Why Leadership, Not Calling, Determines Ministry Success
Once upon a time, I was a young, optimistic student pastor appointed to a small Methodist church in Hinson’s Crossroads, Florida. The church, nestled at the end of a paved road that gave way to a winding red clay path, had just 38 members. Despite being told that growth was unlikely, I rolled up my […]
It’s Not A Fairytale … You Can Grow a Church In Today’s Culture
In today’s rapidly changing world, most churches are struggling to maintain and grow their congregations. The challenges are numerous – from declining attendance and disengagement to the distractions of modern life. However, there are some strategies that can help churches thrive and transform lives in their communities. It’s not make-believe. It’s not a fairy tale. […]
If You Have a Blurry Vision, You Have a Bleak Future
You’ve heard me say it before. If you’ve got to herd cats, you’ll need a bigger mouse. Your church cats will chase the biggest mouse in the room, and if your Big Mouse Vision is smaller than someone else’s, you’ll lose their attention every time. The wise and successful pastor stays on his/her knees until […]
Why Your Church Mission Statement Isn’t Effective
A mission statement defines the purpose of an individual, group, business, or institution. Ostensibly, a mission statement defines the “end result” of the organization’s activities. “Shareholder profitability” may sound self-serving, but that is exactly the results expected of a publicly held corporation. The reason so many churches’ mission statements don’t achieve the expected results is […]
Retaining First-Time Guests
Getting people in your church’s door for the first time isn’t easy these days, but getting them to return a second and third time is even more difficult. However, you can do a few things that greatly raise the return rate. The following is a seven step response to first time guests. Step One: Immediately […]
Easter Sunday Follow-Up Full Court Press
In most churches, Easter is their High Attendance Sunday – and, in spite of the March Madness games that will be played that weekend, there will still be plenty of Christian Alumnus showing up for services. A church full of visitors should be a premonition for every church’s future growth, but sadly, most churches will […]