Wednesday’s Catch: ‘Why Small Churches Stay Plateaued (And How To Break the Pattern)’ And More
Why Small Churches Stay Plateaued (And How To Break the Pattern)
You’re stuck at 50 to 120. Faithful people. Generous giving. Nothing’s growing. You’ve tried everything.
The problem isn’t vision. It’s what Jewish culture calls “halakha.” The way of walking.
Reaching Gen Z With the Gospel: Why Authenticity and Community Matter
…authentic, transformative storytelling can help bridge generational and cultural gaps and bring Jesus to people who have not yet found a way in. It’s also an example of the sort of community that will carry this next generation’s faith forward.
Are young adults becoming more religious? New findings reveal a complicated picture
Younger Americans show mixed patterns in their religious beliefs and practices as religious identification, prayer and church attendance in the United States have remained relatively steady in recent years, according to a new Pew Research Center report.
The analysis, published Oct. 28 through the Pew-Knight Initiative, finds that Americans born between 2004 and 2008, who are now approximately 18 to 22 years old, reported relatively high levels of religious attendance.
2 in 3 Churchgoers Fail Bible Literacy Quiz
Perhaps unsurprisingly, those who attend church the most and read the Bible the most score the highest on a Bible literacy quiz.
Good Ground, Stony Places
Jesus told of a sower who went out to sow. Some seed fell by the wayside, some on stony places, some among thorns, and some on good ground. The Anglican Church in North America has borrowed the last image for its inaugural annual impact report, Good Ground: Giving Thanks for Provision in Season. It would have done better to study all four soils.
The report runs to 24 glossy pages and was posted on the provincial website in May. The file name still reads “Draft 3.” It is handsomely designed and pleasant to read, with photographs of smiling planters and verses from 2 Corinthians 9 framing every section. Read closely, it is also a gloss: a fundraising brochure dressed as an accountability document, written in the dialect of the nonprofit consultancy and seasoned with the language of Zion.
Formation Into What?
Let me begin with a confession. When I first examined RenewalWorks, the discipleship ministry of Forward Movement, I assumed I was looking at a faithful initiative that the Episcopal Church’s leadership had shunted aside. Here, I thought, was a program that spoke of Jesus, of Scripture, of spiritual growth, and here was a Presiding Bishop and a House of Bishops too preoccupied with property sales, strategic plans, and progressive causes to notice it.
I was wrong. The truth is worse.
3 Questions Every Church Should Ask to Prevent Fraud, Reduce Legal Risks, and Ensure Compliance
Strong church risk management starts with asking the right questions. Evaluate your church’s governance, financial controls, employment practices, and compliance safeguards to identify vulnerabilities before they become costly problems.
Pastors, Don’t Make These Tax Mistakes!
Most pastors never receive formal training in clergy tax law. Seminaries focus on biblical languages, theology, and preaching but rarely on housing allowances, self-employment tax, or payroll classification. The result is that well-meaning ministers stumble into mistakes that can trigger audits, penalties, and years of back taxes. Thom and Sam discuss the common mistakes you can avoid.
The Retirement Questions Pastors Need to Ask Before Stepping Away
Jess and Thom interview Art Rainer, president of Christian Money Solutions, to find out the retirement questions pastors need to ask before stepping away.
More than half of teens turn to Jesus for advice but not more than parents, friends: Barna
While more than half of U.S. teenagers would turn to Jesus for advice about their identity, more say they would turn to their parents and friends first, and they ranked their mothers as their top choice for identity advice, according to new data from Barna.
In Reimagining Ministry for Gen Alpha, a report from Barna produced in partnership with Christ In Youth, researchers surveyed 1,500 U.S. teenagers, ages 13-18, from Feb. 14-17, to find out who they would feel most comfortable getting advice from if they had questions about their identity. The data show that mothers ranked highest among both teenagers in general and faith-activated teenagers, whom Barna describes as the most spiritually engaged teens in the survey.
10 Holiday Community-Building Ideas
The holidays can be a magnet for community building in your ministry. Here are 10 creative ways to connect with kids and capitalize on the natural energy the Christmas season generates.
When It Comes to Outreach, Where Is the Fruit?
Kevin Harney clarifIes some of the primary roadblocks to consistent and effective outreach in the local church, and suggests a practical step for each to begin reversing this trend of loss in evangelistic fervor.
Also See: Who’s in Charge?: Outreach Rarely Happens If No One Owns It
A Match Made in Heaven: Discipleship and evangelism
Too many people see discipleship (growing in Jesus) and evangelism (going with Jesus on a mission) as separate. They are not. Here is a little saying I came up with for myself and other Christian leaders:
Discipleship and evangelism are not enemies. Discipleship and evangelism are not just friends. Discipleship and evangelism are marriage partners.
5 Keys for Sharing Your Faith
Here are five important components that can help you be a peaceful presence of Jesus while you are seeking to share your faith and shine the light of Jesus.
Anglicans Ablaze