Insight 039: FaithSoaring Churches Focus on People of Passion Rather That Position
The longer congregations exist and the longer the tenure of the average member of congregations the more they tend to depend on or allow people of position to lead or even control the focus and actions of the congregation. These are often very good and faithful people. At the same time, they may be myopic […]
Insight 038: FaithSoaring Churches See Church Buildings as an Asset
FaithSoaring Churches need to see their church facilities as an asset for transformation. They need to always think of their facilities as being God’s house and not their house. As such, they can dedicate its use to God, and thus be open to choices for its use they may not otherwise consider. One strong, positive […]
Insight 037: FaithSoaring Churches Eliminate Pain Rather Than Just Alleviate Pain
It is not possible to become a FaithSoaring Church by shallow alleviation of pain rather than in-depth elimination of pain. Here are two applications. First, when congregations engage in ministry, it is not enough to simply provide food for the poor and thus alleviate their hunger. They must also seek to eliminate the circumstances that […]
Insight 036: FaithSoaring Churches Focus on Generosity
A significant barrier for congregations who desire to become FaithSoaring is that they have a fear of failing and falling. One evidence is that they hoard resources and focus them on the survival of their congregation as they have known it. These resources include their money, time, and leadership. For congregations to become FaithSoaring they […]
Insight 035: FaithSoaring Churches Seek Higher Ground
FaithSoaring Churches seek higher ground in their efforts to leap forward in the direction of God’s unique visionary leadership for them. When congregations seek common ground, they are generally compromising one perspective on the next steps for the congregation with another perspective. Rather than seeking common ground congregations need to seek higher ground. Higher ground […]
Insight 034: FaithSoaring Churches Affirm Significant Collaboration Among Leadership Groups
FaithSoaring congregations make the best use of their people resources. Too often committees in congregations function in isolation from one another. They appear as silos rather than as an integrative network of teams or leadership communities. As such they are inefficient and at times stumbling blocks to any forward progress. It is not coordination that […]
Insight 033: FaithSoaring Churches Reaffirm Their Church is God’s Church
It may seem like a no-brainer that every congregation is God’s Church. This is not always true from the perception of congregational participants. They often refer to the congregation as being their congregation. Therefore, future choices need to follow the guidelines of how their church is intended to operate. This becomes a significant challenge when […]
Insight 032: FaithSoaring Churches Focus on Vision Plus Intentionality
FaithSoaring Churches are about three words. Vision Plus Intentionality. That is it. Saying these words is really very simple. Living into these words is a mountain few can climb, and a summit that eludes many congregations. Vision is about a clear sense of God’s spiritual and strategic direction for your congregation. Intentionality is about aligning […]
Did You Know Your Church Owns the CMBA Churches-in-Association?
No one expects you as a busy and committed leader of your congregation to think every day about the fact that you are the owner of an association of almost 100 congregations committed to starting and strengthening churches to serve as vital and vibrant missional communities from the base of the Midlands of South Carolina. […]
Insight 031: FaithSoaring Churches Walk by Faith Rather Than by Sight
2 Corinthians 5:7 admonishes us to walk by faith rather than by sight. Isaiah 40:31 challenges us to mount up with wings as eagles and soar. Thus, walking by faith is FaithSoaring. One aspect of walking by faith is viewing congregations in terms of long-term potential rather than short-term urgencies. Another is always imagining the […]