Author: Bill Tenny-Brittian

Bill is the Managing Partner at The Effective Church Group. He began ministry as a church planter in the early 1980s and over the past 40 years he's grown churches from one side of the nation to the other. In 2002 he joined Bill Easum's consultation group and began partnering with churches and church leaders to help them reach their fullest potential. He is the author of twelve books and the editor of Net Results magazine. Reach Bill here.

Preaching for Reaching

preaching for reaching

Let’s be honest. Most of us pastor-types were taught to preach primarily to a modern, well-churched or church-experienced audience. The target of our preaching was essentially “one of us.” We weren’t really taught preaching for reaching those beyond the walls of the church. I hear some of you howling in protest. “I was taught how […]

A Smooth as Glass Restart

When It's Time to Say We're Going to Miss You

Not every church is going to make it. Some need to restart. Here’s a model for getting started from Central Christian Church is Texas.

Leadership Lessons from the Movie Ender’s Game

I saw Ender’s Game on its opening day and fell in love with the movie. Not because I love sci-fi over all other movie genres (I do). Not because Harrison Ford is my favorite swashbuckling actor (he is). And not even because I thought it had a great plot, great writing, great acting, and great […]

Changing Your Congregational Ethos: It’s Not an Overnight Job

Your Congregational Ethos CAN change

Your congregational ethos is the dog that’s wagging the tail (which is as it should be). The problem is that any strategy for growing your church that you might propose is subject to that ethos. As Jim Collins of Good to Great fame wrote, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast and lunch.” That culture he’s talking […]

Classic Worship Leaders and Worship Bands

Music isn’t just a part of worship for today’s generations – it is the primary act of worship. Whereas classic worship services break up songs with other worship tools, such as responsive readings, prayers, etc., successful alternative worship services produce music sets similar to that of a concert, with one song leading directly into another […]

It’s Nominations Time: Thou Shalt Not Settle

Here’s yet another excerpt from 21st Century Strategies for Church Growth. One of the missing ingredients in today’s church is accountability. As church leaders, we are often so grateful to have volunteers who serve that we’re willing to overlook poor attitudes, bad behavior, and even a lack of integrity. In other words, we settle for […]