By Michael Prior, J.D. In recent years, the church has embraced several budgeting and debt retirement studies. Essentially, good stewardship practices tell us not spend more than we make. Debt is a problem we can see right now. And with a little guidance and discipline, we can be liberated from it. The problems we face […]
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Several years ago, the pastor at a church I worked with told the story of an affluent family in a nearby church giving two significant gifts in the same year — both of which made the local newspaper. The first gift was to the church where several generations of the family regularly attended. The second […]
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For the past several months, it has felt like there is a disaster around every corner. From August through October, hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Jose and Maria brutalized thousands of communities on the United States mainland and in the territory of Puerto Rico. The hurricanes were followed quickly by a swift-moving wildfire that ravaged a large […]
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By RaeAnn Slaybaugh In 1998, Clay Scroggins moved to Atlanta to study engineering at college. He found a church home in North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, led by Senior Pastor Andy Stanley — first as an attendee, and then as a volunteer in the high school ministry. “I loved it so much that I […]
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By Sam S. Rainer III Christmas Eve is the most likely time an unchurched person will walk into your worship space. It’s a huge opportunity. My fear is some churches go through the motions since Christmas Eve is the peak of busy season and volunteers are short in supply. Your Christmas Eve service is worth […]
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By Trevor Eppehimer, Ph.D. “Social relevance” serves as a holy grail for those whose careers depend on the ability to identify current patterns of thinking and spot contemporary cultural trends. Success follows, conventional wisdom holds, the politician, recording artist, filmmaker, or company that can locate, commodify and project “social relevance.” In North America, where persons […]
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C3LA funds key initiatives after growing digital giving by 372% in 3 years C3LA is a young, vibrant multi-site church in the sprawling city of Los Angeles whose vision is to help people know God personally, find freedom from their past through the power of relationship, discover their purpose through servanthood, and ultimately grow into […]
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By Sam S. Rainer III I am in the third year of serving as lead pastor at West Bradenton. Thankfully, my first two years were more joy than angst, defined by encouragement and not disillusion. But even in a healthy church, the third year can bring frustration — for both pastor and congregation. In the […]
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By Tim Spivey The most overlooked and underrated trait of people who serve in healthy, growing churches is a positive attitude. This isn’t to be mistaken for blindness to obstacles or a “yes man/woman” posture. I’m talking about one’s primary attitude, and whether it is oriented toward self/others and criticism/encouragement. What weather do they produce […]
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By Sam S. Rainer III I’m weird. I like meetings. They are an opportunity to interact with people. Being an extrovert, I enjoy the collaboration of teamwork. Not all meetings are created equal. Church staff meetings can wander into theological briars and get stuck. Discussions about facility requests can circle on a roundabout like Clark […]
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