Congregations with a significant proportion of young adults share distinctive traits. For churches seeking to engage these individuals, Perry Chang shares some “do’s” and “don’ts” drawn from a Faith Communities Today study. This article was originally published on May 7, 2014. The content remains relevant, so we are reposting for all who may have missed [...] The post Best Practices for Reaching Young Adults first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership. The post Best Pract...| Lewis Center for Church Leadership
How can churches make the most of the beginning of a new school year? Jason Gant shares that churches have a unique opportunity to engage families adjusting to new routines and demands as the school year begins. By aligning church activities with school schedules, churches can support families in building spiritual rhythms. Matching the school [...] The post Make the Most of the School Year Start with Families first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership. The post Make the Most of the...| Lewis Center for Church Leadership
The Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist is the “source and summit” (Catechism §1324) of the Church’s life, and also of life at the Shrine of […] The post Preparing Ourselves to Receive the Eucharist appeared first on Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.| Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Recently, His Eminence Cardinal Burke performed a minor exorcism on the grounds of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Major and minor exorcisms differ […] The post Why Perform a Minor Exorcism? appeared first on Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.| Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Young people, no less than their elders, need community and ways to serve; and the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe works to provide these […] The post Our Lady’s Handmaids appeared first on Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.| Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Since the dedication of the Shrine Church in 2008, pilgrims attending Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe have been told that the […] The post Communion Customs appeared first on Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.| Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Those familiar with the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe are likely acquainted with the Solemn Pontifical Masses offered there several times a year by […] The post God’s Generosity, Plenary Indulgences appeared first on Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.| Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage’s Northern Route, entitled the Marian Route, stopped at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe on June 8, 2024. This Pilgrimage […] The post Jesus’ Promise – His Eucharistic Presence appeared first on Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.| Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
The Temple was “the house of the Lord” in the Old Testament. But to Christians, the Temple is mysterious, especially since we no longer participate […] The post What was the Old Testament Temple and Why Did it Pass Away? appeared first on Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.| Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Through conversations with ministry leaders, curriculum developers, and parents—this 6-episode podcast will help you point children to Jesus.| Ministry Spark
Child security is crucial in church ministries to ensure a safe environment for children to grow spiritually. Sam Rainer identifies ten key measures help protect children from potential harm including: avoiding one-on-one adult-child situations, conducting annual background checks, establishing check-in procedures, supervising bathrooms, and providing ongoing volunteer training. Child security is one of the most| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
What if you were told that adults who were long-term homeschooled (a) now live in lower income households than do the non-homeschooled and (b) that the long-termed homeschooled value hard work more than do the non-homeschooled? Or, that the long-term homeschooled (a) are the most likely to have done any unpaid, volunteer work than any other group but (b) less likely than the non-homeschooled to have volunteered with a social-service organization that is non-religious. You might scratch your h...| National Home Education Research Institute
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 ...
How can congregations faithfully engage in ministry with Millennials and Gen Z? Dexter Nutall shares how New Bethel Church engages these generations by fostering belonging, social justice, and leadership to create a welcoming and impactful community for young people. Watch the interview video, listen to the interview, or continue reading. Doug Powe: I want to begin| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Sharron Blezard ponders how we can cultivate gratitude and generosity by practicing thankful living in our individual and congregational lives.| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
As we think about how to engage preteens with Scripture, it’s important to make sure we know this unique generation of kids.| Ministry Spark
What does intergenerational preaching look like? David Csinos shares that it is an emergent, experimental, and highly contextual endeavor that disrupts traditional homiletical norms. He offers three guiding principles to help cultivate the practice of intergenerational preaching: simplify the language, encourage conversation, and share the pulpit. Intergenerational preaching is not for the faint of heart.| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
A congregation can start becoming more intergenerational by simply inviting one more generation to take part in any congregational event or activity. The authors of Intergenerational Christian Formation offer these simple possibilities for bringing different generations together. 1. Host a one-day intergenerational Sunday school. Announce to the congregation, ‘We are so delighted to have| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
A family of faith more fully reflects the body of Christ when generations come together, and each individual brings their unique, God-given gifts. The authors of Intergenerational Christian Formation outline five benefits of intergenerational ministry for the church and members in different stage of life. Intergenerational faith experiences uniquely nurture spiritual growth and development in| 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 ...
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 ...