“No one should be able to out-local the local church” writes Carey Nieuwhof in the Outreach Magazine article “7 New Disruptive Trends That Will Shape the Future of the Church.” One of those disruptive trends …
Questions for the land inbetween
Together we are sojourning through a “land between.” It’s a land between pre- and post-COVID 19. The sojourn will, likely, last another 6-12 months. An interesting dynamic of journeying through this land between is that …
Renewal leaders and the need for greater agility
A lot has changed with respect to ministry planning in the past few months. A year ago, a congregation’s ministry horizon was, generally speaking, 3-5 years into the future. Major decisions demanded attention but they …
Emphasizing kingdom citizens
Several renewal leaders have been struggling with division in their ranks connected to polarized political ideologies. For some, those divisions were recently on display during discussions about the timing and safe practices of reopening. Jesus …
Getting online discipleship done
Nearly every congregation has non-members viewing their online worship services. Some are investigating faith from the safety of their living room. Churches have an opportunity to disciple these virtual guests if they’re willing to invest …
What ‘missional’ looks like today
Renewal leaders have a desire to join God on His redeeming and restoring mission. Before Covid-19 most renewal leaders understood what missionally living looked like in their ministry context. They could name, for example, neighbor-focused …
Renewal leaders and the pursuit of justice
Renewal leaders leaders from a majority culture have a unique responsibility to help their congregations pursue a more just society. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “A Church that has lost its voice for justice is …
How to reengage your congregation
After a season of staying-at-home most renewal leaders are asking, “How will we return to in-person worship?” Behind this question is a more important question, “How will we reengage our congregation in life together?” In …
What to do when resources diminish
One of the challenges created by the Coronavirus is the loss of anticipated income for ministry and mission. A recent survey conducted by Vibrant Congregations and the Center for Church Renewal discovered that three quarters …
How to keep getting better
At the beginning of the Coronavirus, churches faced a steep learning curve. In a few days they had to learn how to worship on line, how to stay connected with members, how to adjust budgets …
