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.
Why good leaders still fall
Hi Reader, I’ve had enough conversations with fallen leaders to know this: You should never assume it couldn’t happen to you. Eric Geiger and I talked pretty candidly about that in today’s podcast episode. Like you, we’ve both known leaders who loved Jesus, prayed deeply, preached faithfully, and still toppled. That’s sobering. And it raises a needed question: What in me could eventually take me out if I don’t deal with it now? For Eric, one vulnerability is misplaced identity, finding too...
Ambient Exhaustion and Spiritual Formation
Hi Reader, When was the last time you ran into someone who wasn't tired? Or busy? Or had something really profound to say? Yeah, it's been a minute. I spent a lot of time thinking about that (and living it out) this summer on my five week summer break. I thought I was running into my summer holidays refreshed... you know, with some gas in the tank. What I discovered surprised me. Usually after a week or so into my summer break, I find that I've hit 'baseline' - that point at which you've...
On The Rise: Four trends shaping ministry + why promotion is pverrated
Welcome to the On The Rise newsletter, where I feature fascinating, helpful, and sometimes curious content that caught my attention this week. Today, four trends that the Barna Group is keeping an eye on, including an emerging discipleship gap. Also, a thoughtful piece from Seth Godin on why you're probably doing too much promoting and missing what really spreads the word about an idea. Plus, TED Talk secrets on public speaking and a fascinating conversation with legendary music producer...
What leaders are saying about AI and the Future Church
Hi Reader, When I started writing AI and the Future Church, I was afraid it would land as either alarmist or naive. Fear sells... hype sells... but neither one helps you lead. And that's exactly what I want it to do, help you lead in this emerging era. So before launch, I put the book in the hands of pastors, church leaders, and thinkers I deeply respect. Here's some of what came back: “ There’s plenty of fear-mongering around AI but reading Carey’s book gave me great hope: Our rapidly...
How a 900-person church is raising $37.5 million
Hi Reader, Have you ever looked at the vision in front of you and quietly wondered, How in the world is this ever going to happen? 👉Maybe it's a building project. 👉Maybe it's reaching your community. 👉Maybe it's simply leading your church through a divided culture without losing people along the way. Today’s podcast episode reminded me that God-sized visions are supposed to feel bigger than you. Aaron Graham pastors a church of about 900 people in Washington, D.C., and right now they're...
Almost half your church trusts AI with their spiritual growth
Hi Reader, Did you know 48% of practicing Christians say they trust AI with their spiritual growth? This is not the casual attenders... not the Christmas-and-Easter crowd... this is practicing Christians. The people who show up, give, serve, and open their Bibles. According to recent Barna research, half of them now trust AI with their spiritual life. Before you move on, it gets more personal than that. Roughly one in three of your most committed members has already put AI's spiritual advice...
The day AI lied to me (with footnotes)
Hi Reader, While researching for AI and the Future Church, I spent a lot of time experimenting with AI tools. For all the impressive stuff, there was one fail I'll never forget. I asked an AI for research on church trends, and it confidently served up Barna data: Statistics, study titles, publication dates, and even links to the sources. One problem: none of it was real. The studies didn't exist. Barna never published them. And the links it sourced were dead. Every single one. The AI had...
On The Rise: A new gap between pastors and christians + Gen Z doesn’t trust anyone
Welcome to the On The Rise newsletter, where I feature fascinating, helpful, and sometimes curious content that caught my attention this week. Today, a new discipleship trend when it comes to the views pastors have about AI versus congregations. Also, Gen Z apparently trusts nobody, the challenge with celebrity Christians, and how being improbable is a great strategy. The Gap Between Pastors and Their Congregation Church leaders are much more cautious about AI. New Barna Research shows that...
What your guests feel that you’ll never hear about
Hi Reader, Your church probably has a great service. Visitors leave saying the music was good and the preaching was solid. But some of those same people never come back, and you and your team are left wondering why. 🤷 Will Guidara built Eleven Madison Park into the number one restaurant in the world, and he spent years studying the real reason people feel what they feel when they walk through a door. The difference between a church people return to and one they quietly stop attending often...
7 signs your sermon was written by AI
Hi Reader, Have you noticed that our feeds all sound the same? Well, it’s three and a half years since ChatGPT launched and I don’t think that’s an accident. A Wharton study earlier this year put a name on what’s happening: cognitive surrender. When you let AI do your thinking for you. In today’s episode, I walk through seven tells that give away AI-generated content (things your congregation is probably already picking up on), share what my actual voice sounds like and how I’ve fought to...
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.