One Invitation Away from Returning
…you are offering. These include the need for God, community, belonging, a connection they can access online and offline, and a sense of awe and the miraculous in their life….
Search Results: belonging (54)
The Importance of Holy Friendships
…God’s love. Mutuality comes from acknowledging the feeling of belonging that bonds holy friends together. They share a sense of reciprocity between them. Sacred refers to the “set apart-ness” of…
Is Voting the Best Way to Make Collective Decisions in the Church?
…to maintain group cohesion, which can provide a sense of safety and belonging, is a strong one and isn’t necessarily a problem in itself. But groupthink often happens due to…
5 Compass Points Guide Character Formation and Lifelong Discipleship for Youth
…Beyond Youth Group Compass, cultivate trust, asks how youth ministries can best leverage the relational strengths they already possess to develop character-forming identity, belonging, and purpose. Our relationships as leaders…
7 Ideas for Making Vacation Bible School an Evangelism Opportunity
…cases, the feeling of belonging will have more lasting impact on people than the actual curriculum taught. 3. Get the parents involved Sometimes we focus so much on the children…
Worship Under the Bridge
…simple desire to learn about people’s circumstances and ask, “What do you need?” Two people, a married couple, actively belonging to a faith community in New Braunfels, Texas, began to…
What’s Good about That?
…to be asked, “What’s good about that?” After a pause, the people tried again. They spoke about the pride they felt, belonging to a church with such a name for…
Developing an Intentional Discipleship System
…Belonging. Another example is: Searching. Seeking to make sense of life: asking questions like, “What gives my life purpose, joy, and fulfillment?” Exploring. Attend, but not belong; may not be…
How Full is Your Menu?
…your church’s menu, allowing people to make reasoned decisions to belong and grow. This article is adapted from Mark’s book Lasting Impressions: From Visiting to Belonging, Group Publishing, 72-76. Copyright…
Where do People Find Meaning Today?
…on God and oriented toward the common good? The fire company may have met many of David’s needs for meaning, belonging, and purpose, but only to a point; the gospel…
Church as an Uncommon Community
…to live in diverse communities, and about two in three claim they prefer to live close to people belonging to different races, religions, and income groups. That’s what people say….
Characteristics of a Healthy Youth Ministry
…into the intergenerational faith community extremely difficult. 7. An authentic, fun, and passionate community of belonging. It doesn’t really matter if youth participate in a youth group, a choir, a…
Mission as the Emerging Entry Point for New People
…be their most likely entry point – if churches are actually serving others and including new people in such service. We also know that, in this time when “belonging leads…
Do Our Assumptions Still Fit?
…but decisions about choosing a church are based far more on relationship and belonging. People are more interested in what you believe once they feel they belong. Most new members…
Moving Beyond Geographic Boundaries
…underrepresented in most churches. Caring outside the box It has been my experience that most people are looking for a place of authentic belonging, genuine love and care, with people…
Leaders Stay Connected
…a clear reason for belonging to that particular church, and join in the church’s mission. But within certain parameters, allowing group members as much freedom as possible will lead to…
Helping Families Embrace the Importance of a Church Funeral
…Sunday.” And that is what she did. Related Resources Small Churches, Belonging, and the Harley-Davidson Funeral by Steve Willis Pay Attention to People Who Stay by Lovett H. Weems, Jr….
Keeping Campus Ministry Graduates Connected to Church
…a sense of belonging in the church. It is no small thing to have a supportive community to walk with through these challenging and, at times, overwhelming years. It is…
Small Churches as Healthy Family Systems
…there are glimpses of the future reign of God on earth. Related Resources Small Churches, Belonging, and the Harley-Davidson Funeral by Steve Willis Leading in Small Church or Multi-Church Settings…
Cultivate Generosity through Thankful Living
…story ever told. At our best, we offer communities where people can experience belonging, spiritual growth, opportunities to make a real difference in the name of Christ: in short, a…
An Interview with Bishop Robert Schnase
…and healthy. We offer the embracing gracious welcome of Christ that creates a sense of belonging, relationship, and connection. We offer worship through which God changes people’s hearts and minds….
Roadblocks to God’s Future
…5. We did not come to church to change the world. People have many reasons for belonging to congregations; changing the world isn’t even in the Top 10. Most of…
4 Clues for Inviting Others to Church Effectively
…highest for the Silent Generation (51%) and lowest for older millennials (27%). Based on these statistics from the Pew Research Center, even for someone belonging to the Silent Generation, it’s…
8 Strategies for Reaching and Developing Gen Z
…create a sense of belonging and authenticity within the church. These events should extend beyond traditional “church” gatherings and engage young adults in meaningful ways that align with their values…
