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: Two states are more Christian today. Which ones? + Secrets to innovation and self-control
Welcome to the On The Rise newsletter, where I feature fascinating, helpful, and sometimes curious content that caught my attention this week. Today, a map showing where Christianity is rising and falling, what fuels true innovation (it’s not what you think), the relevance of 1776, and James Clear on improving your self-control. How Non-Christian Is Your State? A map of states showing where Christianity is surging or falling. The religious landscape is always changing. While I love good news,...
Is your church measuring these 7 data points?
Hi Reader, What does your church measure? If you're like most, it probably looks something like this: ✅ Weekend worship attendance✅ First-time guests (and next steps taken)✅ Small group participation✅ Volunteer involvement✅ Tithes and offerings✅ Giving units These are all important numbers to have, but here is the issue I've found with them. None of these truly give you insight into the one simple question that we, as church leaders, care about: How are the people at our church really doing?...
Inside a Pastor’s mid-life crisis. 💣
Hi Reader, Ever felt like the very thing that fuels your calling could also take you out? In this episode of the podcast, I sit down with my friend Levi Lusko for one of the most raw and unfiltered conversations I’ve ever recorded. We talk leadership wounds, navigating midlife crisis, and what happens when your platform becomes your identity. Levi opens up about anxiety, panic attacks, and the ticking time bomb that almost derailed his life and ministry. He also shares the powerful story...
It's time for dying churches to hand over the keys
Hi Reader, A bit of a rant... I was talking to a young church leader whose church plant is busting at the seams. They’re barely two years old, already running four services, and scrambling to fit a sea of young adults into a space that doesn’t work anymore. The parking situation? Crammed. The building? Too small.The need for a new facility? Desperate. And yet, just down the road… church buildings sit unused. Vacant parking lots. Nearly empty pews. New churches with people? They have no money...
On the Rise: Gen Z are spiking bible sales + Friday’s a bad idea for surgery + 5 marriage killers
Welcome to the On The Rise newsletter, where I feature fascinating, helpful, and sometimes curious content that caught my attention this week. Today, Gen Z is spiking bible sales, why your attention is the most endangered resource on earth, why you shouldn’t have surgery on Fridays, and five losing strategies for marriage. Bible Sales Up 87% in 5 Years Give Gen Z the credit. You’ve heard already that Bible sales are up, but THIS up? In Great Britain, bible sales are up a whopping 87% since...
To Every Young Leader: The questions you’re asking… answered
Hi Reader, We’re trying something brand new on the podcast—and it’s all about you. For the first time, I’m answering your questions—the questions young leaders submitted—straight from Instagram and the Art of Leadership Academy. In this episode, I tackle the personal stuff. We’re talking ambition, burnout, sustainable leadership, real friendships, and how to build a devotional life that isn’t tied to your job title. ❗Spoiler alert: I share what I wish I could go back and tell my 30-something...
No one trusts pastors anymore. THIS is the impact.
Hi Reader, If you're tired, you can sleep. If you're exhausted, you can take a vacation or sabbatical. But if you're wounded, then what? Time off won't heal your wounds. And so many church leaders are walking wounded. So...this week on the podcast, I sit down with Glenn Packiam—pastor, theologian, and author of The Resilient Pastor—to unpack the growing crisis in ministry leadership. We discuss: 👉 The difference between being weary and wounded—and why rest alone won’t fix everything👉 Why...
Are you losing confidence in your church's evangelism? A personal reflection...
Hi Reader, A few weeks ago, Chuck Bomar (President of Barna) shared a fascinating article on my blog. Why Pastors Are Losing Confidence in Their Church’s Evangelism: A Personal Reflection on Growing Awareness In the article, Chuck reflects on the stark reality that many pastors are struggling to see their church’s evangelism efforts bear fruit. The 6 reasons he outlines in his article got me thinking... If there was one single piece of advice I had to give a church leader to revitalize...
On the Rise: 18 Questions you should be asking + Regrets and travel tips
Welcome to the On The Rise newsletter, where I feature fascinating, helpful, and sometimes curious content that caught my attention this week. Today, Morgan Housel lists a dozen and a half questions that are worth your time, 50 years of travel tips with Kevin Kelly, the power of regret, and a cool site you should try before you visit a new city. Questions You Should Be Asking Morgan Housel asks some GREAT questions. The older I get, the more I realize that the questions you ask are almost...
My #1 tip to make sermon prep easier
Hi Reader, When it comes to sermon prep, how familiar does this sound? You try to start writing Sunday's message early in the week. You sit down, staring at a blank page on your laptop screen. When inspiration finally hits (Tuesday... Thursday????) you finally dive into writing. By the end of the week, you've had enough to pull it all together in the last-minute crunch before it's time to preach. It's a stressful cycle to be stuck in. And here's the issue: If you're starting from zero every...
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.