DR. MARLOW D. McGUIRE, SR. (DMIN) / DIRECTOR / THE BLACK CHURCH STUDIES INSTITUTE / ROCKBRIDGE SEMINARY Black Church studies takes center stage with a new emphasis offering at Rockbridge Seminary By RaeAnn Slaybaugh Although the Black Church Studies Institute at Rockbridge Seminary has been in development since 2020, its real origin predates that period, […]
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Strategies for Closing The Church’s Back Door How do you keep first-time visitors from slipping out the back door? This is one of the most important questions asked by churches across the country today. How do you show them what your church is about? How do you begin to involve them in your ministry? How […]
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In their new, reimagined church home — a former Best Buy — Forward City Church can finally do ministry the way its founders have always dreamed of By RaeAnn Slaybaugh Pastor Travis Greene and his wife, Dr. Jackie Greene, started Forward City just five years ago after relocating to Columbia, SC from Charlotte. Though the […]
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By Kathryn McCormack Separation of church and state has been an important pillar of our country since its inception. An individual’s freedom to explore his or her faith should be available to all who choose to cultivate a deeper sense of purpose in life and belonging within their communities. Often, this freedom is taken for […]
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How one North Houston church is transforming a challenging piece of property for the entire community’s benefit In 2019, after meeting in a school for three years, Declaration Church in North Houston, Texas, set its sights on building a permanent home. For this church plant of WoodsEdge Community Church, it was a wonderful blessing — […]
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At New Life Church of Arkansas, becoming debt-free — while continuing to expand across the state — are co-equal priorities. Here’s how it’s doing both successfully. At the financial helm of one of the nation’s fastest-growing churches — with 18 campuses across Arkansas — Finance Director and CFO Trip Leach has his hands (blessedly) full. […]
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A new installment of the largest available dataset on young people and spirituality shows that young people don’t think religious groups care about their values MINNEAPOLIS, MN — On October 25, Springtide Research Institute released The State of Religion & Young People 2021, the result of a year of research into the beliefs, practices, values, […]
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(above) At First Baptist Church Glenarden, a transitional space outside the children’s wing acts as an outdoor amphitheater used by the entire church. Rendering by Jesse Nedunuri, Shanks Architects Among the most successful kids’ spaces you’ve designed for churches, what elements make them stand out? Katherine Wiley: They’re all designed for community; the end user […]
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Kingsland Baptist Church’s second campus demonstrates the value and good stewardship of faith + community partnerships By RaeAnn Slaybaugh When building a new campus, what if the church wasn’t responsible for every piece of the puzzle? What if, to create their facilities, the church spent more time building relationships rather than raising funds? What if […]
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“The decisions to build or renovate were not economic decisions, nor were they business decisions — these decisions to build were spiritual decisions.” Why do you want to build new ministry facilities? Why do you desire to renovate these old, tired and outdated sanctuaries and children’s spaces? Why are you planning to expand your […]
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