Last week I shaved off my goatee. When I emerged with only eye brows and lashes growing from my otherwise perfectly bald head, my 2-year-old daughter Lucy approached me cautiously. “Daddy…is that you?” she asked.Change is disorientating, and when it comes unexpectedly it can be scary.

Facial hair isn’t the only change in my life, and I want to update everyone on new developments in my work and ministry. Scary? Maybe. Disorientating? Definitely. But I’m also looking forward to what’s around the corner.

At the end of August I will be leaving my role as the managing editor of Leadership Journal to pursue a more independent career. I’ve been in this post for almost 3 years and spent 3 years before that as Leadership‘s associate editor in a part-time capacity. I’ve grown enormously at Christianity Today International (Leadership’s parent company) and owe much to Marshall Shelley, my boss and Leadership’s editor-in-chief. He’s been a great encouragement and has helped me develop as a writer and editor.

SENIOR EDITOR

Thankfully my connection with Leadership will continue in a different capacity. I will maintain my oversight of Out of Ur (Leadership’s blog), Catalyst Leadership (our digital magazine published in partnership with the Catalyst Conference), and portions of the print journal. My new outside role as “senior editor” will also allow me to speak to and network with church leaders from around the world on behalf of Leadership. I believe strongly that a resource like Leadership, which has focused on providing wisdom and encouragement to pastors for over 30 years, is what the church needs. I’m blessed to be a part of this work.

My decision to leave my staff role at Christianity Today International will provide more time and flexibility to pursue a few new projects that I am very excited about.

TWO NEW BOOKS

I’m in the process of writing two books to be published by Thomas Nelson. The first book, a project currently titled With, explores the central calling of Christianity-to live with God rather than over, under, or even for him. It’s a message I’ve taken to numerous churches and conferences in recent years. The response has been strong, and I think it’s worth the time and energy a book requires from me. The second book has yet to be determined-but I’ve got a lot of ideas in my journal.

THE THIRD POST

The other major project I’ll be devoting myself to is The Third Post. I publically unveiled the project at the Q conference in April. The Third Post (T3P) is a non-profit website that will aggregate content from around the globe for those seeking a Christian worldview. With commentary from global Christian leaders on world events and resources from respected ministries, T3P will defy the conventional polarization in the media today-conservative versus liberal; right versus left-by offering a third lens through which to see current events.

We are assembling a great team to build, finance, launch, and oversee The Third Post. You can stay up to date on the project at ThirdPost.org.

SPEAKING, WRITING, & CONSULTING

Finally, in the last few years I’ve done more speaking at churches, colleges, and conferences. That will continue as will opportunities to be a Christian voice in secular media outlets like The Huffington Post and Chicago Public Radio. I also look forward to furthering my consulting roles with ministries like Lausanne and contributing to the important work of inter-faith cooperation.

Of course being independent, while a bit more demanding, also means greater flexibility to spend time with Amanda and our kids. My new office, located in downtown Wheaton, will allow me to zip home or pick up the kids from school for a lunchtime run to Taco Bell.

So, that’s what happening. It’s a bit more than just shaving off my facial hair, but as I told Lucy, “No worries. I’m still me.”

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