By Jennifer Wise Churches today are actively seeking to add relevance and functional space for both their youth and children’s ministry areas. For growing ministries, youth and children’s spaces can become a pressure point. Millennials — and the new Gen Z-ers — walk through the door looking to see if the church values them. If […]
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Red flags and best practices to better protect your religious organization They’re on the news on a regular basis: stories of church theft, fraud and embezzlement. Sometimes the culprit is the church accountant who intentionally misrepresents church spending. Sometimes it’s the church food pantry director, who purchases food for the church — and $30,000 in […]
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As a church sound guy, Romans 10:17 is my favorite Bible verse: “Consequently, faith comes by hearing…” After all, true hearing requires that the message is understood. By Jeff Barnett In a previous article, “Choosing the best mic to deliver your message,” we discussed how crucial microphone selection is for ensuring the Word is heard. Here, […]
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By Kristine Miller You might have already sensed the dramatic shift in the philanthropic landscape. The way in which donors are giving, the number of donors contributing, and the number of organizations donors are supporting are all in rapid flux. Changes to the tax code have given rise to donor-advised funds and other tools that […]
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By Patricia L. Hunter, CFP® What is the “sandwich generation”? This term refers to middle-aged individuals who are simultaneously caring for and supporting their children, as well as their aging parents. They have been given that label because these individuals are effectively “sandwiched” between the obligation to care for their aging parents — who might […]
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Whether you’re an established megachurch with multiple campuses or you’re a small local church in a tight-knit community, it’s equally important to provide a benefits program for full-time staff. But with rates going up by 10 to 20 percent every year, it can be a challenge for smaller churches to keep up. The result? Understaffed […]
Read More >Poll Shows U.S. Church Membership Decline According to a study by Gallup, Inc., a global analytics and advice firm, the number of U.S. adults who are members of a church, mosque or synagogue has dropped by 20 percent in the last two decades. Compared to 70 percent in 1999, only half of Americans reported being […]
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Expert advice for helping to prevent — and, if necessary, respond to — a security emergency on your campus In a lot of churches, an “it-can’t-happen-here” mentality prevails. But how big of a threat is a security emergency? Bill Cushwa: Let’s quickly dispel the false sense of security. Our school shooting occurred seven years ago […]
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By Teri Dreher For many people, their church is like family. It’s a place they can turn to for help and support when they need it. But even the most benevolent church family might come up short when it comes to helping a member navigate today’s complicated healthcare system. That’s where a patient advocate can […]
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By Meaghan Kelly It’s no secret that church budgets can be tight. To do the most good with this money, church administrators and facility managers should develop a healthy, long-term financial plan before spending any funds. Here are five financial goals to strive for when creating and managing a church facilities budget. #1: Be realistic […]
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