The pandemic has thrust change upon the church. One of the more jarring changes involves finances. In many established churches, the majority of funds come through in-service giving, not online giving. The first week of service stoppages was a wake-up call. Some churches only received a small portion of weekly needs. Focus on what you can control. Most of us do not control the national strategies of dealing with the Coronavirus outbreak. It’s easy to get swept into the latest headline or data Read more [...]
In these two special release episodes, we share some thoughts regarding online services, online giving, pastoral care, keeping children engaged, and other choices we are making as we learn to minister in an online world. Part 1: Part 2: Special Est.Church sponsor – Check out these resources from Church Initiative! You need to learn more about two great resources from Church Initiative. The makers of GriefShare and DivorceCare offer a team of experienced coaches. They equip Read more [...]
Josh, Micah, and Sam discuss some of the nuances around officiating funerals. Listen to this episode for some practical advice and funny stories. Special Est.Church sponsor – Check out these resources from Church Initiative! You need to learn more about two great resources from Church Initiative. The makers of GriefShare and DivorceCare offer a team of experienced coaches. They equip your church members to get the program started—so it’s not on your plate. Pastors are saying Read more [...]
Josh and Micah discuss the ways they keep themselves from growing stagnant. They cover how you can take the initiative in personal development. Special Est.Church sponsor – Check out these resources from Church Initiative! You need to learn more about two great resources from Church Initiative. The makers of GriefShare and DivorceCare offer a team of experienced coaches. They equip your church members to get the program started—so it’s not on your plate. Pastors are saying these Read more [...]
Revitalizing a church can be a long, thankless experience. You lead a church to change in a way that makes people uncomfortable. You move a church down a different and challenging path. People complain. Some leave. It’s hard. But without revitalization, many churches will die. Both small and large churches need revitalization. In fact, between 65% and 90% of churches in North America require some form of revitalization. Unfortunately, there is a lot of negativity surrounding hurting, Read more [...]
In our county someone tested positive for Coronavirus this week. We’ve been preparing contingency plans at West Bradenton—both expected and worst-case scenarios. Below is a copy of our email newsletter that went out to our church today. Feel free to copy whatever you need to communicate to your church. West Bradenton Family: I’m assuming you have heard the reports about the Coronavirus. At the time of this writing, there are three cases in our region. While the threat is low, we are Read more [...]
What is the line between borrowing and stealing when it comes to pastoral ministry? On this episode, we talk it through and try to give some guidance. Special Est.Church sponsor – Check out these resources from Church Initiative! You need to learn more about two great resources from Church Initiative. The makers of GriefShare and DivorceCare offer a team of experienced coaches. They equip your church members to get the program started—so it’s not on your plate. Pastors are saying Read more [...]
Your church’s address is not an accident. God sovereignly placed your church in your location to reach the people around you. Do you know them? Jesus’ Great Commandment (Matthew 22:34-40) gives clear instructions: Love your neighbor. Knowing your neighbor is the first step to loving your neighbor. Do you really know your community? Do you know your neighbors? Four questions can be quite revealing. 1. How many people live within twenty minutes of your church? Typically, church leaders Read more [...]
In this episode, Josh Ties of Idea Network joins Josh King to discuss the feelings many church leaders have in which they are part of a tribe and yet do not feel as though they fit into it. Special Est.Church sponsor – Check out these resources from Church Initiative! You need to learn more about two great resources from Church Initiative. The makers of GriefShare and DivorceCare offer a team of experienced coaches. They equip your church members to get the program started—so it’s Read more [...]
Every Tuesday morning the West Bradenton staff gather for a short time of worship before we begin our meetings. There is nothing elaborate about Tuesday worship. We follow a simple structure each week. 1. Our worship pastor leads a song from the upcoming Sunday setlist. 2. Someone shares a devotional thought. 3. We pray for each other. Then we pray for our church requests and mission partners. 4. I share the direction of my sermon for the upcoming Sunday. Don’t let the simplicity Read more [...]
Creating a Financial Plan for Your Church During the Outbreak
Est.Church Podcast: Ministering in an Online World (Parts 1 & 2)
Est.Church Podcast: Funerals and the Established Church
Est.Church Podcast: Personal Development
How You Can Be Encouraged as a Church Revitalizer
Special Post: What We’re Doing about Coronavirus This Sunday