Insights 017: FaithSoaring Churches Encourage Relationships That are True Friendships
Transforming congregations must clearly encourage and demonstrate two types of relationships that produce true friendships. First, there must be an obvious and sincere dimension of relationships within the congregational fellowship. People must love and like one another in a way that creates and sustains Christian community. Second, there must be an obvious and sincere dimension […]
Insight 016: FaithSoaring Churches Acknowledge the Tenure of the Active Congregation
What impacts a congregation more: the average age of active participants or the average length of time they have been connected with the congregation? If it is a forced choice question. The answer is tenure. A 72-year-old recently widowed woman who is new in town and connects with your congregation, is more open to change […]
Insight 015: FaithSoaring Churches Renew Their Core While Extending Their Ministry
Congregations are often very caring for those in need near them and throughout the world. They understand the need to extend the ministry of their congregation to hurting people, and engage in acts of Christian kindness. Yet they have a disconnect between going around doing well, and specifically engaging people in disciplemaking processes. They do […]
Insight 014: FaithSoaring Churches Clarify Their Values
Too many congregations are confused about their core values. A major difference exists between a published list of core values and the real core values of congregations. The real ones are often unwritten, unspoken, and hidden. These core values unknown to people not truly “in the know” need to be the subject of open dialogue. […]
Insight 013: FaithSoaring Churches Embrace Their Age Demographics as a Beginning Point
The longer a congregation is in existence the greater the tendency for the average age in the congregation to be older. Few congregations incrementally adjust their strategy and style to continually reach the next generations. The clear majority create a gap between their patterns of doing church, and the patterns of church sought by the […]
Following Up on Christmas Season Guests in Your Congregation
Greg Atkinson will be the Vision Tuesday speaker for CMBA on February 20th. He leads the emphasis known as Worship Impressions – http://worshipimpressions.com/. Here are his suggestions for following up with your Christmas season guests in your congregation: Wor Imp, Invite Guests Back After Christmas. Checkout his book Secrets of a Secret Shopper.
Insight 012: FaithSoaring Churches are Flavored by Deep Relationships
Three relationships are of great importance in congregations seeking to transform. First is a deepening spiritual relationship with the Triune God through personal and community worship. Second is a deepening relationship within the community of believers. Third is an active relationship with the people of the context where the congregation serves. This can be a […]
Insight 011: FaithSoaring Churches are Fueled by an Empowering Spiritual Vision
The most important thing by which a congregation can be captivated is the empowering vision of God for its spiritual and strategic journey into the future. Our God, who goes before us, has prepared the way for your congregation to reach its full Kingdom potential. Vision is not a 25 word or less statement that […]
Insight 010: FaithSoaring Churches Focus on Doing a Few Things Well
Busy-ness is the enemy of excellence in congregations seeking to transform. Often congregations try to do too many things. Their size and resources will not support all they are doing, yet they keep pushing hard hoping they will all work. Congregations who want to transform stop doing things that are no longer working, and start […]
Insight 009: FaithSoaring Churches Have Worship That Helps People Connect with the Triune God
Overly predictable worship that follows the same or similar order or liturgy is for some people a valuable focal point for centering in the worship of God. However, for way too many people it becomes the automatic routine of worship and not the fresh experience of God. The key in worship for a congregation that […]