https://network.crcna.org/ The Network en Tue, 23 Apr 2024 15:00:38 +0000 Thu, 07 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/archives-and-adaptation One thing I’ve learned from being a lifelong CRC person is that CRC folks love archives. In fact, I even had my first kiss beside archival photos of war veteran church members from Spring Lake Christian Reformed Church—of which at the time my dad was the pastor and my in-laws the youth leaders. Josh Sweetman https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/archives-and-adaptation Thu, 07 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/take-fresh-look-how-faith-grows-building-blocks-faith When was the last time your congregation asked questions like these:  What does maturing in faith look like? How are we encouraging and equipping people to mature in their faith? What groups and/or areas of growth might we be missing? Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/take-fresh-look-how-faith-grows-building-blocks-faith Thu, 18 Nov 2021 15:04:42 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/pastor-church-resources-coaching-trust-almost-40 Imagine this: You’ve just shared with a group of your friends that you struggle with your weight. Or that you depend too much on peoples’ approval. Or that you don’t want to go back home because of what you will face there.  Dave Den Haan https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/pastor-church-resources-coaching-trust-almost-40 Mon, 27 Sep 2021 15:04:24 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/3-questions-ask-upon-returning-person-worship As I write this, most churches in Canada have not yet returned to full in-person worship. Even though many U.S. churches have already done so, this is still an excellent time for all of us to ask a few important questions as we look back on our remote worship experiences during the pandemic. Lesli van Milligen https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/3-questions-ask-upon-returning-person-worship Tue, 13 Jul 2021 12:58:59 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/what-word-cloud-can-tell-you-about-your-churchs When my husband and I were first married, we moved to Denver, Colorado. We knew we wanted to attend one of the CRC churches in the area, and there were four of them near us in South Denver. My grandmother attended one of those churches. Laura Keeley https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/what-word-cloud-can-tell-you-about-your-churchs Wed, 05 May 2021 19:31:40 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/roadmap-post-pandemic-recovery-coming-safe-landing Remember when we thought the pandemic would last six weeks and we would all be back together in worship by Easter 2020? I am currently doing extended pulpit supply for a vacant congregation that weekly marks pandemic time. Last week was the sixty-first Zoom service in the time of COVID-19. Lesli van Milligen https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/roadmap-post-pandemic-recovery-coming-safe-landing Thu, 22 Apr 2021 20:06:41 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/roadmap-post-pandemic-recovery-faith-formation There have been a host of predictions about what life will look like on the other side of this worldwide pandemic. Lesli van Milligen https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/roadmap-post-pandemic-recovery-faith-formation Mon, 05 Apr 2021 16:13:26 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/ministry-and-people-third-third-life In response to the declining attendance of young people, many churches are doing the important and necessary work of reaching out to Millennials and Gen Zs. Lesli van Milligen https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/ministry-and-people-third-third-life Mon, 25 Jan 2021 00:40:06 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/why-your-church-needs-be-part-cohort-team-now-more This time of pandemic is stretching churches more than ever before. The pandemic has accelerated the need to do ministry in new ways, and congregations are being invited to lean into creativity and adaptive change. Lesli van Milligen https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/why-your-church-needs-be-part-cohort-team-now-more Tue, 22 Sep 2020 11:51:24 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/need-creative-experimentation-all-congregations Brian Sanders, leader of the Underground church movement, provides a simple yet profound analysis of post World War II church history (paraphrased here):  Syd Hielema https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/need-creative-experimentation-all-congregations Mon, 31 Aug 2020 18:06:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/coaching-corner-bearing-our-burdens-together “Trouble can always be borne when it is shared.”  —Katherine Paterson, The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks Liz Tolkamp https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/coaching-corner-bearing-our-burdens-together Mon, 17 Aug 2020 16:17:31 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/when-change-thrust-upon-us-3-models-navigating-new In these unprecedented times, congregations all over the world have pivoted their Sunday services and youth group gatherings to online formats on the fly. Lesli van Milligen https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/when-change-thrust-upon-us-3-models-navigating-new Fri, 22 May 2020 17:21:36 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/keeping-our-posts Introduction John Lee https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/keeping-our-posts Fri, 27 Mar 2020 18:00:34 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/coaching-corner-why-i-love-my-job Do you ever have moments when you think, “Thank you, Lord, for reminding me why I love this job!” Aren’t those moments great? And sometimes they come when you least expect them and in ways that you could never foresee. Here’s the backstory to my most recent “Thank you” moment. Trudy Ash https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/coaching-corner-why-i-love-my-job Tue, 04 Feb 2020 15:55:37 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/coaching-corner-turning-committee-work-new-church If your church is planning a new faith formation initiative (or any type of initiative), gaining the support and buy-in of your congregation is key. But what’s the best and most authentic way to go about gaining that support? Lesli van Milligen https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/coaching-corner-turning-committee-work-new-church Thu, 16 Jan 2020 15:41:50 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/4-ways-ward-ministry-myopia I need new glasses. I have had this pair for about five years. Both temples have broken off. One was saved by super glue, but the other was replaced with such a mismatched piece that I have to strategically place my hair over it. Lesli van Milligen https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/4-ways-ward-ministry-myopia Fri, 20 Jul 2018 16:13:30 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/blessings-collaborative-learning-cohorts Does the following statement describe you?   When I die, I want the people I did group projects with to lower me into my grave so they can let me down one last time.    Lesli van Milligen https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/blessings-collaborative-learning-cohorts Thu, 25 Aug 2016 14:32:53 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/what-causes-friction-between-combustibles As I sift through the proverbial ashes after a church "fire" I find evidence that "friction between combustibles" is another major causal contributor. Pete VanderBeek https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/what-causes-friction-between-combustibles Sat, 09 May 2015 16:58:39 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/detecting-smoke-indicator-potential-internal One possible preliminary indicator of a "fire" about to break out in a church is smoke. (This is a secondary level, explanatory article in a series in which I am reflecting on building an imaginary "fire" detector for congregations. Pete VanderBeek https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/detecting-smoke-indicator-potential-internal Mon, 04 May 2015 16:44:28 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/should-your-church-close-how-do-you-know Over the last several months, a Legacy Churches ad hoc group found that there are churches dealing with the 6 indicators of potential closing, as mentioned in Legacy Churches by Stephen Gray and Franklin Dumond. The 6 factors include:  Denise Posie https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-coaching/should-your-church-close-how-do-you-know Fri, 24 Apr 2015 13:45:31 +0000