The August issue of Equipper is now available online. It focuses on ministry coaching, a very powerful tool in ministry development. Here are links to the five articles in this issue:
Last week in this section of Weekly Update, we looked at how we can teach the members in our congregations to be more effective in welcoming visitors to church. This week we continue that theme, noting that in an increasingly impersonal world, people hunger for true, lasting friendships. Ask yourself, Is my congregation a place where visitors find new friends? Though many churches are friendly to “insiders” (existing members) fewer by far are skilled at befriending “outsiders.”
For some helpful, practical advice on this topic from small church expert Karl Vaters, click here.
A key challenge of all churches has to do with welcoming visitors to church in ways that help them feel at home and thus become regular attenders. We have been addressing this issue in our current round of regional conferences in the United States—it’s an issue commonly referred to as the “assimilation” challenge. This is a challenge that all members can help in addressing as noted by Dorothy Littell Greco in an article titled “Teach Your Entire Church to Welcome Visitors.” To read it, click here.
The June Equipper looked at stewardship with a focus on generosity. The recently published July Equipper continues the stewardship theme, now with a focus on the topic of fundraising. The five articles in the July issue are linked below.
Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
From Greg: Our calling to be fundraisers Greg Williams shares from his personal experience important insights about our calling to raise funds in support of our churches and ministries.
Lessons learned from fundraising Sam Butler shares what he and his church learned in raising funds for a ministry by which they reach out to the community with God’s love.
Fundraising through networking Tim Sitterley shares what he has learned about networking as an effective tool in relationship building and fundraising.
Over the last few decades, much has been written about church growth. For some, the idea is repugnant—“growth” as associated with churches, is a dirty word. For some helpful perspective on the topic of church growth, click here for an e-church article titled, “Why is ‘growth’ a dirty word in the church?”
God made an amazing promise to Abram (later renamed Abraham):
I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. (Genesis 12:2-3)
As the spiritual children of Abraham, through Jesus, our calling is to join with Jesus in being that blessing to the world. Dave Ferguson of Exponential Church Planting shares five ways we can join in. In the Verge video embedded below, Dave notes that, “From the very beginning, God’s way of reaching and restoring the world has always been through what I would call a blessing strategy.” He then (using the acronym BLESS) provides a simple way to live out that strategy in and through our relationships with people around us (our neighbors):
B- Begin with prayer. Ask, “God how do you want me to bless the people in the places you’ve sent me to?” L- Listen. Don’t talk, but listen to people, their struggles, their pains, in the places God has sent you. E- Eat. You can’t just check this off. It’s not quick. You have to have a meal with people or a cup of coffee. It builds relationships. S- Serve. If you listen with people and you eat with people they will tell you how to love them and you’ll know how to serve them. S- Story. When the time is right, now we talk and we share the story of how Jesus changed our life.
Preaching is one of the most important tasks for pastoral leaders. Below are links to resources that preachers can use in honing their craft and in teaching others to preach.
The church is called to participate with Jesus in his ongoing work to “make disciples” (Matthew 28:18-20). It’s important to know that this work is a relational endeavor, not a mechanical process. This distinction is helpfully addressed by Jeff Hawkins in a Leadership Journal article posted at http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2008/spring/12.88.html. Here is Jeff’s conclusion:
The church is many faces gathered around the table—the Lord’s table. Only when we understand who we are can we hope to accomplish the work we are called to do.
The June issue of GCI Equipper focuses on our calling to follow the Spirit in cultivating generosity in our personal lives and within our congregations. Below are links to its five articles and a tongue-in-cheek cartoon to remind us of how not to approach the topic.
Used with permission
From Greg: Live and preach generosity Greg Williams discusses our calling as church leaders to practice and teach the spiritual discipline of generosity.
Nurturing a culture of generosity Randy Bloom shows how pastors and ministry leaders can develop a culture of generosity within their congregations.
Sermon summary: Generous God, generous life Ted Johnston offers a sermon that explores the teachings of Jesus (recorded in Luke) involving living a generous life that participates in God’s own generosity.
Kid’s Korner: What do kids need from church? Susi Albrecht and Nancy Akers explore how small churches can, with a generous spirit, capitalize on their small size to maximize ministry to children.
Are you encountering personal setbacks and struggles? Perhaps it’s a health issue, unemployment, or a family crisis. If so, you’re not alone. Pastor Ron Edmondson, facing his own struggles, learned to, as he says, “lead with a limp.” He shares his experience and insights in an encouraging article at ChurchLeaders.com, titled 5 Ways to Lead When You’re Limping. Click here to read it.
From Greg: Coaching matters
