It’s been a long season! When church gatherings were shuttered in March 2020 and everyone hyperventilated about getting on-line, the assumption was that everything would be back to normal by Easter (five short weeks in …
The Renewal Pastor In A Changing World
Eugene Peterson in WORKING THE ANGLES, highlights that a pastor’s traditional role is prayer, study of Scripture and spiritual formation. He rails against those who serve as shop keepers focused on administration rather than spiritual …
Renewal and Navigating the Stir
Many renewal-focused congregations are caught in the stir. The stir, as I label it, includes deeply felt convictions related to human sexuality, women’s leadership, various political persuasions, justice and mercy issues, even practices that maintain …
Renewal Through “With-Ness”
Most renewal pastors motivate members towards mission by reminding them of Jesus’ mandate to go and tell. In other words, it’s mission through witness. In this Advent season, perhaps we should consider another motivating missional …
Thinking About Quitting? Remember These Things
The Hartford Institute for Religion Research discovered that two out of three pastors named last year as the most difficult year of their ministry career. So, it is not surprising that Lifeway Research discovered that …
Renewal Through Reinvention
The pandemic is teaching us that survival depends on reinvention. One of my favorite reinvention stories (a pre-Pandemic story) is the tale of a mom-and-pop grocery store located a few blocks from my home. A …
Creative Ways Of Being Church In The World
There are many ways to be church in the world. I was reminded of that on a recent trip to Amish country. On the two-hour drive we passed stately suburban churches, rural white clapboard churches, …
When Ending Is Just A Beginning
What if ending is just a beginning? I recently posed that question to elders discussing the completion of their congregation’s journey. Many congregations are having similar conversations. David Kinnaman, president of the Barna Group, predicts …
Renewal and Connecting with Gen Z
“We’re losing our kids!” That’s the number one concern expressed by most renewal leaders. The societal trend among the 35 and younger crowd is to abandon religious affiliation all together (1 in 3 are counted …
