Carey Nieuwhof
Don’t settle for an impact smaller than you’re called to make. It's time to unlock your potential and lead confidently into a future filled with growth — for yourself, your church, and your mission. Get access to some of my best leadership content, only published in my newsletters.
On The Rise: Christian moral relativism and FREE Starbucks
Welcome to the On The Rise newsletter, where I feature fascinating, helpful, and sometimes curious content that caught my attention this week. Today, some fascinating insights into where Christians stand on moral absolutes, and how that changes generationally and denominationally. Plus, I’ve got free Starbucks for you because you’ve been working so hard and deserve it, a question about whether you should remember everything about your life if technology makes it possible, some insight on...
How AI is revealing what the Church has neglected
Hi Reader, You might find yourself in the same boat as me—thinking a lot about how quickly AI is reshaping our world. Every week, there’s a new model, a new tool, a new promise to make life easier. But here’s what’s surprising me most: AI isn’t just changing how people live... it’s revealing what the Church has neglected. Somewhere along the way, we stopped being the place where people bring their hardest questions—about identity, calling, and purpose: First, people turned to Google and...
Feeling stuck? Try this 63-second reset to think clearly.
Hi Reader, If you’ve ever felt your brain spinning faster than your calendar can handle, you’re not alone. Burnout, stress, and anxiety are at record levels among leaders, and I wanted to get to the root of why. That’s why I invited Dr. Caroline Leaf to the podcast this week. She’s a clinical neuroscientist and bestselling author who’s spent four decades studying how our thoughts shape our lives. In this episode, we dive deep into why so many leaders are overwhelmed — and how mind management...
How the Church today is getting discipleship wrong
Hi Reader, What if the very signs you've been trying to avoid—the slip-ups, the doubt, the uncertainty—are actually evidence that your church is on the right path? Somewhere along the way, we started believing healthy churches are "tidy" churches. Think about it... the early church wasn’t clean or polished, and somehow, that’s exactly where God moved. Maybe that’s the point. So if things feel messy, it’s not always because you’re leading wrong. It’s simply because you’re leading real people:...
On The Rise: Do You Like AI Bots More Than Real People? Um…
Welcome to the On The Rise newsletter, where I feature fascinating, helpful, and sometimes curious content that caught my attention this week. Today, some fresh data shows that a disturbing number of teens prefer AI chats to actual human relationships. Plus, the state of the workplace in 2025 (it’s not great and could use the church), how to pronounce hard-to-say foods, and being known for what you’re FOR not what you’re against. Teens Think AI Companions Beat Human Companions Youth Pastor...
What's draining your time? If it's this, here's how to change it.
Hi Reader, Have you ever hit Friday and thought, “I worked all week... but what did I actually accomplish?” If that sounds familiar, you might be stuck in what I call the Leadership Time Trap—a cycle where you’re busy, exhausted, and yet not really moving the mission forward. I’ve been there too. In this episode of the podcast, I unpack how to escape that trap and start multiplying your results without adding more hours. I’ll walk you through a brand new but powerful framework I've discovered...
The mental health crisis and a hopeful solution for your church
Hi Reader, You already know the weight of ministry. But what about the weight of carrying the mental health and life challenges your congregation is facing? Most pastors (myself included) find it overwhelming. Every week, people walk through your doors carrying pain—trauma, anxiety, depression—and they’re looking to you for help. But if you’re like most pastors, you feel unequipped, overwhelmed, and definitely out of time. In today’s episode of my podcast, I sit down with Shaunti Feldhahn and...
6 shifts every church leader should be thinking about
Hi Reader, Last week, I shared 7 things churches not (yet) seeing revival can learn—simple and practical shifts that, I believe, will help you stay focused, faithful, and ready for whatever God might do next. If you missed that one, you can catch up here. This week, I’m diving deeper with 6 more shifts every church leader should be thinking about. Faithfulness, prayer, and intentional leadership are the marks of churches that position themselves for whatever God might want to do in the...
On The Rise: College kids and Atheism + How to respond when people leave your church
Welcome to the On The Rise newsletter, where I feature fascinating, helpful, and sometimes curious content that caught my attention this week. Today, some surprising findings from Ryan Burge on whether college really does beat the faith out of your kids (it doesn’t), how to respond when people leave your church, Steve Jobs, and a quote about the power of good and bad habits. Surprise! Sending Your Kids to College Doesn’t Make Them Atheists It’s time to debunk another myth. You’ve heard it...
Is your church (actually) ready for the next American revival?
Hi Reader, A few weeks ago, I shared some encouraging attendance trends in my Friday newsletter: The most frequent church attenders are Gen Z (1.9x per month). Men are attending church at new levels. And while it's not all encouraging (Why aren't older generations attending as frequently? Why are so many women drifting away from church?), there's A LOT to be more optimistic about than a few years ago. Today, a few more trends that feel hopeful, and some practical advice on how to get ready....
Don’t settle for an impact smaller than you’re called to make. It's time to unlock your potential and lead confidently into a future filled with growth — for yourself, your church, and your mission. Get access to some of my best leadership content, only published in my newsletters.