In the previous series installment, we talked about Steps 2 & 3: Design & Deploy. What denotes a movement to Step 4 — Defend — in the A/V system design process? Wells: Defend takes a 50,000-foot view, recognizing that many churches in America are growing by deploying a multi-site strategy. They’re using ever more […]
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Changes in perceptions of Christmas as a religious holiday Pew Research Center recently conducted a survey about the perceptions of U.S. adults on religious aspects of Christmas. 56% of adults recognize that religion is now emphasized less, with 25% saying “[It] does not bother me,” 14% saying “[It] bothers me some,” and 18% saying “ […]
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By Rev. Dr. Patricia L. Hunter, CFP® Making the decision to meet with a financial planner or advisor can help you focus on putting your own financial house in order and is an important step towards achieving financial wellness. A financial planner can work with you to help determine your long and short term goals […]
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For HH Architects, designing churches isn’t just a thing they do; it’s a calling. For more than 47 years, HH Architects — headquartered in Dallas — has earned its reputation of providing tremendous expertise and knowledge through its innovative designs and creative solutions. This award-winning firm has had the privilege of working with and planning […]
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By Michael Prior, J.D. In recent years, the church has embraced several budgeting and debt retirement studies. Essentially, good stewardship practices tell us not spend more than we make. Debt is a problem we can see right now. And with a little guidance and discipline, we can be liberated from it. The problems we face […]
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Several years ago, the pastor at a church I worked with told the story of an affluent family in a nearby church giving two significant gifts in the same year — both of which made the local newspaper. The first gift was to the church where several generations of the family regularly attended. The second […]
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For the past several months, it has felt like there is a disaster around every corner. From August through October, hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Jose and Maria brutalized thousands of communities on the United States mainland and in the territory of Puerto Rico. The hurricanes were followed quickly by a swift-moving wildfire that ravaged a large […]
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By RaeAnn Slaybaugh In 1998, Clay Scroggins moved to Atlanta to study engineering at college. He found a church home in North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, led by Senior Pastor Andy Stanley — first as an attendee, and then as a volunteer in the high school ministry. “I loved it so much that I […]
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By Sam S. Rainer III Christmas Eve is the most likely time an unchurched person will walk into your worship space. It’s a huge opportunity. My fear is some churches go through the motions since Christmas Eve is the peak of busy season and volunteers are short in supply. Your Christmas Eve service is worth […]
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By Trevor Eppehimer, Ph.D. “Social relevance” serves as a holy grail for those whose careers depend on the ability to identify current patterns of thinking and spot contemporary cultural trends. Success follows, conventional wisdom holds, the politician, recording artist, filmmaker, or company that can locate, commodify and project “social relevance.” In North America, where persons […]
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