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.
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Small congregations are questioning their viability given program rich congregations that are just around the corner. But I'd like to share 6 things small churches can learn from a mom and pop grocer by my house.
Our stately, traditional church building and dated signage gave the impression that the people inside were old, boring, and stoic. Our new image is fresh, modern, welcoming, and rooted in our identity.
It takes courage to break free from the vortex. It takes courage for leaders to stop spinning ministry plates. Here are 5 simple suggestions that may help Christian leaders get started.
I was the only pastor there among people with graduate degrees in environmental science and ecology. When it was my turn to present, I unapologetically said that we are a church and are called to care for God's creation.
The best preparation for preaching to the unconvinced is to build relationships with the unconvinced. If you don’t know any unchurched people, you won’t preach well to them.
Up and coming writers are often given a simple piece of advice: write about what you know best. I think the same could be said of starting new ministry opportunities!
The most important thing any congregation can do to be Christ’s vibrant spiritual oasis is to vigilantly keep their relational waters sweet. Here are 6 ways leaders can keep the waters sweet.
Rock and Roll and Food Trucks was easily the largest outreach event that Faith Community has undertaken in the last twenty years. It grew out of the ideas and culture cultivated by the Church Renewal Lab.
Godly leaders and Christ-centered congregations always want to move towards a God’s-preferred future. Here are two questions to get your congregation started on the journey.
Oftentimes what we are passionate about spills over in our conversations. Are we so passionate about our faith that we simply can’t help but share it?
In the CRCNA 75% of churches are plateaued or in decline. The average loss of membership in those churches has been 25.1% in ten short years. The time is now to convince the church “we cannot stay here." Here are five ways to create a sense of urgency.
With the growing trend toward digital media in society, it should come as no surprise that churches can, and should leverage this opportunity to connect with a wide variety of people. Learn about how LifeQuest is using Facebook to grow membership.
Sunnyside CRC in Sunnyside, WA, discovered a powerful way to demonstrate the love of Christ to neighbors while also building deeper fellowship among believers.
A good vision statement reflects the uniqueness of your congregational setting. Here are some ways to land vision in your neck of the woods!
How can we change patterns of inactive faith sharing in local congregations? One solution is to begin with baby steps.
We tell our students that if you are leading, you should have an understanding that difficult circumstances are either present or just around the corner. Here are a few principles for navigating these challenges.
So, what numbers should be counted to identify missional health? A good place to begin is with three numbers every CRCNA congregation reports to the Yearbook.
What characteristics should new team members possess? As churches start new programs, hire new staff, or elect persons to leadership positions this question is important to ask.
Even with all the books and coaches and renewal team retreats, no change was going to happen in our congregation if I didn’t lead it. This was the quintessential money-where-my-mouth-was moment.
Announcements typically feel like an intrusion into an otherwise sacred event. There is, however, another way to communicate information that enhances worship and underscores mission.
A few years ago Providence Church (Holland, MI) harnessed the energy of HGTV and remodeled a home while also raising thousands of dollars for a Uganda missional move. Here's a to-do list if your church is interested!
If leadership takes trust, then the important question is, "How is trust developed?" Lt. General George Flynn mentions five characteristics required of leaders looking to build trusting relationships.
In many church circles, people are trying to move the church into becoming an Acts 2 kind of church. A church that reflects the church found in the Bible. But there's something missing here.
The movement of the kinetic church leads to the actions of the missional church. You can't have one without the other.
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…