Innovation may not be what we’ve been told. It isn’t about being the coolest kid in the room. That’s just style. And it doesn’t come from tearing down the things that matter. That’s our substance. Innovation happens in the space between style and substance. I’ve spent the last two days at Catalyst West Coast. It was […]
Between Substance & Style: Innovation Happens in the Middle Read More »
I know it’s practically heresy to propose this. But your church may not need a mission statement. Since the 1990s, there may be no more widely accepted rule in church growth circles than the expectation that every church needs a mission statement. It was taught in seminars and written in books. I remember at least
Only In a Small Church: You May Not Need a Mission Statement Read More »
It’s been over a decade since our church started a ministry that failed. Are we that brilliant? No. We just don’t start new ministries any more. We try experiments, instead. If I were to start the turnaround process in a church again, this is the #1 rule I would follow from Day 1 – outside
27 Advantages of Putting an Expiration Date on New Ministries Read More »
There are three participants in any healthy church. The pastor, the congregation and God. Knowing and coordinating the zone where their hearts intersect is the most important task a pastor can do. And it’s critical to understand and do well if you want a successful church turnaround. This is especially important in a Small Church.
Expanding the Sweet Spot for a Healthy Church Turnaround Read More »
It’s one of the toughest tasks in pastoral ministry. Leading an existing church through a turnaround from unhealthy to healthy. But it’s even harder when we’re trying to do so without understanding some basic principles needed for a successful turnaround to take place. Here are four common, fundamental principles that are regularly ignored or unknown
The 4 Most Overlooked Truths About Leading a Turnaround Church Read More »
We live in an increasingly post-denominational world. I don’t know if that’s good or bad, it’s just the way things are now. Years ago, virtually every friend I had in ministry was within my own denomination. Every program my church used came from our denominational headquarters. The idea of ministering in any significant way outside
How We Connect: The Decline of Denominations and the Rise of Size Read More »
I think it is time for a new scorecard for success. When we focus mostly on attendance growth we are missing the mark in assessing faithfulness to the call and purpose of God. When the pastors on conference stages and magazine covers are always the ones with the biggest and fastest growing churches something is
Stuff We Like: Measuring the Orchard, by Geoff Surratt Read More »
Three facts sit atop my “things I wish someone had told me in bible college” list. Fact #1: 80-90% of pastoral ministry students will never pastor a church larger than 250 people. Fact #2: 99.9% of us will pastor a Small Church for at least some time in our ministry. Fact #3: You can pastor
Ministry Reality Check: We’re All Gonna Pastor a Small Church Read More »
Innovative ideas for Small Churches are everywhere. But that’s the problem. They’re everywhere, making them hard to track down and use. Every good idea I’ve ever had came from someone else. I want to use your ideas. And I want to share mine with you. So how do we pull the best ones together? That’s
The New Small Church Discussion Forum Has Arrived! Read More »
The resurrection of Jesus is the greatest event in history. But Easter has an unseen downside for many Small Churches. Right now, all around the world, churches are excitedly preparing for Easter Sunday. Lilies are being arranged, choirs are rehearsing, Passion Plays are being staged, Easter eggs being stuffed and hidden, extra services are being
Only In a Small Church: The Easter Sunday Blues Read More »
