# The Hardy Group

> The Hardy Group is a 501(c)(3) pastoral leadership consulting nonprofit that coaches lead pastors, church boards, and ministry leaders to lead well and reach more people.

The Hardy Group (legal name: The Hardy Group Ministries) is based in Springfield, Missouri, and was co-founded by Dick Hardy and Jonathan Hardy. It offers one-on-one coaching for lead pastors and publishes practical articles on pastoral leadership, church board governance, volunteers, and ministry decisions. Contact: info [at] thehardygroup [dot] org.

## Services

- [Lead Pastor Personal Coaching](https://thehardygroup.org/personal-coaching): Dick Hardy serves the lead pastor as a non-resident executive staff member for directional, leadership, board development, and ministry decisions.
- [Home](https://thehardygroup.org/): Overview of pastoral leadership, church board leadership, volunteer ministry, and coaching.

## Articles

- [How to Navigate Conflict with a Church Board](https://thehardygroup.org/blog/navigating-board-conflict): Board conflict handled early and directly strengthens a board. How pastors can get curious, address tension privately, and know when to bring in help. (by Dick Hardy & Jonathan Hardy, 2026-10-02)
- [Systematic Ways to Disciple Elementary Age Children](https://thehardygroup.org/blog/discipling-elementary-children): Disciple elementary kids with a scope and sequence, the whole Bible story, parents as primary disciplers, Scripture memory, and consistent leaders. (by Dick Hardy & Jonathan Hardy, 2026-10-01)
- [Systematic Ways to Disciple Teenagers](https://thehardygroup.org/blog/discipling-teenagers): Move youth ministry from entertainment to formation: teach real theology, build small groups, give teens ownership, and partner with parents. (by Dick Hardy & Jonathan Hardy, 2026-09-30)
- [Ways to Grow a Church from 100 to 200 in Attendance](https://thehardygroup.org/blog/growing-church-100-to-200): Breaking the 200 barrier takes structure, not just visitors. Build assimilation, develop leaders early, multiply groups, and fix facility bottlenecks. (by Dick Hardy & Jonathan Hardy, 2026-09-29)
- [Ways to Challenge People in Their Giving to the Church](https://thehardygroup.org/blog/challenging-people-in-giving): Teach giving as discipleship, not budget support. Share real stories, be transparent, give specific next steps, and address financial fear directly. (by Dick Hardy & Jonathan Hardy, 2026-09-28)
- [Raising Godly Children in a Pastor's Home](https://thehardygroup.org/blog/raising-godly-children-pastors-home): Pastors' kids face unique pressure. Protect family time, let children have an authentic faith, model honest faith at home, and trust God with the outcome. (by Dick Hardy & Jonathan Hardy, 2026-09-27)
- [Steps to Build Unity in the Church Body](https://thehardygroup.org/blog/building-unity): Real unity isn't uniformity. Name what unites you, create space to be known, address conflict early, and celebrate shared wins to build a unified church. (by Dick Hardy & Jonathan Hardy, 2026-09-26)
- [Practical Components of Discipleship](https://thehardygroup.org/blog/practical-components-of-discipleship): Discipleship is a system, not a program. Define maturity, connect teaching to practice, build relationships, and give people a clear, repeatable next step. (by Dick Hardy & Jonathan Hardy, 2026-09-25)
- [What a Pastor Can Do to Build Enthusiasm in the Church](https://thehardygroup.org/blog/building-enthusiasm-in-the-church): Enthusiasm isn't hype. Cast vision repeatedly, celebrate changed lives, involve people, name discouragement honestly, and equip leaders to carry momentum. (by Dick Hardy & Jonathan Hardy, 2026-09-24)
- [How to Protect a Pastor's Personal Time with the Lord](https://thehardygroup.org/blog/protecting-pastors-time-with-god): Sermon prep isn't personal devotion. Guard a specific time, invite accountability, build in retreat, and protect the relationship your ministry flows from. (by Dick Hardy & Jonathan Hardy, 2026-09-24)
- [Components of an Effective Young Adult (Ages 18-30) Ministry](https://thehardygroup.org/blog/young-adult-ministry): Young adults 18-30 are often lost to the church. Meet real needs with practical wisdom, intergenerational connection, real leadership, and a clear on-ramp. (by Dick Hardy & Jonathan Hardy, 2026-09-23)
- [Learning When to Cut Your Losses in Ministry](https://thehardygroup.org/blog/cutting-losses-in-ministry): Perseverance or stubbornness? How pastors can tell when to end a ministry, avoid the sunk cost trap, and close programs with care and discernment. (by Dick Hardy & Jonathan Hardy, 2026-09-22)
- [How to Effectively Lead a Church Board](https://thehardygroup.org/blog/leading-a-church-board): Lead your church board well: separate governance from management, build mission-focused agendas, invite honest questions, and close the loop. (by Dick Hardy & Jonathan Hardy, 2026-09-22)
- [How to Motivate Volunteers to Serve with Their Best Giftings](https://thehardygroup.org/blog/motivating-volunteers): Most churches lack well-placed volunteers, not willing ones. Discover, place, empower, and specifically thank volunteers so they serve for the long haul. (by Dick Hardy & Jonathan Hardy, 2026-09-22)

## Authors

- [Dick Hardy](https://thehardygroup.org/blog/author/dick-hardy): Dick Hardy is co-founder of The Hardy Group and Leaders.Church. After nearly 30 years in church ministry as an administrative pastor, church business administrator, COO, and college vice president, he founded The Hardy Group in 2007 and has since coached several hundred pastors one-on-one. With his son, Jonathan, he launched Leaders.Church to help pastors grow their leadership and their churches. Dick and his wife, Pat, have two children and seven grandchildren.
- [Jonathan Hardy](https://thehardygroup.org/blog/author/jonathan-hardy): Jonathan Hardy is co-founder of Leaders.Church. He served on the executive leadership team at James River Church in Springfield, Missouri, then helped plant Summit Park Church in Kansas City, where he oversaw finances and operations as the church grew to nearly 1,900 in weekend attendance. He is the author of Arrow Striker: Live with Purpose and Leave an Eternal Impact… Every Single Day. Jonathan and his wife, Ashley, have three children.

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