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Category Archives: Ideas for Changing the Church
*Sigh* Quality Control (lacking) in the Church
It’s so sad. Churches struggle and complain, and wonder why members are apathetic. But then you look at their LACK OF QUALITY CONTROL …and it’s no wonder people are half-hearted in some churches. Dirty buildings Poor signage Typos galore in the … Continue reading
Myth-busting in the Church
Hopefully you’ve seen the TV show? Mythbusters tests (and usually explodes) long-held myths and urban legends. I wonder what the test results would be when they took on our “friendly, relevant, uplifting, and compelling” church services? Or what the test result … Continue reading
Chips Happen -identifying & fixing problems
Denial and ignoring problems are a HUGE problem in the church. This post discusses the importance of identifying & fixing problems, …and some helpful strategies to do so! Have you seen the Safe-Lite commerical about the small crack in the windshield? “You think … Continue reading
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The Pastor’s Personality
Do Pastors and their Congregations start to look like each other? I think so. And obviously, this can become unfortunate! Update: Since I wrote this post, my family and I joined a church, and then left it after 3 years. … Continue reading
The biggest problem churches face today is…
DYSFUNCTION. I used to think the Church’s general problem was lackluster programming and preaching, or congregational apathy. But the more time I spend in various congregations, and the more conversations I have with pastors and Christian educators across North America through … Continue reading
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Is Sunday School Going Extinct? or…
Is Sunday School going “extinct”? …or are some churches merely suffering from their own ineptness, uninspired leadership, and the accumulated effect of bad habits? According to a recent Barna Research Study, more than 9 out of every 10 churches offer … Continue reading
What’s your church’s “interface” ?
How do visitors and members connect with and understand your church? Who is reaching out to them? How often? Are they being “invited” to anything? How do they know what’s going on? And how do they stay in touch with … Continue reading
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Cut Costs without cutting your program
In tough economic times, donations in many churches go down and then the bean counters come after the “program budget,” i.e., children and youth ministries. The problem is that drastic cuts in program budgets are often penny-wise and pound foolish. If you lose too … Continue reading
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Chapel or Church?
“Chapel” is not a bad word. Read on, and see my latest reflection on how much I MISS that chapel!!! In 2008 my family and I started attending a church that I think is really a “chapel.” It’s primary mission … Continue reading
Volunteers: Why it may be hard to recruit them…
…and what you can do about it. Volunteers are a church program’s lifeblood and biggest challenge. I’ve seen it from all sides, -as a minister on staff, a program leader & recruiter, and as a volunteer in the pew, -in big … Continue reading
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Scary Church Accounting
Church Accounting is positively scary in some churches…. and I’ve seen it from all sides. I’ve been on staff as a minister, and I’ve been a “pastor in the pew” as volunteer. I’ve also been doing business with churches for the … Continue reading
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“The View from the Pew” …what I think every pastor needs to know
It has been an eye-opening experience sitting in the pew these past 14 years being a seminary-trained preacher and pastor. …..and I wish I knew then what I know now. Which is to say, the congregation and worship you experience as “the … Continue reading