Leading Major Change in Your Ministry

by Jeff Iorg

Publisher:

B&H

, 2018

Overview

Many ministries must undergo major change in order to fulfill their mission, and more importantly, to fulfill God’s mission, in today’s world. This book tells the story of the relocation of Gateway Seminary—as well as other stories of major change. In doing so, it lays out the principles and processes necessary to get the job done.

The first section of Leading Major Change in Your Ministry outlines foundational concepts to leading major change. The second section explains a six-fold model for leading major change in churches and ministry organizations. The book includes illustrations throughout, not from hypothetical situations, but from real-life ministry challenges in both local churches and large organizations. While theories about leading major change are interesting, practical insight about how to do it—written by someone who has led multiple organizations through major change—is far more helpful.

The stakes are high. Leadership decisions in ministries have eternal consequences. Almost every church or organization needs—or soon will need—to be led through major change. Leading Major Change in Your Ministry is your guide to successfully getting it done.

Contents

Top Highlights

“This claim may surprise you, but most ‘ministry leadership’ is really ‘ministry management.’” (source)

“Servant-leadership is more an attitude than an action, but it is an attitude demonstrated by actions. You cannot have one without the other. If you want to have the kind of influence required to lead major change in your ministry setting, your followers must be convinced you are passionately driven to serve them. They will be convinced by your actions, not your words. Servant-leadership is demonstrated by both professional competence and personal engagement.” (source)

“Change is the new circumstances introduced into organizational life, i.e., a new staffing plan going into effect on a specific date. Transition, on the other hand, is the emotional, psychological, and spiritual adjustments people go through when change is implemented.” (source)

“Managing transition is a disciple-making process; it is Christian leaders helping people transform from who they are to who God wants them to be and what he wants them to do.” (source)

“Since any major change has long-standing implications for a church or ministry organization, it is imperative God be the instigator—at his pace, in his time.” (source)

Product Details

• Title: Leading Major Change in Your Ministry
• Author: Jeff Iorg
• Publisher: B&H
• Print Publication Date: 2018
• Logos Release Date: 2021
• Pages: 218
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subjects: Change (Psychology); Christian leadership; Gateway Seminary; Organizational change; Religion › Christian Theology--Ecclesiology
• ISBNs: 9781087794716, 9781462774616, 9781462774609, 146277461X, 1462774601, 1087794714
• Resource ID: LLS:9781462774616
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2025-07-08T22:54:46Z

About Jeff Iorg

Dr. Jeff Iorg became the seventh president of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in August, 2004. His background includes experience as a pastor, writer, church planter, and denominational leader. He came to the Seminary from Vancouver, Washington, where he was Executive Director-Treasurer of the Northwest Baptist Convention. During his tenure, the Northwest Baptist Center, including the facilities for the Pacific Northwest Campus, was constructed. Before his leadership at the state convention, Dr. Iorg was pastor of two churches. In 1989, he moved to Oregon to plant a church. The result was Greater Gresham Baptist Church in Gresham, Oregon, which is now one of the largest Southern Baptist churches in Oregon. This church helped create a new paradigm for “culture current” church planting in the Northwest. He also served as pastor of Green Valley Baptist Church in Missouri and as a staff pastor at Elmcrest Baptist Church in Abilene, Texas. From 1990-2004, he taught preaching, evangelism, and leadership courses as an adjunct professor for Golden Gate Seminary. Dr. Iorg and his wife, Ann, have three adult children – Casey, Melody, and Caleb. His hobbies include traveling, reading, and umpiring baseball. His personal ministry includes outreach to the baseball community in the Bay Area.