The Church Renewal forum provides fresh conversations and new ideas to help churches renew their atmosphere and journey towards mission in a post-Christian culture.
Amy
Resonate
David
Marian
Jim
Henry Nouwen encourages us to counteract the hurry-up behaviors by adopting a “ministry of presence” instead. What if, in 2018, your congregation learned to practice this missional behavior in your community?
Perhaps the most common concern expressed by congregants regarding church leadership is the lack of communication. Hosting a monthly "Q&A" is something I initiate to help improve communication.
As my exposure to congregations has increased, I’ve discovered greater creativity than I anticipated. Let me share a story about The HUB's creative approach to “doing” church.
Whatever precipitates the conclusion “we cannot stay here” the next question always is, “so where do we go from here?” Churches asking that question have several next-step options.
Giving is the life-blood of every church. In today’s world of PayPal, ApplePay, and Venmo have we kept pace with how our people like to give? Here are some suggestions for creating a more giving friendly church.
Is leadership an innate ability bequeathed to a chosen few? Or, is the art of leadership something that a person can grow into and hone over time?
Christian doctrine is based on several theological twins e.g., truth & grace, fully God & fully human, sovereignty & free-will. Similarly, church renewal is elliptical. Renewal only happens when churches invest in the following twins.
Connecting with a public school links the church to the beating heart of the community. Here are a few ways churches can serve their local public schools.
Recently I heard Bill Hybels articulated eight elder approved statements that name their highest values. These statements can serve as a helpful conversation starter for ministries seeking to identify ministry priorities.
It's sometimes difficult for me to write about hospitality. In as much as it's something most churches speak about regularly, I feel as if it has become the latest buzz word, but without a depth of understanding and practice.
Congregations that are growing primarily by connecting the disconnected tend to be low bar/high bar churches. They have a low cultural bar (it's easy to walk and assimilate) but a high discipleship bar.
There are doubtless many “secrets” and tips for building a successful ministry team. But many of the things that build a team are among the simplest, everyday things. Like praying for each other. By name.
Someone once said that if you can teach your congregation to smile you’ll grow by 20%. Churches would also do well to teach their facilities to put on a smile.
The Ultimate Frisbee community, like any other group coming together over a shared affinity, has its own special values. As we integrate into these communities, we have an incredible opportunity to live out our faith.
Churches that are below peak membership but haven’t rightsized systems and structures look organizationally frumpy, exhaust members, and reduce their Kingdom impact. Here are some ideas to right-size a smaller congregation!
We have been active in a worshipping community for most of our lives. We know how to do “church.” But there is something remarkable about trying to find a new one.
Many people that we meet at the farmer's market don’t know where our church is located. The market has provided an opportunity to tell them both where we are and a bit more about who we are.
I once met a salesman who changed the way I view things. Jerry, the salesman, said, “Good Christian practices makes good business practices.”
Through an emphasis on Gospel preaching and life-on-life disciple making, Sunlight Community Church (CRC) in Port St. Lucie, FL, has celebrated nearly 600 people coming to faith in the past ten years.
A key component of a mission-focused transition is seeing a picture of what’s possible when the right investments become part of a congregation’s story.
Pastors are focused on meeting expectations (i.e., they want to keep their leaders and congregants happy and stay employed); and few churches expect their pastors to spend time in prayer.
As I sit at the table, I have not said one single profound thing or come up with any solutions. But I am hearing stories, learning about the brokenness, and gaining a sense of the opportunities that exist.
Lasting personal relationships always require intentional persistent strategies that are planned, encouraged, and modeled by the leadership in the church. Check out these ideas for establishing lasting relationships.
Are you from Amy’s church? Is there ice cream tonight? How much cheese did you bring? These are just some of the questions we commonly receive from the residents of the People in Need House (PIN House).
What’s the essential work of an elder? Articulating vision is the primary work of elders. Here’s how elders attend to this visioning responsibility…