Georgia Baptist Mission Board Blog
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Watershed Discipleship: During COVID-19 and Beyond
“As believers engage in multiple layers of ministry, you will see a higher rate of connection, stronger commitment, and deeper levels of spiritual maturity. Providing a balanced framework of ministry opportunities is crucial to grow and sustain a healthy church.” Discipleship Perseverance in COVID-19 To have James 1:3 perseverance from testing our faith, we need […]
Why a Church Should Adopt an Intentional Disciple-Making Pathway
Programs are NOT Producing Every church should purpose to make disciples of Jesus Christ in ongoing relational environments that seek spiritual maturity and multiplication. Many churches in our lifetime have depended on programs to reach people, retain people, and make spiritually mature disciple makers. This plan is not working. Dr. David Kinnaman, President of the […]
Public Affairs Committee hears update from Alliance Defending Freedom
This post originally appeared in the Christian Index. By Myriah Snyder DULUTH – The fight for religious liberty, our ability to live according to our faith, is under attack, Harrison Smith, regional alliance director for Alliance Defending Freedom, told the Georgia Baptist Public Affairs Committee during its meeting on Dec. 4 at the Georgia Baptist Missions […]
Recap of 2020; looking forward to 2021
We hope you are having a good start to your new year! Instead of my traditional 3 announcements in 3 minutes, here is a more in-depth overview of several important items. I’ve provided a list of the topics with timestamps so you can fast forward or mark your place as you watch the video.
Learning Communities
Are you interested in hearing best practices gathered from leading churches across the nation? Perhaps you are looking for professional collaboration, memorable fellowship, skill development, or a safe place where you can participate in an honest conversation? Just maybe you have felt like this leader in South Georgia: “Full transparency, this is the hardest […]
4 Signs You’re a Normal Christian
What does it mean to be a normal Christian? Lamar LaGrone was surprisingly and miraculously saved out of a lifestyle filled with the world’s vices. When Lamar was saved, he immediately began to share with everyone who would listen about the difference Christ made in his life and how they also could be saved. It […]
NEW Voter Guides: Georgia Senate Runoffs
As we did in October, we are going to be providing Georgia Baptists with voter guides. These new guides are intended to help you choose the candidates you will vote for in the January 5 Senate Runoff. It is important once again that you know as much as possible on the candidate’s positions on issues […]
Make Baptism a Big Deal with These 5 Easy Activities
Over the last decade, baptisms have been on the decline in our churches across America. In totality, the Southern Baptist Convention reached a historic low of 246,000 baptisms per year. For perspective, the last time we had a similar number, the SBC was half the size it is today. We have doubled the churches, but […]
5 Keys to Celebrating Evangelism Through Stewardship
Evangelism is the very heart of Christianity and biblical stewardship is managing the resources that God has entrusted us with. As a result, I believe that effective evangelism happens as a result of individuals partnering to help advance the gospel. Having worked in the nonprofit arena for more than 20 years; I had the privilege […]
How Does Evangelism Change After We Regather?
What happened? There I was in 1972 … with long hair and no waist, listening to 8-track tapes and wearing bellbottom jeans. Phones had long cords and rotary dials. You could cruise town all night in a brand new Ford Pinto ($2,000) because gas cost only $.55 a gallon. And we all plunked down $1 for the […]
Shifting the Mindset of Discipleship
Your mindset determines so much of your daily decision making. A mindset is your beliefs, ideas, and attitude toward a circumstance or challenge that you will take action on. For example, I grew up in Ohio and learned to drive in the snow and ice. When I drive over ice, I have a mindset that […]
Is Your Church Ready to Start Living the D-Life?
Church revitalization is a trendy topic at ministry conferences. Most leaders are eager to learn about this important matter. But how many times have you participated in a session on the subject only to leave without a tangible plan for achieving it? Let’s be honest. The best way to experience revitalization in your church is […]
Navigating the River of Disciple Making
I will never forget the time I went canoeing with a group of youth down a local river. When we arrived at the entry point, assignments were made to be in each canoe. I was assigned a canoe with a young man who had suffered a previous accident leaving him paralyzed on one side of […]
Voter Guides: An Important Educational Tool
As always, I want to thank you for your support of the Public Affairs Ministry this past year. We’ve had wins and losses. These wins and losses are a constant reminder that elections have consequences. This is true whether it is local, state, or national. It is the people that we put in office that […]
4 Ways to Make Sure Your Small Groups Ministry is Healthy
If there is any “good” to come out of our current COVID-19 crisis, it’s that churches have been forced to reexamine the health of their current programs and ministries. What was working to help create disciples nine months ago may no longer be as effective. It has also helped shine a spotlight on ministries that […]
The Domino of Prayer
Prayer is More than Me I began to follow Christ when I was a teen. I was in a family that did not go to church. My mom did not attend, and neither did my brothers and sisters. My parents divorced when I was very young, and my dad lived on the other side of […]
5 Surefire Ways to Recruit More Volunteers
“I don’t have enough volunteers.” Have you ever heard a ministry leader in your church say this? Perhaps you have said it or at least thought it. Here’s a question to ponder: Can we ever have enough volunteers? I am convinced that one of the biggest mistakes that I have made in ministry was to assume […]
5 Steps to Gain More From Your Message Series
During COVID-19, there was a good deal of experimentation with small groups. There were groups meeting through Microsoft Teams, FaceTime, Facebook, Zoom, and other forms of media. What was extremely interesting was not the medium through which they gathered, but rather the content that drove their meetings. There was a great deal of traction gained […]
Seniors Returning: What Does the Future Hold?
Almost one-third of Southern Baptist church attendees are seniors over the age of 65. Some can’t wait to get back to worship, their group, and their places of service. Others want to come back; but due to their current situation, they simply cannot or will not. Church leaders are pondering the best way to help […]
Patience: Don’t Hold Your Breath
Patience is a tricky thing.When present, it is life-giving, and when lacking, a destroyer. If you think about it, patience is required in all aspects of life. So, how is your patience these days, sister?Are you patient in the process … under stress?Are you patient with your spouse … with your children?How about with yourself? […]
Domino of Personal Evangelism: Ignite an Evangelistic Culture
The Georgia Baptist Evangelism Strategy is built on building an evangelistic culture in your church using The Domino Effect. The dominoes are seven biblical principles that produce a cumulative effect with each domino creating momentum to build a culture of evangelism in your fellowship. The Domino of Personal Evangelism is an effective way to engage […]
Choose to Hope When There is Loss Upon Loss
Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth — a man of complete integrity. He fears God and will have nothing to do with evil. And he has maintained his integrity, …’ Satan replied to the Lord, “Skin for skin — he blesses […]
Men’s Ministry: It’s OK to Dream Small
Does your current ministry to men feel like a valley of dry bones? Are you looking for ways to breathe new life into your men’s ministry? Are you contemplating your next event or outreach strategy? Maybe it’s time to change things up a little. Go against the flow. Think about efficiency and effectiveness. The answer […]
When You Can’t Travel: Keep Your Grip on International Missions with Just 4 Tips
By now there are very few places untouched by the lifestyle changes required to adjust to COVID-19. Travel restrictions and social distancing seem to be common bywords, and that affects how we think about missions – especially international missions – in the near future. So how does an evangelical Christian balance the call to be […]
Effectively Fill in the GAPS of Evangelism
One of the biggest struggles pastors face when it comes to raising the evangelism temperature of their people is getting them to take the message from the pulpit, internalize it, and live it out when they leave the church building. I know pastors are sharing passionately with their people the need to go and share […]
OPINION: The sacred responsibility of voting
According to the Scriptures, God has given mankind the stewardship responsibility of ruling over all His creation. In Genesis 1:25, God says that mankind is to “rule over all the earth” (NASB). Therefore, being a steward over what God has put us in charge of is every person’s responsibility to some extent or another. In […]
Best 15 Tips for Restarting Sunday School Well
We are all doing something we’ve never done before. Just about every church I know is not having in-person Sunday School and now many are working on starting back. I have received lots of calls and talked with lots of leaders. Here are some top tips to restarting your Sunday school: SET A DATE. Find […]
6 Ways to Emotionally Support Your Husband
The well-worn word that marks many sentences during the COVID-19 crisis is “unprecedented.” The upheaval of an unimaginable nearly world-wide quarantine has shaken up almost every person, organization, company and system – including the Church. We are married to the men who lead churches. Our husbands are pastors, leaders, shepherds, entrepreneurs. Many are highly trained, others have […]
Build Well: 6 Lessons from Nehemiah
Nehemiah 2:18, “Let us rise up and build,” is a familiar passage of Scripture and also the theme that many churches use when they are planning to renovate or make additions to their facilities. Here are a few things that Nehemiah faced. Church leaders should consider these points as they plan: What is your “Why?” […]
Point 6: Trust God – I Will Enjoy My Life While HE Works Out My Struggles
This post is the final piece in a series of posts called, “A Six Point Battle Plan Against Fear.” Read the previous post here. “Commit your future to the LORD! Trust him and he will act on your behalf.” Psalm 37:5 I have learned that, when going through a crisis, I need to be careful not […]
Point 5: Stand Firm – Feet Planted – Believe God Fights for You and With You
This post is the fifth piece in a series of posts called, “A Six Point Battle Plan Against Fear.” Read the previous post here. Stay alert, stand firm in the faith, show courage, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13 Some of the bravest women I know are those who escape violent relationships. I have seen women of […]
Importance of Tutoring Children & Youth and ReadGeorgia Ministries
There are children in every school system who are struggling – most of them with reading. The Church can easily address that need. Teachers do their best to address the needs of their students, but with 20 or more of them in each class, it is impossible to give individualized attention. Most schools welcome volunteers’ help […]
Point 4: Know the Enemy Only has the Power and Influence We Give Him
This post is the fourth in a series of posts called, “A Six Point Battle Plan Against Fear.” Read the previous post here. “So, submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 Influence is a powerful thing. We can allow the influence of others to bring out the best […]
Turning Online Volunteers into Online Ministers
Volunteers are the lifeblood of our churches. With many churches moving worship online, and planning to continue to do so, how will your church empower volunteers to help you address this new platform? Many pastors use their phones, laptops, tablets, and anything else that could connect online for streaming services. This new online initiative launched […]
5 Things Churches Need to Know about Elections
Even though I have been a pastor for 35 years and a lobbyist for 13 years, I am still challenged with what the proper role of the church is in government. I am thankful for organizations like Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) and their willingness to help churches define their proper role in things like elections. […]
Starting or Reinventing a Ministry to Senior Adults
Ministry to and with older adults is changing. In an unstable world, this provides a unique opportunity for churches to start or revamp the way they approach ministry to senior adults. We not only want to provide ministry that helps this age group reach and disciple their peers, but we also want to provide ministry […]
6 Ideas to Serve Schools Well as Students Return
School staff are preparing for a challenge they have never encountered before – returning to school during a continuing pandemic. Plan A, Plan B, Plan C and a just-in-case Plan D are all in place. Administration leaders are going over every detail of each scenario. Teachers are working on lessons, hoping to bring some type […]
Point 3: Remember that Faith is Not a Feeling; It is an Action
This post is the third in a series of posts called, “A Six Point Battle Plan Against Fear.” Read the previous post here. “Even when I must walk in the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; our rod and your staff reassure me.” Psalm 23:4 I love my tribe. This tribe […]
Killing the Sacred Cow: 5 Ways to Avoid the Horns
What comes to mind when I say “sacred cow?” Perhaps you are thinking to remove plaques in the church foyer of people who “built” the church, replacing the organ, or maybe changing the expected worship attire. Whatever the case may be, most congregations have “sacred cows” that leaders would love to change but are hesitant. […]
Point 2: Courageously Confront the Fear and Back It Down with God’s Word
This post is the second in a series of posts called, “A Six Point Battle Plan Against Fear.” Read the first post here. “I repeat, be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic, for I, the LORD your God, am with you in all you do.” Joshua 1:9 Grandbaby number four was on […]
Is It Time for a Facility Checkup?
Most of us probably have an annual checkup with our doctor. This is an important part of staying healthy and catching potential health concerns early. Every year, my doctor orders bloodwork and conducts a full physical. He asks lots of questions and encourages me to engage in healthy activities such as exercise, healthy eating habits, and proper […]
Sunday, August 9: Courage
Georgia Baptist Convention President Robby Foster challenges Georgia Baptists to have the courage to act upon the things God has taught us during our week of prayer and fasting.
Saturday, August 8: Wisdom
James 1:5-6 (NIV)If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. We have all […]
Friday, August 7: Renewal
2 Chronicles 23:16 (NIV) Jehoiada then made a covenant that he, the people and the king would be the Lord’s people. The word “renewal” is defined as “an instance of resuming an activity or state after an interruption.” This year has been filled with many challenges that have interrupted our normal day-to-day lives. These are experiences that […]
Thursday, August 6: Salvation
1 Corinthians 2:1-2 (ESV)And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. As we look around our nation in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, global protests, […]
Wednesday, August 5: Healing
Mark 2: 4-5 (NIV) Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” In these […]
Point 1: Recognize that Fear is a Demonic Spirit
This post is the first in a series of posts called, “A Six Point Battle Plan Against Fear.” “For God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 We have a serious problem. Those words from my husband Fred’s gastrologist slammed into my brain with […]
Tuesday, August 4: Unity and Harmony
Ephesians 4:1-3 (ESV) I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Imagine this kind of unity […]
Reaching and Discipling Men Fulfills the Great Commission
As I travel throughout Southeast Georgia and speak with pastors, I often ask the question, “How is your men’s ministry?” Following the eye roll, the response is usually two-fold. “We’re hanging in there, but numbers are falling.” Or, more prevalent, “We no longer have a specific men’s ministry.” This has led me to ponder: Is […]
Monday, August 3: Repentance
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. REPENTANCE: This word communicates the idea of turning. It is a […]
A Look at the Treatment of Churches during COVID-19 Shutdowns
When the government punishes one behavior and rewards another, people take notice. That’s because the government’s actions send signals about what is good and what should be avoided. So when the government treats churches worse than casinos, gyms, and bars in its COVID-19 response, we should all be concerned about the message it is sending […]
Hospitality is Not Hostessing
For many Christians, hospitality is seen as a nice gesture to offer, but only if you have the ability, time, space, or finances to host. I think this is because our culture often confuses hospitality with hostessing. This confusion is seen in these pretty common statements, that I’m sure we’ve all heard…or even said: “If […]
Why Small Groups?
Understanding the Why Perhaps, like my wife and me, you have at one time had the privilege of parenting a 4-year-old. As the mom and dad of four little boys, we have had this opportunity twice and will soon have again. We’re certainly not “experts,” but — having walked through this season several times now — we […]
Transform Your Home into a Missions Outpost for Your Neighborhood
The quarantine isolated families in their homes. Many during this time became extremely creative about how they could minister to their neighbors. In fact, homes became missions outpost all over Georgia. One thing that was discovered during this time: That it could be done. Moving out of quarantine doesn’t mean we should move away from […]
Prayer Week Introduction
Each day there will be a new prayer prompt. You can bookmark and follow along right here in this section or download the prayer guide. Monday, August 3: Repentance(video and devotion added on Monday) Tuesday, August 4: Unity and Harmony(video and devotion added on Tuesday) Wednesday, August 5: Healing(video and devotion added on Wednesday) Thursday, […]
July 24, 2020: David Melber to Join Staff as COO
DULUTH — David Melber, former president of SEND Relief for the North American Mission Board, began as chief operations officer for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board on July 15. In his role, Melber will oversee GBMB financial services, human resources, Disaster Relief, associations, and all property and facilities. “David Melber provides a wealth of experience and expertise to this position,” said Georgia […]
A First-Hand Look at Food, Relationships, and Physical Wellness
Food, Relationships, and Physical Wellness As a minister of the gospel, a meal goes with almost every emotion, occasion, or relationship-building activity. Growing up as a large guy, I embraced who I was early on and never struggled with my size. Also, growing up in a Baptist home, I embraced that a good meal or […]
Ministering in the Midst of Protests
I couldn’t be more proud of Teresa Royall, our Baptist campus minister at Georgia State University in downtown Atlanta. She ministers in the midst of one of our most culturally-diverse BCMs and recently shared with our staff a series of experiences that impacted her and motivated her to minister more effectively. This is written from […]
The Big 4 of Sunday School
The Sunday school (your ongoing Sunday morning small groups strategy) is the best tool you have to do Great Commission ministry. But nothing good will come from classes and groups if you put them on autopilot. You’ve got to be intentional! I think that too many times we focus on the wrong things with our […]
5 Ways to Spread and Make Worship Contagious
Contagious: something that is transmissible by direct or indirect contact with an infected person Webster The noun form for this is “contagion.” In this period of COVID-19, we are discovering a new vocabulary. We have heard terms like “asymptomatic,” “super spreader,” and “shelter-in-place” expressed more in the last 30 days than in the previous 30 […]
Heartbeat Bill: Struck Down but Not Defeated
One of the most important pieces of legislation passed the Georgia legislature in 2019. It was HB 481, The LIFE ACT (Living Infants Fairness and Equality Act), also known as the Heartbeat Bill. Soon after Governor Brian Kemp signed it into law, a lawsuit was filed against it in Federal Court. Federal District Judge Steve […]
Extend Grace: Don’t be like the Chickens!
Grace, Chickens, and Sheep Many times in Scripture, God compares His people to sheep. And though, I admit, we can be dumb and smelly, there are times when we, especially women, can act more like chickens. You see, chickens peck at each other. Sometimes they do this because they are bored. Other times, a weakness […]
Bless your graduates. Here’s how.
As our high school seniors become graduates, it is both a difficult time and one for celebration in the life of a church. That reality is even more difficult this year with the effects of COVID-19. Many of the traditional “rites of passage” simply don’t exist right now. Graduation services are virtual and seem hollow […]
4 Reasons Why A Church Should Adopt an Intentional Disciple-Making Pathway
Programs are NOT Producing Every church should have an intentional pathway to make disciples of Jesus Christ in ongoing relational environments that seek spiritual maturity and multiplication. In my opinion, most American churches in our lifetime have depended on a program to reach people, retain people, and make spiritually mature disciple makers. This dependency on […]
How Church Leaders Can Have Simple, Effective Virtual Meetings & Follow Up
The traditional way of holding meetings, making follow-ups, taking notes, assigning tasks, and scheduling meetings by church leaders has now taken a new shape. The leaders do not have to meet with their staff members or hold church committee meetings physically. With the current technological trend, meetings can take place anywhere and at any time. […]
Following Jesus Together: Following Him so that our Children can Follow Us
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Imitate me as I always imitate Christ.” As parents, we should be able to say to our kids, “Copy me as I try to copy Christ.” Or better yet, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” Children will do what they see. I’ve often heard it said, “More is caught […]
June 26, 2020: An Unusual Legislative Session Comes to an End
After a three month delay, the end is here! On Friday, June 26, 2020, the Georgia General Assembly concluded its legislative session that began January 13. The legislature had been in recess since March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic and had reconvened to resume the 2020 legislative session on June 15. This has made […]
Beyond Regathering: Ministry in the New World
Who moved the cheese? In his book Who Moved My Cheese, Dr. Spencer Johnson describes the difficulty of change in any organization. His tells a story about a maze, cheese, mice, and change. The maze is built just for the mice, and they got used to where the cheese was placed within the maze. When […]
Send Your High School Graduate to College Well
Regardless of whether they are moving on to college, heading to technical school, going into the service, or starting a career, graduates need some things from us as a church, from previous mentors and leaders, and from parents. It is important for students to be sent into college well from both the parents’ perspective as well as that of […]
Why Should My Church Be Single-Focused?
Let’s Define Single Adults Singles are unique. There is a specific way to reach and minister to each type of single adult, but these labels are not meant to place singles into different ways of being reached. Quite the opposite. Once you know who you want to reach, you need to know how to reach […]
Churches in College Towns have an Unprecedented Opportunity to Serve Students
There is great uncertainty right now in your church. When will it be safe to open? How will we phase in the various programs and elements of our fellowship? What ministries are vital? How do we emphasize Christian community and fellowship and do it safety? There is also a parallel course at your local college or university. Even if […]
ADF: Supreme Court Delivers a Troubling Decision Against Harris Funeral Homes
Americans should be able to rely on what the law says. Unfortunately, it seems the U.S. Supreme Court does not agree. Today, the Supreme Court ruled against our client Harris Funeral Homes. In doing so, the Court has delivered a truly troubling decision: Unelected officials and courts can effectively rewrite laws — forcing Americans to guess […]
June 15, 2020: The Georgia Legislature Reconvenes
On Monday, June 15, 2020, the Georgia General Assembly will reconvene to resume the 2020 legislative session. The legislature has been in recess since March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic. There are officially 11 legislative days left out of the yearly 40-day session. The only constitutional requirement is that the budget must be passed […]
June 5, 2020: Georgia Baptist Mission Board Statement on Racial Injustice
DULUTH, GA, June 5, 2020 – The body of Christ is a tapestry of multi-ethnic believers who come from many different cultures. All believers are unified under Jesus Christ, who is the Head. The Georgia Baptist Convention (GBC) reflects that diversity with 536 predominantly non-Anglo churches that have a membership of over 113,000 and represent […]
10 Evangelistic Ways to Share: Using your Influence to Share your Faith through Social Media and Beyond
As pastors, it is our hope that we effectively communicate the gospel, be an example of evangelism, and that our congregation is actively living out and sharing their faith with others. In the height of the pandemic, there are more churches that are virtually having services, with the chance to reach more people than ever. […]
4 Ways to Save Money while Maximizing Gospel Impact
There are many areas where COVID-19 pandemic has challenged our churches – and a big one is money. Our executive pastor made the statement early to our staff: “Don’t spend any money!” With the closing of many businesses and the basic shut down in much of the state, churches have experienced a considerable decline in giving […]
61 Super Summer Ideas for Kids
There’s no doubt that this summer will look very different than any other summer in recent history. As most events and activities have been cancelled or postponed, families will be spending much more time at home. And while this has been true for the last several months, there’s no longer distance learning going on for […]
Create A Better Online Bible Study Experience
There have been four waves of questions or issues that I’ve been asked to help pastors and churches address during the past few months. The first was “how do we get our worship services online?” The next was “how do we get our giving/offerings online?” The third was “how do we get our Sunday School […]
Develop Great Next Generation Pianists with these 14 Tips
Developing next generation pianists can seem like a daunting task. Children begin taking piano lessons for many reasons. Most often, it is because their parents want them to learn an instrument. Children arrive at the door of the local piano teacher, and weekly lessons ensue. They typically participate in a few recitals and occasionally enter […]
How to Have Certainty in Uncertainty
When we start a new day we all realize deep down inside that there is always uncertainty. We don’t really control the events of the day … not really. So much of life is beyond our control. But to be honest, we don’t think too much about that on a normal day. Normal routines and set schedules […]
The Simple – But Powerful – Life of Prayer
During complex moments in life, I have found that the most helpful things are very simple. “Get back to the basics” sounds like a saying too simple to be helpful. Don’t overlook the obvious. It is the simple things that bring balance. One of those simple things is prayer. Just like we need to breathe […]
What does the Coronavirus Shelter-in-Place Order mean for my Church?
Last updated May 5, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. The Shelter-in-Place Order went into effect on Friday, April 3 and will last through April 30, 2020. Here is the latest information in The Christian Index. However, there is a new Executive Order that will go into effect on May 1, 2020. It contains changes related to […]
9 Tips to Connecting Students in Small Groups during the Crisis
After a few great weeks of connections in our new normal of Zoom Sunday School, yesterday felt disconnected. This week we had three guests, of which, two were first-timers. Overall, things are looking good, but this past Sunday was a little stale. The students just were just not into it! They responded slowly or not […]
Positive Emotional Health in the Midst of COVID-19
It is interesting that in the middle of this pandemic that this month is designated as “Mental Health Awareness” month. To be quite honest, far too many people think pastors aren’t real people and should never deal with issues like depression, isolation, or despair. For some people, they are super-human. Nothing could be further from the truth. A pastor’s life is […]
Considerations for Reopening the Church Building
Table of Contents: Be Informed Prepare Your Church Worship Services Service Times and Locations Amenities Staffing and Volunteers Small Groups and Sunday School Preschool and Children Choirs and Orchestras Tech Teams Recap Discussion with Governor’s Office Updated as of 4 p.m. on May 5, 2020. Please check back for updates on reopening suggestions. Use the […]
Fishing during Social Distancing: Invitations and Evangelizing during COVID-19
How do we share Jesus when we can’t get within six feet of someone? There are a few different ways you can encourage your congregation to share personally as well as ways to lead an invitation when you return to church. Encourage Your Congregation to Evangelize! Here are some ideas you can use to teach […]
5G Coverage: Using an Online Presence to Reach Lost People
Every church has been forced, amid COVID-19, to establish an online presence. Churches have been encouraged by the increased exposure they have been getting by being online. Post corona, churches should never give up their online presence. In fact, churches should enhance and expand their online presence to not only minister to their members, but […]
Personalizing Prayer During Uncertain Times
The COVID-19 times may be uncertain, but the One who is and has been for all times is not. When we are at a loss for what to say to God, we know His Spirit intercedes for us. Use God’s words to personalize these prayers for yourself or others He is putting on your heart. […]
7 Thoughtful Questions to Ask about your Preschool Ministry
They Are Precious In His Sight One Sunday we took our preschool-aged grandchild to church with us. While she and her family are very active in their church, her younger brother needed to stay home and this prevented their family from being at their church. But rather than MaCayla missing church altogether, we all decided […]
The Pianist in the Praise Band
Being a pianist is often a solitary pursuit. You take lessons with one other person in the room, you practice by yourself, you play solos, while your friends who play string and wind instruments are always making music in groups. You might accompany a soloist or play duets with your organist, but your role in […]
5 Steps to a Better Soundcheck in a Modern Worship Environment
Have you considered what a soundcheck in your church looks like? One of the greatest and perhaps most overlooked challenges for modern worship environments (regardless of styles) is the use of sound systems to support and amplify live music and speech to the congregation in a way that is clear, musical and engaging. Too often […]
COVID-19 can bring the Next Great Awakening
It’s time for a reset. The time we have spent apart due to the COVID-19 quarantine will have an eternal impact on churches as we move forward into the future. It has changed the Church from within, because individual people have changed. She will not reemerge the same. It seems like such a long time […]
VBS and COVID-19: If, How, and Why?
I receive phone calls daily with questions about Vacation Bible School (VBS) this year. There’s so much uncertainty about how much longer we will need to shelter in place. There’s also uncertainty about whether or not parents will want to send their children where hundreds of others will be after our restrictions have been lifted. Pastors and […]
Untapped Potential: Engage with Visitors from Before the Coronavirus
Your visitors Mike and Stephanie Oaks moved into your town in January. They took the risk and tried several churches in the area. They did what most people don’t and filled out visitor cards for every place they visited. Most, if not all, of the churches called, sent a letter, or both, after they visited […]
7 Focused Missionary Requests to Take Before God during COVID-19
Conversations with God enable us to close the distance between ourselves and thousands of missionaries serving around the world. Throughout the Psalms it is declared that He will incline His ears to us, hear us, and answer us. Prayer transports us into the middle of where missionaries are and connects us to what they are […]
9 Tips to Connecting Students in Small Groups during the Crisis
After a few great weeks of connections in our new normal of Zoom Sunday School, yesterday felt disconnected. This week we had three guests, of which, two were first-timers. Overall, things are looking good, but this past Sunday was a little stale. The students just were just not into it! They responded slowly or not […]
11 Effective Ideas for Serving Women in Your Church and Community
Women crave connection with Jesus and with other women more than ever right now. A minister recently said, “We are created for communion with God and one another. We will survive this season when we do both.” To love and serve women best, provide opportunities for them to connect with God, with their families, and with one another. Bible Study: Disciple women to study […]
An Easy Tool to Stream Online Worship to Members Who Aren’t Online
How do I provide online worship for my members who are not online? It’s a question many have been asking as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and here’s a great solution: PhoneLiveStreaming.com Zoiper sends the audio from your computer out to the SmartTalk phone line and church members can then call in to your […]
6 Simple Steps to Setting Up a Successful Facebook Group
Looking for a way to stay connected when you aren’t physically in the same room? A Facebook Group is just one option to do this, especially since most people already have a Facebook account. But, as with any social networking accounts, a Facebook group has a ton of settings that you should explore. A group […]
CARES Act: What does the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act mean for Your Church?
The House just passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). This bill has significant benefits for churches. Staff expenses, overhead, rent, mortgage interest — it’s all eligible. The “paycheck protection loan” that the government is offering turns into a GRANT if you meet a few requirements. We are going to show […]