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It’s presidential election season again and the conversation on cable news is about what will happen to the “evangelical vote.” This conversation drives me crazy! “Evangelicals” have been my tribe for the majority of my ministry career. It’s the group that I call family — not a demographic. The nuance that’s missed by so many […]

How your church presents itself visually is incredibly important. People are increasingly visual learners, so your church needs to ensure it presents a compelling visual aesthetic in everything you do. Even if you have a graphic designer on your staff, the increased visual needs can be difficult to keep up with. You need to keep […]

Today we’re honored to have Steve Caton guest posting for us. Steve serves as a member of the Leadership Team at Church Community Builder and is passionate about helping churches make disciples. Having an incredible weekly worship experience is awesome. There is most definitely power in having the people of God gathering together to praise and celebrate. But most often, the real […]

Taking time to visit other churches in your area or across the country is a great way to grow in your leadership. I love seeing a church in action and I always come away with pages of notes about things I want to do differently or consider for my church. Whether it’s a small church […]

Churches making a difference in their community have a robust stewardship system that encourages people to give to the mission. [ref] Core to that system is ensuring that when people give to your church for the first time, you acknowledge it. It’s a strategically important “first contact” that helps shape a donor’s experience. We asked […]

Way back in the mid-1990s there were a lot of companies gunning to be the leader in “online retailing.” (Who remembers Pets.com?) Amazon was an early leader. Since then, it has cemented its place as the “everything store” by offering a massive selection of items that are delivered at a shockingly quick rate. Google is the […]

Today we’re honored to have John Finkelde guest posting for us. He pastored at C3 Church Hepburn Heights in Western Australia for 30 years and now provides church consulting and coaching with his wife, Dianne, to the larger body of Christ. The atmosphere was colder than an arctic winter. Palpable hostility was written all over some faces. Yes that’s right. I […]

There are two kinds of church leaders … those who worry about finances and those who lie about not worrying about it. If we’re honest, many of us have lost sleep over the generosity of our churches. We’re filled with God-given vision but we wonder how that vision will be funded. What separates churches where […]

What if this was the year your church multiplied? Rather than putting it off until some future date, what would happen if your team leaned in and made the decision to do it this year? You’re going to have to start before you feel ready. So … you don’t feel ready? Perfect! Today’s the day […]

This time of year brings reflection on the past 12 months and wondering what could have been done differently. Or you may be looking to the future and asking what needs to change and where to start. Consider this: The vast majority of churches in our country aren’t making an impact in their communities. In […]

Does your church have momentum? Can you quantify it? Do you understand how to gain it? What can your team do to sustain and direct the momentum you have? Momentum is critical for leaders to steward and leverage. In fact, in my years of studying thriving churches, it is the sense of organizational momentum that is the […]

A well-planned interview for a new leader at your church is a critical part of the hiring process. Rather than “winging it” or asking the “same old, same old” questions, take time to plan the interview. It’s important to get a clear picture of the candidate in these three areas: Competency // Can the individual […]

Most churches take an offering at some point during their services. Churches looking to make an impact in their communities invite people to join their mission through giving back to God. How you deliver this part of your service is one of the pieces of the generosity puzzle: Do it poorly and the finances at […]

Today we’re honored to have Ben Stapley guest posting for us. He is the Director of Programming & Media at South Ridge Community Church — and he’s a fantastic, multi-talented leader! Ben provides oversight and leadership for a wide variety of areas at his church. The church has the most important message to communicate: Everyone is unfathomably […]

Christmas is just around the corner and it’s a strategically important time of year for churches looking to grow. How should you focus your communications efforts leading up to the big day at your church? Here’s a core truth for growing churches when it comes to special days like this: The majority of guests who […]

A programming trend we’re seeing is the use of a “pre-service” video played every Sunday, which is designed as an introduction to the church. Similar to the title sequence in a television show, this video provides an overview of what people can expect from the church. Increasingly, it seems as if the only people in […]

Christmas is a time of year when people want to get out and serve their community. It is a great opportunity to increase community engagement and participation … it’s also a super busy season. Finding positive ways to serve that aren’t extremely taxing on the church leadership can be difficult. Here are a few simple […]

Leadership Network has once again released a study that church leaders should consume to understand the dynamics of leading today. This study is all on large Canadian churches and what we learn from them. It points out things these churches have done well, which caused them to grow and reach a younger audience. Even if your church […]

A few weeks ago, Hal Seed from New Song Community Church in Oceanside, California, was on the unSeminary Podcast. He shared about his church’s strategy for hosting “Wow! Weekends” as part of their growth strategy. Liquid Church has had a similar strategy over the last few years. It has helped us reach people year after […]

Church leaders come in all shapes and sizes. Some of us are strategic thinkers … some aren’t. You might be called to teach the Bible … while others don’t have that same burning drive. Some of us love being around and helping other people … while others don’t. Does not being “pastoral” let you off the […]