The Power of Stories
Jill Fox, an expert on church volunteer systems, reminds us how powerful stories can be in teaching and motivating people and keeping them aligned with…
Browsing: Participation
Articles
Three Keys to Identify and Develop High-Impact Leaders
C. Anthony Hunt writes that the development of high-impact leaders is critical to the ongoing effectiveness, vitality, and growth of congregations. Discerning the gifts, passion,…
Avoiding a Summer Drop in Worship Attendance
Ann Michel of the Lewis Center says by sustaining quality worship and programming, churches can prevent an anticipated drop in summer worship attendance from becoming…
Why Typical Groups Miss Typical Members
Lovett Weems reports on research suggesting that it’s possible for the less engaged to become more engaged in your church, but not by asking them…
Freeing Laity for Ministry
How many members does your church have? Do you tend to think first of what those members need (hospital visits, sermons, childcare, parking, Bible studies,…
50 Ways to Increase Active Engagement
Strong and growing congregations typically have a very high percentage of people who are actively involved in learning, serving, and leading. These 50 tips will…
Fostering Conversations That Connect
Does it seem that you still see the same people in worship on Sunday but not as often? For a number of years, declines in…
The Emergence of “Dones”
A friend alerted me to a blog by Thom Schultz, founder of Group Publishing, on “The Rise of the Dones.” At first I thought there…
From Assimilation to Acculturation
I believe that when we talk about the integration of new members into a congregation, we need to embrace the language of acculturation, not assimilation.…
Turning Church Spectators into Active Participants
The story told in John 21:15-19 is almost too familiar. Three times Jesus asks if Peter loves him, three times Peter says yes, and each…
Challenges to Active Church Participation
Virtually all churches are experiencing a changing environment regarding what they can expect from members in relation to time, participation, and energy. Some feel this…
From Where Did All These Young Adults Come?
I visited a new church a couple of weeks ago. I periodically do this partially because of my own natural curiosity about how different churches…
Avoiding Lay Ministry Burnout
Have you known a church member who seemed fully engaged and invested in a congregation but suddenly walked away? What makes someone “flame out” unexpectedly?…
Ways to Improve Attendance of Current Members
At least once or twice each year, perhaps in the New Year’s resolution season, teach and preach the importance of faithful worship attendance. Invite church…
