Religious Makeup of Congress According to a recent analysis by Pew Research Center (with data compiled by CQ Roll Call), Congress remains mainly Christian — with 91% of members of the new 115th Congress identifying as Christians. This percentage is similar to the initial years that this data was collected, in 1961-1962. In those years, […]
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By Sam Batterman You know your church needs a church management system, or ChMS. But do you know why? Most churches see their ChMS as a tool to automate common tasks — attendance management, event scheduling, contribution-tracking, or email communication. Using a ChMS this way is like clearing a riverbed: things move faster and smoother, […]
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Q: Generally speaking, do you feel most church leaders use their ChMS to its maximum advantage when trying to determine where they should open a new multisite campus, or campuses? Goetz: For the most part, I don’t believe they do — at least, not to their maximum advantage. Q: What do you think is […]
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A Remote Roundtable Discussion: Two seasoned church giving experts share 4 tried-and-true strategies any church leader can use — featuring Eliot Crowther and Becky Kopplin Q: For most churches, just how big of a problem is a drop-off in summer giving? Crowther: Really, we need to expect that attendance is going to dip during the […]
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By Jim Peckham Building committee members and church leaders often face a dilemma when developing building plans for church facilities. Planning should begin by addressing two fundamental questions: What’s the mission for the church? And What type of facility is needed to support the mission? However, the answers to these two questions often lead to […]
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In a world full of online options, the LIFE 631 program offers a uniquely residential — and communal — experience. At 25, Lindsey Rowland’s ministry background is already vast and widespread. As an undergrad at Otterbein University, she worked with Campus Crusade for Christ. She has also worked overseas, studying a foreign language and “learning […]
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By Dr. Jay L. Sedwick I’m driving home from the church, listening to the radio for traffic information, and the top-of-the-hour newscast leads with the headline: “Local Minister Arrested for Sexually Abusing Numerous Children.” Oh no — not again, I think to myself. My heart sinks in my chest. I wonder, How can this continue […]
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5 mindsets to transform your ministry funding strategy By Joel Mikell & Curt Swindoll The challenges the local church faces today are markedly different compared to those of a decade or two ago. Gone are the days of significant numbers of church members attending on Sunday mornings, evenings, and Wednesday nights. Tithing is no longer […]
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By Dan Mikes As you might have noticed, interest rates have been on the move. Also, recent economic signals seem to imply the federal government will be more active in 2017. Consider comments economist Dr. Scott Anderson made on February 17 under the heading, “Inflation Runs Hot, Will the Fed?”: The urgency to hike interest […]
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By Rev. Dr. Patricia Hunter, CFP® In today’s world, most of us have debt. One of the keys to achieving financial wellness is learning how to manage that debt. Debt does not have to be an insurmountable problem Is debt distracting you from your ministry? As servants of God, we often place the needs of […]
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