What Does it Take?: Managing Decline, Led By the Spirit | Ep. 2
How do you tell whether a busy parish is helping people grow closer to Jesus? Khalil Hattar, Fr. Sammie Maletta and Kris Ziegelhofer look back at St. John the Evangelist’s move from filling the calendar to making disciples. Fr. Sammie recalls running more ministries while wondering whether people’s lives were changing. He also describes learning to pray for the ability to love parish partners whose anger he had initially met with his own.
They bring that challenge back to the people leading. Drawing on Be Disciples, Make Disciples, they talk about living the faith they ask others to embrace, admitting when a decision was wrong, and asking God for the next step before seeking a blessing for an existing plan. They also consider how faith formation can bring knowledge of Christ and a personal relationship with him together. Khalil’s story of praying with strangers at Costco brings discipleship into an ordinary errand.
In this episode
- Recognizing when parish activity is missing its mission
- Learning to love parish partners through conflict
- Living discipleship before asking others to follow
- Admitting a mistaken decision and beginning again
- Praying for the next step in parish leadership
About the guests
Fr. Sammie Maletta
Fr. Sammie Maletta is pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in St. John, Indiana. His ministry centers on parish renewal, collaborative leadership and the sacramental life of the Church. He works with staff and parish partners to help people encounter Jesus.
Kris Ziegelhofer
Kris Ziegelhofer works in human resources and parish partner engagement at St. John the Evangelist Parish. Her responsibilities include recruiting, hiring, and payroll for the parish and school, along with serving on the parish’s leadership team.
Watch What Does it Take?: Managing Decline, Led By the Spirit | Ep. 2 on YouTube (external site)
