As churches grapple with the growing influence of technology on young people, many leaders are asking whether it’s time to limit or even ban cell phone use during youth events. To help guide this conversation, we turned to Sharon Orr, director of Risk Control at Church Mutual Insurance, whose expertise in youth safety and policy development […]
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By Denise Craig, CAE, CCA In today’s polarized society, the art of conversation is rapidly becoming a lost discipline. Social media rewards outrage; news cycles thrive on conflict; and even within the Church, believers often struggle to speak to one another with kindness, humility and grace. When Christians mirror the hostility of the world, we […]
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At this time last year, Church Executive and church communications + giving expert Justin Dean discussed a topic that’s instrumental for every church executive: year-end giving — when to start, practical ways to drive maximum generosity, and how to leverage those efforts for overall engagement and discipleship.1 Here, we dive even deeper into giving […]
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As summer ends and fall begins, we move from a season of growth to one of harvest. A good gardener knows that fruit appears only when the right conditions for growth have been nurtured. Jesus often used agricultural metaphors, including the parable of the soils (Mark 4, Matthew 13, and Luke 8). While the parable […]
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Nothing could stop this unified congregation from getting its much-needed expansion and renovation project completed on time By RaeAnn Slaybaugh From the first sermon he delivered at Collinsville Baptist Tabernacle in 2017, Pastor Gary Boyd felt right at home. Apparently, the congregation shared his sentiment. Growth endured until, in Spring 2024, the need for […]
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By Jamshed Patel Known as “digital natives,” Generation Z (Gen Z) challenges the status quo in every way, from pursuing various forms of activism to redefining workplace expectations. They are also changing how they approach religion based on how the generations that raised them approached it. They are putting attending mass on the back burner, […]
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The end of the year is one of the most fruitful times for church giving. People are in a posture of reflection, gratitude, and generosity. But if churches only focus on giving once a year, they miss the deeper calling: to disciple their people into a lifestyle of generosity not just a moment of […]
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Expert advice for driving maximum year-end generosity … starting now Church Executive: First, how important is year-end giving in most churches, really? Ryan Matthews: Year-end giving isn’t just important; it’s crucial. Many churches receive about 30% of their yearly giving in December alone. Jena Lynch: Yes. And of that 30%, we see the majority […]
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The Tolleson Family Activity Center in Dallas is a shining symbol of a commitment that Highland Park United Methodist Church leaders made long ago to kids, youth and adults with disabilities. Three stories high, it’s positioned across a busy street facing Southern Methodist University and Highland Park United Methodist Church, which owns and operates […]
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By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris UNDERSTAND MANDATORY REPORTING LEGISLATION: State and federal laws increasingly mandate reporting of child abuse and neglect. Every state has reporting requirements mandating reports of abuse and neglect of vulnerable populations, specifically children and minors. In addition, as of Feb. 14, 2018, federal legislation makes every adult involved in […]
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