Each Christmas morning, my family had a fun tradition — gathering around the tree to retell the Christmas story. Mom didn’t share the “stats” of the shepherds, and Dad didn’t detail the “data” of the donkeys. No, …
Great Expectations: Mobilizing Every Member For Ministry
What role do laypeople play in your church? Are they spectators who expect to be served by the paid staff? Are they critics who will lash out if programs do not meet their expectations? Or are …
Great Expectations: Growing a Staff Of Leaders, Not Doers
Staffing plays a pivotal role in church renewal, but are your staff members clear about their roles? Do different team members have varying assumptions about how the church staff works? Do staff members have different …
Great Expectations: The Role of the Council in Church Renewal
What role does the governing board play in your church, and is it the right role? Do your church’s elders and deacons have clarity around expectations? Or does each one have a different idea about what they …
Great Expectations: The Gift of Clarity Around Pastoral Roles
As a church grows, the roles played by the staff, the council, the laity, the visioning team, and the pastor must shift appropriately. In a new series of newsletter articles beginning today, I’ll tackle each …
How To Find Fresh Ideas
Have you ever made a copy of a copy? How about a copy of a copy of a copy? Over time, the copies begin looking blurrier and blurrier until you can barely tell what is written on …
New Data About Clergy Health
October is Pastor Appreciation Month, and one of the best ways to show appreciation to your pastor is through empathy and understanding. How are ministers doing today? How is your minister doing today? In today’s …
How to Reverse a Decline While There Is Still Time
My wife and I are fans of the British Television show “Silent Witness.” The show focuses on the way a person who died under unknown circumstances can tell a story through an autopsy. As we …
Just Ask: The Power of an Invitation
Despite tectonic shifts over the centuries, one of the best ways to grow a church remains the same — the simple act of extending an invitation. According to Thom Rainer’s book, The Unchurched Next Door, 82 …
Fresh Ideas From The 1860’s
Those who know U.S. history know that the 1860s was a time of great turmoil, not only in the United States’ politics, but also in its churches. These years provide useful lessons for our churches today. …
