Church renewal is fueled by, sustained by, and powered by prayer. As theologian Karl Barth said, “to clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.” Many …
The Anatomy of Church Renewal: A Helpful Metaphor For Navigating Change
Church renewal requires us to enlist every single member of the congregation in the effort. But each person has a different role to play, and we have to make sure people end up in the …
The 2030 Problem: Church Renewal Steps For Graying Congregations
By the year 2030, all Baby Boomers will be 65 or older, and for the first time in U.S. history, older adults will outnumber children. This profound demographic shift is known as the “2030 Problem,” …
Perfectly Wrong
I’ve never made a March Madness bracket worth bragging about, and apparently, I’m not alone! Of the millions of brackets users created on Yahoo Sports, CBS Sports, ESPN, and the NCAA’s platforms, not a single one …
Learning To Love the Institutional Church
There seems to be one thing Americans can agree on—whether we are on the right, left, or somewhere in the middle: we don’t trust and don’t like institutions. Our trust in institutions has been in …
How To Keep A New Vision Alive
Vision is leaky! Aligning a church around a new vision can feel like blowing air into a balloon that has a pinprick in the other end. The work is never done! Discerning a new vision is only …
In Defense of Church Growth
We all long to reverse numerical declines and see our churches grow once again… or do we? I used to assume this was universally true, but recent conversations have convinced me that a discussion is warranted. …
The Disengagement Crisis At Church
Church renewal efforts thrive in congregations that are highly engaged, enthusiastic, and involved. However, many churches are finding that volunteerism has not returned to pre-COVID levels. Disengagement is high among lay leaders, council members, and staff. …
Those Were The Days
A lifetime ago, there was a show called “All in the Family,” and each episode began with two people at a piano singing a song that longed for a bygone era. Sometimes, the church sounds …
Seven Ways to Get Your Church Unstuck
Resistance to change is one of the most common barriers we face in church renewal. Over time, churches tend to become complacent and stagnant by default. Why? It is human nature to fear the unknown and …
