Why Don’t More People Attend Small Groups
By Steve Cordle “We are committed to becoming a church of small groups.” “Life-change happens best in small groups.” “Everyone needs authentic community.” These statements, and others like them, are heard often in churches around the country. Small groups have become a big deal. Churches desiring to help members connect relationally and to grow in […]
Anatomy of a Poison Pen Letter
Every effective pastor gets a poison pen letter at least once during their careers. They’re never nice to get and they can cause a lot of anxiety and self-doubt. Frankly, they can send an otherwise well-adjusted, healthy pastor into a tailspin. They shouldn’t, but shouldn’t doesn’t cut it in the real world. When one of […]
Planning for a Summer Hump Instead of a Summer Slump
It goes without saying that most pastors know that worship attendance in the summer usually marks the all time low for the year. We know not only attendance but income will slump. We don’t think it has to, at least not as much as most churches experience. We think the Summer Slump is almost a self-fulfilling prophecy. […]
Theology Matters, But …
I don’t disagree with a thing Bill Easum wrote in his adjoining column in the May 2012 On Track newsletter. Jesus is more than just the reason for the season. But I want to put another slant on the importance of theology in the church. Over the years I’ve heard suggestions that the reason XYZ […]
Jesus is the Way?
By Bill Easum One thing has become crystal clear over the twenty some years I have been consulting and coaching church leaders – the vast majority of growing churches in the U.S. range from conservative to ultra-conservative. And for them, Jesus is the only way to salvation. The more a leader vacillates on this belief, […]
A Church Planter and Church Transformation Self-Assessment
When it comes to professional pastoral ministries, the absolute must difficult job of all is effectively leading a church’s transformation. That’s a glamourless, thankless, painful, heart-wrenching, aggravating, and too often career-ending task. In fact, the only ones who intentionally consider engaging in this kind of ministry are either narcissistic, arrogant, savior-complexed martyrs or else the God-called servant […]