Listen in as Pastor Eric Thomas (First Baptist Norfolk, VA) speaks about tenure, following legacy pastors, and checking his ego in the established church. Subscribe: iTunes ● Google Play Follow us on Twitter: @estchurch, @jowiki, @micahfries, and @samrainer. Read more [...]
Phone calls are an important connection point with church guests. Not all guests will give you their phone numbers. For those who do, here are some guidelines to consider. What to Do When Calling Church Guests Clearly identify yourself. Make sure you mention your name and the name of your church. It’s easy to forget this step! Double-check the name of the person you are calling. I tend to make my phone calls in batches. After I’ve made several phone calls, I can lose track who Read more [...]
http://www.westbradenton.org/assets/2079/170226_i_will_worship.mp3 I began a new series on Sunday: “I Will . . .” This series covers seven expectations of every church member, and this week’s topic is “Worship.” A worshiping church desires God, not something from God. Bad worship is using anything other than Jesus to get closer to God. Good worship is an awareness you are in the presence of God. We don’t worship the value of creation. We value the worship of the Read more [...]
Micah, Josh, and I discuss the invitation time in worship services. How do pastors abuse it? Should you keep a response time? Subscribe: iTunes ● Google Play Follow us on Twitter: @estchurch, @jowiki, @micahfries, and @samrainer. Read more [...]
A few years ago, I encountered my first transgender guest at church. Our transgender guest was similar to other guests. He was looking to fill a void in his life. The dark problems plaguing his soul were many of the same problems others experienced. For one, he was an alcoholic, trying to gulp away pain. Like others, he struggled with an identity. The transgender guest really wanted to be something else, then he didn’t, sometimes in the same conversation. A fluid identity is a curse. Read more [...]
Should pastors attempt to build a personal platform? Does your church have a brand? Sam and Josh talk about church signs, Twitter followers, and shaping perceptions. Subscribe: iTunes ● Google Play Follow us on Twitter: @estchurch, @jowiki, @micahfries, and @samrainer. Read more [...]
Much about church giving is changing. Worship attendance, conversions, and baptisms are often the most scrutinized metrics, but giving trends are close behind. Below are five macro trends that are affecting most churches in the United States. Trend 1: Millennials will have less giving potential than their parents. Unless an unexpected economic shift occurs, Millennials will continue to be poorer than their parents. Numerous reasons are the cause. Tuition at colleges has tripled since Read more [...]
Three notable articles I read this week: Greg Atkinson – 6 markers of especially welcoming churches. In this article, Greg provides six ways every church can be more welcoming. Ronnie Floyd – Pastor, talk to your church about America. “Pastor, stop thinking you are being political if you talk about America. Clearly understand that your role is to give biblical light to this time in America. You are not a pundit on a night-time television show or drive time radio, you are a man Read more [...]
Micah is back on the podcast! We break down the joys and difficulties with visiting members in the hospital. Subscribe: iTunes ● Google Play Follow us on Twitter: @estchurch, @jowiki, @micahfries, and @samrainer. Read more [...]
Heroin is literally killing our city. The county where I live is the epicenter of Florida’s heroin epidemic. The area around our church is among the hardest hit. A few months ago, I sat in a community town hall hosted by the Department of Children and Families. The purpose of the town hall was to address the problem of heroin addiction and the effects on children. The removal rates of children in our community are three to four times higher than the state average. The town hall was Read more [...]
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