Todd Engstrom

Category: church

  • Lessons I Shared With a Younger Leader

    Yesterday afternoon, I met with a younger pastor and mission leader here in Austin. We grabbed a cold frosty beverage and settled into one of those conversations that quickly move past small talk and into the deeper questions of calling, leadership, and life. He came with a notebook full of questions. I came with a…

  • Who Do You Love?

    I keep coming back to John 17. This high priestly prayer is beautiful and rich, and continues to bear weight on my life and ministry. For years, I taught this chapter as part of training leaders for missional communities. I loved it then for its clarity. Jesus ties the unity of his people to the…

  • When is a Group a Church?

    Church planting work often begins long before anything recognizable as a “church” exists. It starts with prayer, relationships, hospitality, Scripture, and gospel conversations. Over time, a few people become a group. A group becomes a discipleship community. Believers emerge. Leaders begin to form. And eventually – sometimes slowly, sometimes suddenly – a church is born.…

  • Why Plant Churches

    For much of the early 2000s, the question in Austin seemed to be, “Why not plant a church?” Churches emerged across theological traditions, cultural expressions, and missional instincts. Some flourished, some faded, and some quietly concluded their work. Yet even where churches closed, the fruit often remained. Disciples were formed, leaders were trained, neighborhoods were…

  • The Church Isn’t a Safe Place

    We live in a time when people long for “safe spaces.” The language of safety has become central in our culture, and in many ways, that is understandable. We have lived through a global pandemic, experienced cultural unrest, and carried personal anxieties. Safety feels good. Safety feels needed. And safety isn’t all together bad. But…

  • Gratitude for Partnership in the Gospel

    Philippians 1:3–6 “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will…

  • The Longing Beneath the Form: Ancient Future and Nostalgic Novelty

    In a recent conversation with a friend I dearly love, we were talking about what people are longing for these days—particularly in the church. He described it as a hunger for the ancient future—a return to something old, something deep and rooted, that can still guide us into what’s next. The phrase stuck with me.…

  • 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…

  • 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.…

  • 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…

  • Assessing Candidates – Character

    Over the past few weeks, I’ve focused on staffing in the local church.  This series will focus primarily on assessing candidates who emerge for potential roles on your team.  There are four primary areas of assessment that are crucial in assessing someone for a position on our staff: Calling Character Capacity/Competency Culture/Compatibility This series will…

  • Assessing Candidates – Calling

    Over the past few weeks, I’ve focused on staffing in the local church.  This series will focus primarily on assessing candidates who emerge for potential roles on your team.  There are four primary areas of assessment that are crucial in assessing someone for a position on our staff: Calling Character Capacity/Competency Culture/Compatibility This series will…