By RaeAnn Slaybaugh Research shows pastors are twice as likely to experience financial stress as the average American. As Rev. Dr. Perry J. Hopper, MBA, Associate Executive Director of MMBB, explains, this is because clergy sustain significant levels of indebtedness with fewer resources to meet their financial obligations. Coupled with a theology that sometimes can […]
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At Chase Oaks Church, experts help “build remarkable teams.” By RaeAnn Slaybaugh When Senior Pastor Jeff Jones was taking over leadership at Chase Oaks, he and the existing senior pastor knew they needed help in navigating their way to the worship style for the future. Determined to help bridge the gap before the transition was […]
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Expert advice for protecting the church’s children against sexual abuse and bullying — plus, how to mitigate internet-use risks What are the biggest risks and liabilities facing churches in the area of protecting children? Alex Smith: Allegations of sexual abuse are the greatest risk and liability. Also, complacency — saying, ‘We’ve always done it this […]
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Sexual abuse: training ministry staff to care well AND prevent At the beginning of each new year, many of us make New Year’s Resolutions: evaluating our past year or present circumstances and resolving to improve on a particular matter (i.e., more time with the kids, less coffee, more exercise). For the Southern Baptist Convention, the […]
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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 […]
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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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For busy full-time church leaders, an MDiv or DMin degree might seem out of reach. Here’s the reality. Have full-time church leaders shown increased interest in MDiv and DMin training in recent years? Reggie Ogea: We have seen an increased interest in training in a variety of areas. For the MDiv, a lot of larger […]
Read More >Help protect your church’s youngest members by taking these steps By Elizabeth Norman Childcare centers and preschools at churches across the nation are experiencing rapid growth right now — in fact, many of them are at capacity and even require waiting lists. With this demand, it’s important to remember to revisit procedures to help keep […]
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By Sam S. Rainer III You can sit during these meetings if you like; “standing meetings” are different than stand-up meetings. A standing meeting is one that repeats in a regular pattern and is an obligation for people to attend. I have a standing meeting every Monday at 4 p.m. with my worship pastor. We […]
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By Nathan Freeland I had a meeting with Pastor Sam. It didn’t go well. From that meeting, I learned a great deal about what pastors are required to know and do but were never taught. As a pastor, you may often wonder how you can make a greater impact for the Kingdom. I do as […]
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