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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Age and generosity A report by Barna in partnership with Thrivent, entitled “The Generosity Gap,” studied how differences in giving may be attributed to being a part of different generational groups. There are differences in what people perceive as an act of generosity. When American Christians were asked what their concept of “giving to others” […]
Read More >The need to manage cash is a good “problem” to have … but what should your church do with it? John Regan, Founding Partner and Chief Investment Officer at New York-based Permanens Capital, talks about playing it safe, while earning some modest return. How big of a priority and a problem is cash management in […]
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By Darren Thompson & Richard Koon In our previous two articles, we worked closely with Bo Gutzwiller from Foothill Christian School in Glendora, Calif., to discuss some of the things churches should be aware of before starting a Christian school. During our discussions, it became apparent that starting a school can be challenging — but […]
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By Don McLeod, CFP® During the first two years of your ministry, you will make the decision of a lifetime — whether or not to opt out of Social Security. This is a hot topic in ministry circles today, and everyone has a personal opinion on the matter. But what does it really mean to […]
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Frank Sommerville, JD, CPA — in partnership with Church Mutual Insurance Company — discusses harassment, hiring practices, terminating employees, and wage/overtime rules compliance. Do common employment laws extend to every employee? Sommerville: Some of the laws that we’re going to talk about apply even if you have one employee, while other laws that we’re going […]
Read More >Communication tools church members, guests & seekers appreciate What are some indications that your phone system isn’t up to par for members, guests and seekers? Goodling: One sign that might go unnoticed is when people just stop calling the church. Because we’re more social media-inclined these days, they’ll send a Facebook message or text, out […]
Read More >Jim Sheppard, Principal of Generis — a consulting firm that helps churches to inspire and cultivate generosity through giving development coaching and strategy — talks about the best way to create an environment of giving. What role does a pastor need to play to encourage giving? Sheppard: The pastor must lead the way. Generous churches […]
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By Rebecca Calbert, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB As an architect, I notice my surroundings more than the “average bear.” And lately, trends in youth ministry interior design bring to mind Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Some spaces are too hot, some are too cold, and some are just right. I’ve seen church facilities take a […]
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