By Rodney C. James Nearly every church selects a group of people to lead a renovation or building project. You might call them a “vision team,” “building committee,” “expansion board,” or some other creative name, but their role will be the same: to assist the staff and leadership in the myriad of decisions the church […]
Read More >
Exterior elements • Fellowship spaces • Children’s + Youth areas • Community-focused design • Multi-site design • “Green” elements • Revenue generation Let’s start from the outside in. What exterior / outdoor church design elements are popular? Thomas Small, AIA/NCARB: Most churches we work with are contemporary by nature; therefore, they’re looking for clean/modern designs […]
Read More >
Faithlife Survey Shows Churches are Returning to In-Person Gathering but Disunity Regarding Policies BELLINGHAM, Wash., September 23, 2020–New survey data from Faithlife, the church technology company behind Logos Bible Software, reveals that while the majority of churches are returning to in-person gatherings, leaders face numerous challenges to church unity within their congregations. “COVID-19 has necessitated […]
Read More >
41% of congregations reported declines in donations in early months of pandemic while 28% saw increases, according to survey by Lake Institute on Faith & Giving INDIANAPOLIS — Many U.S. religious congregations currently are entering their annual fall fundraising and budget-planning season with uncertainty about their finances and reopening plans as the COVID-19 pandemic and […]
Read More >
By Shaun Nepstad Tears streamed down my face while my body was folded up under my desk like origami. I had just preached my heart out that Sunday, and I was exhausted and overwhelmed. Earlier that week, I had been teaching boldly, and now I was hiding from the world, hoping no one would find […]
Read More >
By Sam S. Rainer III The lockdowns did not shorten the workweek. Many people in a variety of professions are working more hours. I wanted to know how COVID-19 affected the workweek of pastors. At Church Answers, I asked a simple question of our community of pastors and church leaders. How many extra hours have […]
Read More >
By Phil Cooke, Ph.D. During the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, I literally monitored hundreds of live stream services. The good news is that during that experience, more and more church leaders finally started taking live streaming seriously. During that time, I made a list of suggestions to help pastors and communication teams. Keep in mind […]
Read More >
Iconic holiday fundraising campaign is being launched earlier than ever to meet increasing need ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — For the first time in 130 years, The Salvation Army is starting its annual holiday fundraising campaign early in an effort to “rescue Christmas.” The funds raised through the organization’s iconic red kettles are […]
Read More >
From Church Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. This year, it has become especially difficult to navigate “business as usual” with the ever-present threat of COVID-19. Depending upon where you live, trick-or-treating might not be safe or even possible this year. There is an alternative that can give members of houses of worship a safe way to […]
Read More >
Arlington, Va., September 2, 2020 — National polling of the U.S. workforce indicates a majority of employees are burnt out (58 percent), up from 45 percent in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among employees who report burnout, 35 percent say it is attributable to COVID-19 circumstances, up from 25 percent in April. These findings […]
Read More >