Across America, churches continue to decline in attendance. So many factors combat regular church attendance. Sports commitments, work commitments, and extraordinarily busy lives make slowing down for church difficult. Churches struggle to connect with a new generation of people. My church Personally, over the last five years, our church shrunk from around 60 people, to... Continue Reading →
A slightly shocking encounter with Jesus
Serving a cash stretched church I indulge in a fantasy. One Sunday, in the middle of the sermon, a super rich and young man will enter the back door of the church. Interrupting the service he will ask "Pastor what must I do to be saved?"Knowing my scripture I will reply just what the Paul... Continue Reading →
The best bang for your church advertising buck.
Today I delivered 100 invites to 100 families in 47 minutes. It didn't cost a penny more than the cost of paper and toner. I personally talked to over a dozen people inviting them to church. 80 plus more families had the chance to hear about our church and read a friendly invite. Advertising on... Continue Reading →
What standing in the gap for a community looks like
Nehemiah saw a gap that needed to be filled. He wept, prayed, planned, requested, persisted, and he solved the problem. He did not just stop in and work a couple years and leave. He worked for more than 12 years to solve the problem he came to fix. The walls he built around Jerusalem stood... Continue Reading →
Praying with my wife
Last Thursday I had lunch with a good friend of mine. He challenged me to consider the value of praying and reading my Bible with my wife. I told him honestly I wasn't totally convinced it was important. Don't get me wrong, I think spending time in God's word is important for me personally. I think it... Continue Reading →
Doubly Counter-Cultural
Imagine if you will that you left the United States and lived in Europe for a decade. You haven't been back to the stage for a long long time. Upon returning and moving back to the states you discover that instead of churches meeting and people worshiping on Sundays people worship and gather on Monday... Continue Reading →