A Missional Approach to Conflict with Sports
More and more church leaders are reporting to me that they are having conflicts between sports schedules and their church’s schedule. This has been a growing problem since the 1980s. I just recently received an email from a client I’m coaching who asked my advice on what to do with just such a problem. In this case it […]
Your Investment Portfolio
Take the next couple of minutes and peruse your investment portfolio. How are things going? Is your stock going up or down, or is it stagnant? In your whole portfolio, which is the most important investment you’re making? Oh, wait. I’ll bet you’re thinking I’m talking about Dow Jones and the S&P 500. Nope. I’m […]
UMC Portal Report
My tribe just conducted a survey of 36,000 United Methodist Churches (UMCs) only to find what many of us have been teaching for over two decades. Here is a quote from the report from the UM Portal survey. “United Methodist congregations that are thriving have a few things in common—whether large or small, urban or […]
The Missional Church: Christianity Redefined as Paradox
Missional is the buzzword of the day. You can get new life and extra mileage out of almost any church topic by adding “missional” to otherwise ordinary words. But add Missional to Christianity and many Western Christians start getting uncomfortable. As the missional church redefines Christianity, and make no mistake about it, Christianity as predominantly […]
How Effective Is Your Church’s Website?
The number is climbing, but here’s the most commonly reported stat: at least 85 percent of first-time church guests visit a congregation’s website before they make their initial visit. For some of you, this should be a terrifying thought. Recently, I’ve visited church websites that are still advertising Easter Sunrise Services, introducing their new pastor […]
Responding to First-Time Visitors
There is an old myth that says it is best if lay people make the first call to first-time visitors. Well, that’s just what it is – a myth. Up until a church reaches 500 or 600 in worship, it should be the pastor. Many effective pastors like Adam Hamilton and yours truly made sure to […]