By Guy Russ Fire is a force unlike any other. When it is under our control, fire has sparked civilizations, kindled human imagination and given life-sustaining warmth. But as we’ve seen from the widespread devastation in Australia, wildfires ravage, destroy and kill. And the sad fact is, as we head into the warmer months in […]
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By RaeAnn Slaybaugh For Tulsa’s Memorial Drive Church of Christ, connecting as a church family was never a problem — but the facilities told a less inspiring story. Built in 1963, this mid-century modern church features a tent-like parabolic roof, with additions in 1973 and 1977. While the church design surely had its admirers from […]
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In the new year, protect your church with strategies to prevent and address these threats. By Shawn Yingling Your church is more than just a building. It’s a community of passionate, caring members who have chosen to share a common mission and message. It’s the setting of weddings, celebrations and mourning. It’s a place to […]
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By Andy Lott Cybercrime is a problem on the rise, impacting businesses and organizations worldwide. Accenture, a multinational digital services company, recently reported an 11% increase in security breaches since last year and a 67% increase in security breaches over the last five years. The cost of cybercrime to businesses and organizations was a collective […]
Read More >When Crossroads United Methodist Church, Washington, Illinois, concluded their vision for ministry was significantly larger than their current footprint could handle, they began the long and expensive journey of relocating to a new site. In 2001, they constructed the first of a two-phase construction project that would change the course of their ministry forever. Relocating […]
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Practical expert advice for a scary subject When using the term “disaster,” what types of events or circumstances are we referring to? Hillary Keller Bowling: The most common disasters are weather-related events such as hurricanes, flooding, tornados and wildfires. Other disasters are arson, accidental fire, active-shooters, and even cybersecurity events. Matthew McMaster: Every part of […]
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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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For many people, churches are much more than just buildings. They are sacred spaces that carry great meaning to all who gather there for prayer, community, connection and spirituality. It is for these reasons that churches must take steps to provide safe spaces for occupants and mitigate risk on their properties. Purchasing insurance is […]
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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 Rich Poirier The church planting movement is growing across the country — but establishing a new religious organization and actually growing it into a thriving congregation are two different battles. There are a variety of legitimate reasons to consider planting a church. Respondents to a 2016 study by Barna Group and Cornerstone Knowledge Network […]
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