Jessica Anschutz of the Lewis Center staff reports on how a Connecticut church has made the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday a time for intergenerational learning and service. She shares tips on how churches large or small might launch a similar effort to educate and inspire young people and connect with the broader community. In| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Stephanie Remington of the Lewis Center staff reminds us that Christmas traditions can move the spirit and renew the hope of people in our culture, even those who don’t profess faith. She suggests that in developing Advent and Christmas Eve worship, it’s important to hold tight to some familiar traditions. A friend in his forties,| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Brian Bauknight says churches should give great care to Christmas Eve worship so it is thoroughly welcoming to those marginal to the life of the church.| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Lovett Weems highlights key facts in the findings of the 2010 Religion Census and outlines the key questions your church needs to ask of the data.| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Editor’s note: This information adapted from an article by Joy F. Skjegstad which appeared previously in Leading Ideas. This To the Point version has been edited for brevity and is accompanied by a PDF flier that you may download and share with others. Sometimes I interact with small congregations that assume that any significant community ministry effort is beyond| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
The late Junius B. Dotson says that churches cannot do the hard and intentional work of making disciples unless they are clear about what a disciple is and how disciples are formed. He outlines the key characteristics of a more intentional system for forming disciples. If you say to average church leaders, “Tell me a| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Phil Maynard and Eddie Pipkin say education-based approaches to spiritual formation often fail to form disciples committed to Christlike living. They suggest doing what Jesus did — focusing intentionally on spiritual growth and development within a context of relationality and accountability. Despite the significant investment of time, financial resources, and amazing educational options over the| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Candace Lewis and Rodney Smothers say that churches must leave their buildings, identify community needs, and walk alongside neighbors in order to make a difference. They outline seven steps to engage people and the real issues they confront. In many communities, it seems as if a number of traditional churches are disconnected. Many have become| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
This free 50 Ways resource provides strategies to identify and support new leaders and build and maintain effective ministry teams. Make it easy for new leaders to get started Consider ways to divide responsibilities among two or more individuals. Job sharing makes it easier for people to say “yes” and gets more people involved. Ask| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
What are the unique characteristics of young people coming of age today? Rock Jones, president of Ohio Wesleyan University, describes a generation of digital natives who are highly connected but also lonely and anxious. Dr. Jones describes Gen Zers’ life questions, the perspectives they bring to spiritual engagement, and ways church leaders can meet them| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
What new approaches to youth ministry are emerging in our post-Covid era? Ann Michel interviews Deech Kirk of the Center for Youth Ministry Training. He describes some of the common challenges confronting youth ministry today and some of the characteristics of the newer, innovative ministry models that are taking shape. Listen to this interview, watch the| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
What types of churches attract young people? Kara Powell, Jake Mulder, and Brad Griffin, the authors of Growing Young, dispel a number of common myths. Their research indicates that size, location, denominational tradition, worship style, and several other variables don’t matter as much as imagined and that congregations of all types have the potential to “grow| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Michael Adam Beck and Stephanie Moore Hand say that if we take from Jesus’s Great Commission only the call to “make disciples” we are omitting one small but important word. GO! The Great Commission isn’t about bringing people into the church building and properly Christianizing them. It’s about a community of learners, going out together,| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Kenneth H. Carter and Audrey Warren describe a simple, step-by-step process for making disciples and mentoring friends to be closer to Jesus — a process of faith formation that is increasingly important as more and more nontraditional expressions of church emerge. For the unchurched, or “nones,” the language of becoming a disciple is entering a| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Ann Michel of the Lewis Center staff says Christmas visitors can leave feeling shamed or belittled if church insiders project a holier-than-thou attitude. The preparation of Advent, she says, should include prayer about and discernment of how we might reflect the heart of our Father in welcoming all who seek the Christ Child at Christmas.| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Tom Berlin and Lovett Weems, authors of the new book Overflow (Abingdon 2013), explain how Christmas carols can connect people with church during Advent.| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Pastor Carey Nieuwhof says unchurched people want to celebrate Christmas, so there is no better time to connect with friends and neighbors who rarely, if ever, go to church. He offers ten ways your church can be involved in the unique opportunity to reach people at Christmas. Christmas provides a unique opportunity to reach people| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Lovett H. Weems Jr. highlights key findings in the 2020 U.S. Census Report of significance for churches including an aging overall population, the first-ever decline in the white population, and greater diversity. He writes that the census results upend many of the working assumptions churches hold about their future. The oft-quoted “demography is destiny” comes| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Education reform advocate Nicole Baker Fulgham outlines some key lessons on what works and what doesn’t work in church-school partnerships, stressing the importance of building relationships and meeting genuine needs.| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Lovett H. Weems, Jr., and Tom Berlin discuss how congregation can reach more members and visitors through Special Focus Sundays that emphasize a particular cause or constituency.| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Ann Michel of the Lewis Center Staff outlines four ways a church can lay a solid foundation for a church-school partnership before jumping in headfirst. Listening, learning, establishing trust, and building solid relationships are key first steps. Many congregations find that reaching out to their local schools is an important way to serve children and| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
It is imperative that churches adopt an external mindset when it comes to ministry, and these 50 tips will help your church take its ministry outside its walls.| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Through motivation, communication, organization, connection, and affirmation, these 50 tips will help your congregation increase active engagement.| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Here are 50 tips your church can use to engage local schools more effectively so that you can strengthen ties in your broader community and better serve children.| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Stephen Handy says we must reframe discipleship as a daily experience fostered through the practice of breaking bread together and sharing hope.| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Effective hybrid worship requires that churches ascribe high and equal value to in-person and online worshipers. Olu Brown outlines key steps a congregation should take to assure that their worship is accessible and welcoming to those not in the building. Leaders in a post-COVID-19 world have the new challenge and opportunity of managing worship on| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
How can the church adapt to future challenges and foster community through innovative leadership? Doug Powe and Dustin Benac discuss the future of the church, emphasizing collaborative leadership, the importance of belonging, and adapting to cultural shifts through innovative community structures. Watch the interview video, listen to the interview, or continue reading. Doug Powe: Dr. Dustin| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
As the holiday season approaches, church leaders face heightened stress while preparing meaningful celebrations and making meaningful connections. Jessica Anschutz of the Lewis Center staff encourages church leaders to nurture spiritual connections, foster relationships with neighbors and guests, and actively invite people to engage in worship and ministry. Transform the season into an opportunity for| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Is your church ready to roll out the holiday welcome mat? Ann Michel offers seven suggestions for helping people meet Christ anew this Christmas. Equip your congregation so that visitors are warmly welcomed online and in person this holiday season. This article was originally published on November 29, 2022. This article is also available in| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
How can your congregation more effectively engage people in the digital sphere? Jim Keat, Digital Minister at The Riverside Church in New York City, shares tips and strategies that can help any church approach digital ministry with more intentionality and focus. Watch the interview video, listen to the interview, or continue reading. Ann Michel: How have| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Phil Maynard says that the typical greeting time during a worship service encourages people to shake a lot of hands rather than really engaging someone new. He offers simple strategies and conversation starters to encourage deeper connections. In a typical greeting time during worship, people are encouraged to turn to their neighbors and welcome them| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Author Joy Skyegstad outlines how small congregations can develop impactful community ministries by playing to their strengths.| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Preaching in a different church almost every Sunday, Nancy Taylor learned firsthand how often visitors go unnoticed even in churches that see themselves as “friendly.” Christian hospitality, she writes, requires that we mind the doors of our churches not as gatekeepers but as disciples charged with oiling the hinges so that they swing open easily.| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Yvonne Gentile and Debi Nixon believe radical hospitality means going beyond mere friendliness to surprise and delight church visitors. Three keys are letting guests know they are noticed, paying attention to their needs, and consistently following up after their visit. What does exceptional hospitality look like in practice? Radical hospitality is hospitality that goes beyond| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
How can your church reach new people in today’s evolving ministry context? Ann Michel of the Lewis Center staff interviews Tony Morgan, chief strategist for The Unstuck Group, about trends, perspectives, and strategies drawn from his work with scores of congregations across the country and abroad. Listen to this interview, watch the interview video on YouTube,| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Here are 50 Ways your church can show its love for children and its desire to connect with younger families through effective ministry for and with children.| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
These 50 tips will help your church increase worship attendance through improving the attendance of your current members and inviting and welcoming new people,| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Liz Perraud says bringing generations together is a key aspect of Christian community. She suggests church leaders might approach the need to strengthen intergenerational connections as a child might, by asking “why” a lot. Our granddaughter is nearly four and asks “why?” a lot. We take walks on the path through the woods near our| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Pastor Joe Daniels says vital churches focus outward, engaging their communities, not only to serve but to build relationships and make disciples.| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Lovett H. Weems Jr. shares metrics for gauging your church’s effectiveness in bringing new people to faith. He also outlines three clues that can help churches of all sizes reach new believers. The Religious Workforce Project of the Lewis Center is a multiyear effort to understand the changing religious landscape in the 21st century. Funded by the Lilly| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Lewis Center Director Doug Powe says siloed age-level ministries often prevent congregations from worshiping together around one common table. But the pandemic provided an opportunity for us to rethink our concepts of place and space and to reimagine what it means for us all to be together. This article was originally published on June 29,| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Laura Heikes, pastor of a predominantly Anglo congregation in a Texas border town, shares how her congregation became more present to the people and culture of the surrounding community. Several small but strategic “acts of resistance” challenging dominant cultural norms were the first steps in a process of renewal aimed at transforming her church from| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Rev. Dr. Michael L. Henderson Sr. describes how a church he planted grew to over 7,000 members through an intentional process for developing disciples grounded in the core belief that discipleship and evangelism are organically interconnected. Decades ago, I planted New Beginnings Church (NBC), a solo church plant located in Matthews, North Carolina, outside of| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
How can congregations build meaningful connections with young adults? Brandi Nicole Williams, Director for the African American Church Evangelism Institute, offers eight practical strategies for bridging the generational gap and fostering relationships with Gen Z to build a more relevant church community. In today’s rapidly changing world, the church faces a critical challenge: engaging and| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
The Fuller Youth Institute’s “Faith Beyond Youth Group” research initiative explored character as the vehicle for both faith longevity and faith vibrancy throughout the week. Their research yielded five compass points to guide the formation of character in young people — cultivating trust, modeling growth, teaching for transformation, practicing together, and making meaning. The findings| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
