Hail Mary or holy moly: there’s got to be a better way to fund ministry
Many church leaders have realized that data and technology provide new ways of thinking about how they can overcome their increasing financial challenges.
Read More >Outreach Archives - Page 43 of 46 - Church Executive
THE CE INTERVIEW: Mark Mellen
Mark Mellen was 26 years old and a homeless drug addict when God called him out of misery into a life of purpose. After finishing college with a degree in finance, he went to Bethel Seminary and graduated with a master’s of arts in theological studies.
The best learnings, however, came from ministry experiences and mentorship from church leaders who, Mellen says, “took a shot on me.”
Read More >How a healthy church can spiral — quickly — into dysfunction
Churches are more like organisms than they are organizations. Like an organism, when church health declines, it typically does so slowly. But there are cases when an otherwise healthy person experiences a sudden deterioration. Healthy churches can also experience a sharp decline in health. There are cases of healthy churches quickly becoming dysfunctional. Below are five ways I’ve seen churches spiral downward quickly, almost overnight.
Read More >Top 5 necessary leadership skills
Every leader has different skills that make that leader unique. However, at the core of every leader — a coach, a parent, a boss and a project manager — are at least 10 necessary foundational skills needed to thrive.
Read More >The CE Interview: MATT CHANDLER — The Intentional Builder
There’s a sense of newness one can quickly surmise about Matt Chandler: a new urgency to preach the gospel in the aftermath of a victorious but very difficult bout with cancer; a back-to-the-roots commitment to planting healthy churches following his recent appointment as president of Acts 29 Network; and a rising influence as a young church leader.
Read More >Achieving Accessible, Inclusive Churches
Achieving Accessible, Inclusive Churches Highlights from a Church Executive panel discussion on accommodating worshipers with hearing loss By RaeAnn Slaybaugh Recently, Church Executive led a live panel discussion to examine the risks churches face by failing to provide a welcoming, inclusive worship experience for all — including worshipers with hearing loss. Here are some highlights […]
Read More >The difference between a “can do” church and a “can’t do” church
Every church also faces obstacles. What is the difference between churches that approach obstacles with a “can do” attitude over others that have a “can’t do” attitude? What makes a church have a lively optimism over a dead pessimism?
Read More >Fundraising Excellence: Powhatan Community Church — Powhattan, VA
On May 18, 2014, Powhatan Community Church (Powhattan, VA) enjoyed its largest single giving day in the church’s 13-year history. And, founder and Senior Pastor Brian C. Hughes reported that the church was on budget to make the most aggressive budget increase in 10 years. All this exceeded the giving increase for which Hughes and his staff’s planned and prayed.
Read More >Pastor, you’re a statesman, too
I use the term “statesman” not in a truly political sense, though I do believe pastors should be the most active “ambassadors” for Christ in their churches. Pastors are statesmen in that they must realize they always represent their churches. That hat never comes off.
Read More >The CE Interview: MARI BETH POOR — finding solutions by serving
As iServe pastor, Mari Beth Poor oversees the “on the mountain” ministries that enhance the overall experience of people attending Sunday worship services at Mountaintop Community Church. These include guest services, student ministries, children’s ministry, and worship and media. She also leads the church’s “off the mountain” community efforts and global outreach.
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