By Mark R Ashcraft with Bruce Woody, AIA The act of worship is a very personal experience. No matter the style of worship, there are common elements that will create an engaging experience. A sanctuary — or worship center, depending on your tradition — is a big factor in the act of worship itself. A […]
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By Colin E. Nass, CFP®, AEP®, RICP® & James R. Cook, CFP® Retirement savings plans, such as the 403(b) plan, offer benefits to both employees and employers First, let’s look at how employees can make the most of a 403(b) plan. For many, saving for retirement is one of the largest goals we will need […]
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By RaeAnn Slaybaugh Sixteen years ago, when Collin Lucas joined the staff at Cornerstone Fellowship of Livermore, he worked in IT. However, he also brought with him extensive experience in the business management consulting realm. Now, as Cornerstone’s CFO, his secular business background has proven instrumental in helping build — and fund intelligently — the […]
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Violence at worship centers — including numerous shootings — has religious organizations across the country struggling with the question of the need for armed security. A violent act at a place of worship is almost always going to be one of the worst tactical situations you can create. It’s a close, crowded area where 99.9 […]
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In 1992, Dr. Brent Taylor joined the staff at First Baptist Carrollton as the summer youth minister. Seven years later, he was lead pastor. It was his first pastor position. As a new, young pastor, he admits that fundraising represented a very steep learning curve. “I grew up in the church and was part of […]
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We have noticed a shift in mindset early in the Lenten season in how many are choosing to sacrifice. Rather than quitting chocolate and red wine for 40 days, we’ve observed a budding trend of supporters pointing to the “noisy” political environment and tragedies of late. This year, people are deciding to turn down the […]
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By Hillary Bowling As a provider of simple, reliable communication tools that require no software, no extended training (and no hassle), we have found that communities that communicate on a regular basis with their congregants reap more benefits: Increased attendance Higher engagement Consistent giving Connectivity — reliable, ongoing communication — is essential to the cultivation and retention […]
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By Tim Grabacki It’s not something church business managers think about a lot, but: How you count the money might be affecting the church more than you’d think. Here are three tips on how to better handle cash and checks in your collections. #1: Treat the business office like a business office The mission […]
Read More >By Sam S. Rainer III Every Monday at 4 p.m., I meet with both my worship pastors. We review the previous Sunday. We discuss the upcoming Sunday. We laugh together. We hold each other accountable. Sometimes I sing their worship set back to them because I have the voice of a senile cat, and it […]
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Interior design ideas to enhance your youth ministry By Rebecca Calbert, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB As we come into the New Year, we feel the need to freshen up our spaces and clean out our closets. The beginning of a new year is synonymous with change, self-improvement, and taking on new challenges. A typical resolution […]
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