

  • 5 Positives for the Church after the Coronavirus Crisis

    I think there are some positives for the church that will come through this Coronavirus crisis.... Read more

  • 5 Ways a Leader Responds as a Crisis Begins

    Leader, how should we respond when a crisis comes? I love the leadership displayed during a scene... Read more

  • 7 Essentials in Facilitating a Church Merger

    I am a fan of church mergers. It takes Kingdom-minded people to be willing to humble themselves and... Read more

  • One Sure Way to Attract Leaders

    I learned in church revitalization that many times entrepreneurial type leaders disappear when... Read more

  • 4 Types Of People Who Give Anonymous Criticism

    As a leader for over 30 years, I’ve received my share of criticism. It comes with leadership. If... Read more

  • 7 Personal Disciplines: A 90 Day Challenge

    I’ve always been considered a fairly disciplined person. There are certain disciplines that have... Read more

  • 7 Helpful Skills for Pastors Who Want to Grow Churches

    I came close to titling these “essential” skills, but I knew that was unfair. God grows... Read more

  • 5 Reasons a Pastor May Not Be Leading Well

    I remember talking with a concerned man about his church. He was concerned the church was wasting a... Read more

  • 7 Everyday Tensions Every Leader Faces

    Being a leader isn’t easy. With every decision a leader makes someone is happy – and someone is... Read more

  • A Leadership Experiment – The Little Things Matter

    In making the first impression, the little things matter. When a visitor shows up on one of our... Read more

  • 8 Things I Wouldn’t Do Again if Planting Another Church

    I have been involved in church planting for most of my ministry career – whether as a planter or... Read more

  • The Quickest Way to Spur Organizational Change

    Do you want to know the fastest way to encourage change? I have practiced this one for years, and... Read more

  • After a great day of teaching, Jesus faced the critics

    And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, and coming to his hometown he... Read more

  • The Biggest Battle in Leadership

    I’m convinced the biggest battle in leadership is often within the emotions of a leader – and... Read more

  • Don’t Agree to Be the Senior Leader – Unless

    Here’s a warning I want to give to those who are currently not in a senior leadership position,... Read more

  • 21 Ways to Keep a Church from Growing

    Here are 21 ways to keep a church from... Read more

  • Common Reactions When Growth in an Organization Slows

    A young pastor was battling the leadership of the church to make changes. He felt part of his call... Read more

  • 7 Things the Church Can’t Do for the Pastor

    Pastor, there are some things your church can’t do for you. They simply can’t. Please... Read more

  • 7 Life-Giving Statements Everyone Needs to Hear

    Words are powerful. As leaders, the words we use make a difference. A huge difference. In my post... Read more

  • 8 Potential Reasons a Church Plant May Not Grow

    I’ve worked with a lot of church plants. And, I’ve been involved in two church plants as... Read more

  • 7 Potential Barriers to Sustained Church Growth

    In church planting, we defied the “rules” of growth for several years. By rules I mean things... Read more

  • 4 Risks of Attempting Risk-Free Change

    As leaders, we all want to limit the risk in the hard decisions we make. Personally, whenever we... Read more

  • 8 Ways to Finish a Ministry Job Well

    Some of you may know, I’m in a season of transition again. When I got to my previous church... Read more

  • 3 Options When the Church No Longer Reflects the Community

    I was coaching a group of pastors and was asked a question I’ve encountered, but never really... Read more

  • Serving Outside the Local Church

    As a pastor, I had a strong conviction about staff members in regards to one way they should spend... Read more

  • 5 Shared Characteristics Needed to do Church Planting or Church Revitalization

    Church planting is a difficult, but rewarding assignment in ministry. So is church revitalization.... Read more

  • Leadership Development for Dummies

    Sorry if the title is crude. No implication about anyone here. But leadership development may not... Read more

  • 12 Indications a Church is Making Disciples

    I’ve often heard people say you can’t measure discipleship. I don’t know if that’s true. It... Read more

  • 5 Really Bad Reasons to Plant a Church

    I love church planters. When I moved into church revitalization, part of the concern I had in doing... Read more

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