Mission Attitude
Mission Attitude By: Tom Bandy Parish clergy are an endangered species in the emerging world of indifference or hostility to the established church. Attitude is everything. You can acquire the skills you need, but unless you have the right attitude you are vulnerable to drop out or burn out. Score yourself (and ask others to […]
Finance and Leadership
Finance and Leadership By: Tom Bandy Established churches of all kinds are hitting a financial wall. Some are now asking the clergy or staff to take salary cuts, and these leaders are rightly perturbed at the hidden assumptions behind such a move. Remember that the key to stewardship is disciplined adult spiritual growth, and that […]
How Churches Die Spiritually Part 2
How Churches Become Alive Spiritually: Part 2 By: Bill Easum Last week we saw how churches become spiritually dead. But spiritual death does not have to happen. In order for the picture to be reversed, the following usually happens. Action – Some one (usually the pastor) begins to cast a vision of a different future […]
How Churches Die Spiritually Part 1
How Churches Die Spiritually: Part One By: Bill Easum Most established Protestant churches today are spiritually dead. I don’t believe church leaders intentionally set out to cause their church to become spiritually dead. Most church leaders in established churches I’ve worked with believe their actions are meant for just the opposite – to keep their […]
Mission Teams
Mission Teams by Tom Bandy Think of a mission team like a battery. The energy requires two poles to be connected to the Spirit. The first pole is the mentor … this is the spiritual leader attuned to the heartburst for mission and the needs of the mission field. The second pole is the ministry […]
Property
Property By: Tom Bandy Do we buy and renovate, rent and redecorate, or build and design? Any of the alternatives might be a good move, but in order to make a decision with integrity, consider three things: Priority: The order of priority for budget and energy is leadership development, then community development, and then property […]