Author: Todd Engstrom
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Jesus Has All Authority—Stop “Releasing” People to Do Ministry
I was talking with two friends recently, and one of them was wrestling with something I’ve heard many times before: “I want to make disciples in my home… but I’m not sure if I have permission.” This kind of confusion is more common than we’d like to admit. In many churches, faithful believers are left…
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Extra Ordinary Prayer
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face… then I will hear from heaven…” —2 Chronicles 7:14 In recent weeks, I’ve been praying with different groups across Austin—listening for hunger. Hunger for God. Hunger for His Spirit to move again. Hunger for awakening. And while I’ve…
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Forerunning, Not Competing
I recently got back from a spring break trip to Florida—family, friends, sunshine, the usual mix of chaos and rest that comes with traveling with kids. I left a day early, though. My oldest had a playoff soccer game, so I packed up and hit the road solo while everyone else stayed behind. That night,…
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Lost and Led: Learning to Trust Jesus in the Unknown
I hate feeling lost. I love leading. Recently, I found myself in an environment where I had zero familiarity—a dance competition for my daughter. Let’s just say I’m not exactly a seasoned “dance dad.” I showed up feeling like I had been dropped behind enemy lines with no map. The dance world has its own…
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The Deadline Dilemma in Ministry
I love deadlines. Others hate them. The word itself sounds ominous—essentially, cross this line, and you die. But where did it even come from? It turns out that deadline has a fascinating etymology. Originally, in the 19th century, a “deadline” referred to a literal boundary in prisons—if a prisoner crossed it, they could be shot.…
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Thinking Out Loud: Groundbreaking
I’ve always found ground breaking ceremonies a little funny. There’s a circle of people dressed in nice suits and fancy shoes, all wearing hard hats for a quick photo while they shovel a bit of dirt. It makes me scratch my head—why celebrate at the very start of a building project? And grand openings with…
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One Body, Many Parts
I am increasingly thankful for the way God has designed His Church. In recent weeks, as I’ve engaged in conversations and reconnected with old friends, I have been reminded of how much we need one another—not just on Sundays, but every day of the week. The body of Christ is not a theoretical concept; it…
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Nostalgic Novelty
I probably think too much, and my mind often takes the things in front of me and connects them to other ideas in really odd ways. And sometimes, I think I “discover” patterns. Lately, I’ve been pondering if this is a recurring theme in my own life and among friends. It seems like we’re drawn…
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Hope that Does Not Put Us to Shame
Early this week, I found myself staring at the daunting task ahead. A quarter of my time has already passed for support-raising, and as I evaluated the results so far, I felt the creeping weight of doubt. Will I reach the goal? Some days, it just seems insurmountable. To make matters harder, I was receiving…
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Coherently Incoherent
This past week was a mix of joy, exhaustion, and an eclectic variety of meetings. At one point, I joked with a friend that this is what happens when two people with executive experience become individual contributors. We both have spent years setting direction, coaching others, and thinking strategically. But in this project, we’re just…
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Meekness, Humility, and Humiliation
In the trials I experienced during the fall of 2023, one of the most profound insights I received came during a conversation with a friend. As we worked through conflict, he encouraged me to ask God for and pursue meekness. The word struck me. I have always relied on intelligence, and leadership roles have often…
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From Faith, By Faith, and For Faith
In this transition to a new season of ministry, I’ve been reflecting quite a bit on the journey God has led us through. I have often described this interstitial season as a feeling of “wandering in the wilderness,” which is an allusion to Israel and Exodus. While I can’t see fully what lies ahead, I…