“The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed.” — James Hudson Taylor (May 21, 1832 – June 3, 1905) was a pioneer in reaching the unreached for Christ. He was unlike any other missionary of the 19th century (or arguably any other century) and led missions in China that are still … Read More
3 Keys to Ministry Outside the Bible Belt, from Facts & Trends
Born and raised in the heart of the Bible Belt, Vance Pitman never imagined he’d be ministering in “Sin City,” but that’s exactly where God led him. A mission-minded pastor, Pitman had been doing ministry in the South. As he read Scripture one morning—Luke 4, to be exact—something stopped him dead in his tracks. “I saw some stuff in Jesus … Read More
Help Your People Use Their Spiritual Gifts to Serve Others and Experience Significance
You were born with unique gifts and talents; you need a place to make sure those gifts and talents are being put to their highest and best use. The local church provides an environment in which you can use your gifts and talents for the benefit of God and others. This is part of God’s plan for you to experience … Read More
New Systems Boot Camp – Little tweaks to 2X your results
You’re invited to join me at my most anticipated church growth training event of the year! This Summer is going to be better than ever — at the next Church Systems Check-up and Boot Camp, I’m going beyond the usual review and “what’s working now” improvements to the 8 systems of a healthy church. This July, I’m gonna take each church … Read More
Save Time, Energy and Stress by Learning to Borrow
Before I became a pastor, I was on an engineering track. The first rule of engineering is: “Don’t reinvent the wheel.” When I made the transition into ministry, I saw a lot of well-intentioned pastors driving themselves crazy doing just that. They were starting from scratch every single week, with everything from Sunday follow-up to sermon preparation and worship planning. As … Read More
The Value of Waking Up Earlier—and How to Do It
I (Nelson) love to get up early. I find that by waking up early, I get more done. Often I write first thing in the morning, immediately after my daily quiet time. When I do, I can knock out a lot of writing I want to get done before most people have even started their day. I (Richard), on the … Read More
Leaders Guard Themselves
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” —Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)
Hudson Taylor On Expelling Anxiety
“I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize the Lord is able to carry out His will, and His will is mine.” — James Hudson Taylor (May 21, 1832 – June 3, 1905) was a pioneer in reaching the unreached for Christ. He was unlike any other missionary of the 19th century (or arguably any other century) and … Read More
Pastors explain why Christians should tithe, reject ‘sow your seed’ preaching, by The Christian Post
Tithing is not a popular practice among U.S. Christians and some pastors believe the church hasn’t done the best job in relaying the significance of giving a tenth of one’s income. “We’re not talking about it in the right way. When the church has talked about money, it’s in a guilt thing or obligation, and it is very much in … Read More
Small Group Tables: 7 Common Questions
The small group table is one way for people in your church to sign up for a group. Located in your lobby, the table gives those interested in signing up a place to get more information, meet group leaders, see samples of the curricula being studied, and have any questions answered. When you first start doing small groups, you’ll probably … Read More