tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85310401030853830422024-02-07T02:22:31.735-08:00THE OUTWARD FOCUSED CHURCHLIFE MATTERShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08626883444873516837noreply@blogger.comBlogger260125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531040103085383042.post-17645837167807913412016-07-09T14:25:00.000-07:002016-07-09T14:25:09.261-07:00BEING THE BEST CHURCH FOR THE COMMUNITYBY STEVE DUNN<br />
A number years ago Kennon Callahan wrote a superb
book which was a formative piece of my vision for healthy churches
building bridges through redemptive relationships with their larger
community and the unchurched. The book was called <em>Twelve Keys for the Effective Church. </em>Callahan's 12 keys were:<br />
.. Relational :<br />
<ol>
<li>Specific, concrete missional objectives</li>
<li>Pastoral and lay visitation</li>
<li>Corporate, dynamic worship</li>
<li>Significant relational groups</li>
<li>Strong leadership resources</li>
<li>Streamlined structure and solid, participatory decision making</li>
</ol>
Functional :<br />
<ol>
<li>Several competent programs and activities</li>
<li>Open accessibility</li>
<li>High visibility</li>
<li>Adequate parking, land, and landscaping</li>
<li>Adequate space and facilities</li>
<li>Solid financial resources.</li>
</ol>
<a data-mce-href="https://kingdomfocusedchurch.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/church1_edited.jpg" href="https://kingdomfocusedchurch.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/church1_edited.jpg"><img alt="church1_edited" class=" size-medium wp-image-3076 aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://kingdomfocusedchurch.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/church1_edited.jpg?w=300" height="225" src="https://kingdomfocusedchurch.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/church1_edited.jpg?w=300" width="300" /></a><br />
Many of these remain quite valid today. How would you measure up against these? LIFE MATTERShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08626883444873516837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531040103085383042.post-35042519800768213232016-06-29T19:48:00.000-07:002016-06-29T19:48:24.822-07:00INTRODUCING BRIDGEBUILDERS AND DR.STEVEDUNN.COM<div style="text-align: center;">
BY STEVE DUNN</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqCklVzlDGxwd3kM-czsDEatqvPMHPXqncByHKJuPnOfbnixBkIMx99OJZSun6lwV-9lVEuXvEjSceMy6AN8wAc6F0GcydOAvTVhDrMDWc7qEy5J3ktDCUxceFGLOdZJCbjc9trYZb9I/s1600/PICT1372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqCklVzlDGxwd3kM-czsDEatqvPMHPXqncByHKJuPnOfbnixBkIMx99OJZSun6lwV-9lVEuXvEjSceMy6AN8wAc6F0GcydOAvTVhDrMDWc7qEy5J3ktDCUxceFGLOdZJCbjc9trYZb9I/s320/PICT1372.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Please permit me some shameless self-promotion. The work I have been called to do for God's Kingdom is being focused through the ministry I have organized called BRIDGEBUILDERS.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<h1>
Our Mission</h1>
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To help create churches that are healthy and fruitful, kingdom-focused,
following the Holy Spirit to build redemptive relationships with people and
communities to connect people with Jesus Christ and his mission.</div>
<h2>
How we do this …</h2>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>By providing honest, biblically-based assessment
of a church </div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Helping a church identify its unique mission and
provide equipping for that mission</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Coaching and consulting services for pastors and
leaders</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Helping design web sites and communication tools</div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Leading spiritual renewal events</div>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Specialized training events</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Part of the means for helping tell the story and grow this ministry is through the blogs I have developed. More and more people ask how to connect and so I have developed a central blog called <b>drstevedunn.com. </b>This blog is the main way to contact regarding ministry assistance and it is also features key posts from the several ther blogs I write. And of course, there is original content created just for this clearinghouse blog.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Please visit it. <a href="http://www.drstevedunn.com/">GO NOW ...</a></span><br />
LIFE MATTERShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08626883444873516837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531040103085383042.post-55126376223382087942015-06-11T19:30:00.000-07:002015-06-11T19:30:00.540-07:004 MYTHS ABOUT USING TECHNOLOGY IN THE CHURCH<img alt="" src="http://www.christianitytoday.com/global/images/spacer.gif" height="1" width="270" /> <img alt="" src="http://www.christianitytoday.com/global/images/spacer.gif" height="5" width="1" /><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
BY DJ CHAUNG</div>
<br />
<div class="byline" style="float: right; font-weight: bold;">
</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/currenttrendscolumns/leadershipweekly/4usingtechnology.html"><img align="right" alt="4 Myths About Using Technology in Church" border="0" src="http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/img/weekly/page/87914.jpg" title="4 Myths About Using Technology in Church" /></a> <br />
<div style="clear: both; color: black; float: right; font: 6pt Verdana,Arial,sans-serif; left: 3px; padding: 20px 0px 10px 5px; position: relative; text-align: right; width: 258px;">
ADVERTISEMENT <br />
<div class="image">
<a href="http://ai.christianitytoday.com/cti/adclick/FCID=2332/viewid=88666153/random=788936943/site=leaders/area=article/position=content_1/category=" target="_blank"><img alt="www.religioninsights.org" border="0" src="http://content.aimatch.com/cti/Insights_Into_Religion/insightsintoreligion_250x250_0610.gif" height="250" width="250" /></a> <noscript><a href="http://ai.christianitytoday.com/cti/adclick/viewid=1/site=leaders/area=article/position=content_1/category=/status="><img src="http://ai.christianitytoday.com/cti/nserver/viewid=1/site=leaders/area=article/position=content_1/category=/status="/></a> </noscript></div>
</div>
<div class="text">
<b>T</b>he Church has used technology throughout history: papyrus, printing press, piano, organ, lighting, microphones, guitars, drums, and video projectors. And with the advent of the Internet, we have newer technologies like websites, social networking via Facebook, and texting on cell phones.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="text">
How do we steward technology well? We start by dispelling four common myths about using online technologies in the church.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="text">
<b>1. "If you build it, they will come."</b><br />
Not necessarily. The "it" could be a website, a blog, a discussion board, a podcast, a Twitter feed, or a Facebook fan page. Your digital presence will not automatically be viewed by lots of people just by its mere existence. People choose what they will pay attention to based on relevance (to their situation), value (that enhances their life), and trust (derived from the reputation of the content provider or a trusted friend who points them that way). Your online presence will need to be mentioned often using traditional media as well as word of mouth.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="text">
<b>2. "It doesn't cost anything."</b><br />
True, some online tools don't cost anything to use, but using technology can cost you is more than money. There's the recurring cost of energy to produce fresh and relevant content. There's also the time involved in connecting with your online community, engaging in conversations and responding to questions. There's the potential cost of even free online tools and Web apps that don't fit the orientation of your church and confuse your audience.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="text">
<b>3. "Only the younger generation uses social networking."</b><br />
One study reported that 64 percent of Twitter's and 61 percent of Facebook's users are age 35 or older. The Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project found that 38 percent of adults 65 and older are online. To better steward technology, you will want to meet people where they already connect online, and you will want to provide training for using online tools that best serve your existing community.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="text">
<b>4. "Technology could replace real-life relationships."</b><br />
Technology does not have to replace real-life relationships. You can use technology in a way that enriches real-life relationships, to stay connected between the church's face-to-face gatherings. Online tools do two things: expose and enable. Technology can expose a person's tendencies, whether that's isolation or addictiveness; technology can also enable a person to communicate with more people in more ways without being constrained by time and space.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="text">
By dispelling these myths, we can learn to better steward technology together, to share what's working, what didn't work, and discuss what we're thinking so we can make informed technology decisions in the future.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="text">
It's never too late to start incorporating technology as part of your church's ministry. But, the longer you wait, the more opportunities are lost in connecting with people whose lives are technology-infused.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="bio">
D.J. Chuang is network developer at <span class="citation">Worship Leader</span> magazine, a web strategist for Leadership Network, and a former pastor. This article is condensed from <span class="citation">Worship Leader</span>. DJ will be speaking on "Stewarding Technology in the Service of Worship" at the National Worship Leader Pre-conference seminars (June in Albuquerque, New Mexico; July in Kansas City, Kansas; and October in Lancaster, Pennsylvania). For information click here. (<a class="bio" href="http://www.nationalworshipleaderconference.com/" target="_blank">www.nationalworshipleaderconference.com</a>). To read more from Worship Leader Magazine, or to subscribe click here (<a class="bio" href="http://www.worshipleader.com/" target="_blank">www.worshipleader.com</a>).</div>
<div class="copyright">
Copyright © 2010 by the author or Christianity Today International/<span class="citation">Leadership</span> Journal.<br />
<a class="copyright" href="http://christianitytoday.com/le/info.html#permission" target="_blank">Click here</a> for reprint information on <span class="citation">Leadership</span> Journal.</div>
LIFE MATTERShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08626883444873516837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531040103085383042.post-84074532252191888162015-06-06T18:11:00.000-07:002015-06-06T18:11:00.161-07:00GETTING YOUR STORY OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMpcWZI1ily_Ig_RQAjjt2fAjK0pXSdUa4_JgRsqZTps693slNGzxyfpA6sys_sTgNAAvAXA2SwirOnkZOv51Gs1-G5cUMfdNGF0BO2Ype_IBIlGEy8uZR-GUQmyudbkknoEjfoQxuL4/s1600/online-two-way-communication.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMpcWZI1ily_Ig_RQAjjt2fAjK0pXSdUa4_JgRsqZTps693slNGzxyfpA6sys_sTgNAAvAXA2SwirOnkZOv51Gs1-G5cUMfdNGF0BO2Ype_IBIlGEy8uZR-GUQmyudbkknoEjfoQxuL4/s320/online-two-way-communication.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
by Dr Steve Dunn</div>
<br />
In our last issue we challenged you to rethink your church
advertising. Every church has a story to tell of what is up to in their
church, and we need to get the story <em>out into the community.</em> Here are some suggestions.<br />
<br />
<strong>1. Contact the News Director</strong> of your local
television station. Ask them what kind of stories appeal to them and
ways that you can alert them to a good story. (Clue: Human interest
stories, unique forms of community service, “home town heroes” are high
on their list.) Have the same conversation with the news director of the
radio station and the features editor of the Newspaper.<br />
<br />
<strong>2. An attractive and well-maintained web site i</strong>s one
of the best ways. But here’s the big rule. Design your web site with
the unchurched in mind. Another big one: Keep the information current
and always take down the things that are in the past.<br />
<br />
<strong>3. Set up a Facebook Page. </strong>Have multiple
administrators so that you can post a status more frequently. (Minimum: 5
posts per week.) Use it as an informative tool or one of
encouragement. Leave your hard-sell evangelism off this media. Contain
linkbacks to website as new items are added. Pictures are great. Promote
the Facebook page in your bulletin, etc.<br />
<br />
<strong>4. Random Acts of Kindness are always a great way connect with the community.</strong>LIFE MATTERShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08626883444873516837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531040103085383042.post-74226190292476933682015-06-05T18:06:00.000-07:002015-06-05T18:06:08.619-07:00MISSIONAL LEADERS NEEDED<div>
<span class="MinistryHeadline"><b>BY DR STEVE DUNN</b></span></div>
<div>
Thirty years ago, a pastor named Frank Tillapaugh wrote a powerful and compelling book called <em>Unleashing the Church. </em>It
was subtitled “Getting the People Out of the Fortress and Into
Ministry.” He was one of the first to address the issue of churches
that had become more organizational than the organic Body of Christ.
Tillapaugh saw the church as seeking to live behind fortress-like walls
that kept protected from the world and its problems, that attempted to
give Christians a safe place to stay out of the battle.</div>
<div>
</div>
Tillapaugh also recognized that the leaders of these “fortresses”
were more concerned with maintenance than mission. In fact, their
“preservation” or “maintaining” mindset insured the church having an
inward focus, by seeing that as the focus as something to be preserved
and protected. Their whole modus operandii was to preserve and protect
by controlling as much as possible, eliminating any risk, resistng any
change.<br />
<br />
Yet when the Holy Spirit leads the church, He calls and sends. The
Spirit unleashes God’s power and sends the Church out into the world.
For the Holy Spirit empowers a mission that reflects the Great
Commission. “Go and make” were Jesus words.<br />
<br />
This is why a church that seeks to impact our world and to help be
transformed by working of God–must give up that old maintenance
mentality that builds fortresses rather than launching out to reach
people who needs Jesus/<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<strong>A maintenance leader builds fortresses.</strong></div>
<div align="center">
<strong> A missional leader takes the church out to fulfill the Great Commssion.</strong></div>
<div align="center">
<strong>In our world today the church MUST have missional leaders.</strong></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
© 2015 by Stephen L Dunn<br />
Permission is given to reprint this post as long as it is not included
in material that is for sale, that it is reproduced in its entirety
including the copyright notice, and that a link is provided to this
blog.<strong><br />
</strong></div>
LIFE MATTERShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08626883444873516837noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531040103085383042.post-47368893138512022092014-11-13T17:54:00.000-08:002014-11-18T19:51:45.531-08:0010 WORDS OF ADVICE FROM A FIRST TIME GUEST<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://pastors.com/10-words-advice-first-time-guest/"> BY GREG STIER</a></div>
<br />
As a <i>“traveling evangelist”</i> I’ve had the privilege of
preaching in churches from coast to coast. And, until I have the
microphone on over my ear, most people have no clue that I’ll be the
preacher that day, so most treat me like a first time visitor. Over the
course of many years of visiting churches I have had great experiences
as a guest along with some not-so-great ones.<br />
<br />
And, lately, my trips to new churches have accelerated in my own city. I hate to use the term <i>“church shopping”</i>
but that’s what we’ve been doing as a family for the last several
months. The church we’ve been attending as a family for several years is
a great one but it’s a 35 minute drive away. So my wife and I decided
in September to start looking for a home church in the Arvada area. All
the churches we have visited so far have been pretty good.<br />
<br />
As a result of my visits to churches over the last several years and,
with my family, over the last few months, I did notice some things
about how first time visitors must feel when they walk into a brand new
church.<br />
<br />
Speaking as a visitor, here are some suggestions I would give to
pastors when it comes to creating a context that is just the right
amount of welcoming.<br />
<br />
<b>1. Equip your parking lot team to wave us in with a smile.</b><br />
The last church we visited was a true blessing. Although it was their
very first service as a church they seemed like old pros. The
silver-haired parking attendant in the orange vest waved our car in,
pointed to the space where we should park and chatted it up with me and
my family when we got out of the car. From square one we felt welcome.<br />
<br />
<b>2. Have people greet us at the door and offer to answer our questions.</b><br />
It takes more than just smiling faces and handshakes. Walking into a
new church with kids hanging on both arms can feel overwhelming. We
don’t know where the kids go, where the bathrooms are or even where the
church auditorium is. In most of these churches I felt a bit like
cattle, meandering toward the right meadow, instead of gently being
shepherded by the greeters to our proper destination.<br />
<br />
A question like, <i>“May I answer any questions for you?”</i> could go a long way to making a wide-eyed family feel welcomed.<br />
<br />
<b>3. Put up <i>dummy-proof</i> signs that are easy to read and understand.</b><br />
Just this last month I was preaching at a church in Houston I had
never been to before. From the time I pulled in I knew exactly where I
should park. The signs were big, clear and designed for first time
visitors.<br />
<br />
Visiting a church creates a certain amount of tension, a low level
angst if you will. Good signs, both inside and outside the church, help
alleviate that a bit. The last thing you want to do visiting a new
church is to screw it up by parking in the wrong space or walking in the
wrong door or whatever.<br />
<br />
<b>4. Don’t point us out in the service.</b><br />
Speaking of angst, when it comes to welcoming the visitors, my wife
and I could feel the blood draining from our faces when we thought the
announcement givers at these various churches were going to have us
stand and recognize us as visitors (thank the Lord none of them ever
did!) I don’t know whose idea it was to have visitors stand in a service
to be “<i>welcomed</i>” in the first place but, whoever you are, it
was a bad idea. We don’t want to be pointed out. We don’t want to wear a
special colored name tag. We just want to check your church out and
talk to friendly people along the way who make us feel welcome.<br />
<br />
<b>5. Give the gospel clearly enough for us to understand and believe.</b><br />
Okay, okay, I have already put my faith in Jesus (along with the rest
of my family) but I listened to every service with the ears of a lost
person. I asked myself, <i>“If I were to come to this service as an unbeliever would I hear the gospel clearly enough to understand the gospel.”</i>
In most churches there were brief overviews of the gospel but I would
say it was only in one church where the gospel was clearly and
completely given in a way that unbelievers could easily understand and
put their faith in Jesus. This doesn’t require an <i>“altar call”</i>
but it does require a call from the altar for unbelievers to put their
trust in Jesus based on his finished work on the cross for the salvation
of their souls.<br />
<br />
<b>6. Have a check in system for kids that is hastle-free and quick.</b><br />
Most of these churches we visited had a quick process for checking in
our kids. Some were really quick. Others made us fill out
semi-extensive information. Yes, I know this is a must for legal reasons
but I would encourage children’s ministries to make it as quick and
painless as possible for newcomers.<br />
<br />
Think about it. If it’s your first time at a church you usually show
up a few minutes before the service time is scheduled to start. But if
it takes 10 minutes to check in your kids you will miss the opening of
the service and risk feeling like you are interrupting. All this can
make visitors feel uneasy.<br />
<br />
<b>7. Beware weird Christian things.</b><br />
Over the years I’ve witnessed a lot of weird Christian happenings in
churches across America. And, because I was new to most of these
churches, I witnessed them from a visitor’s vantage point. I’ve seen
leaping, leotard-clad, banner-waving dancers flood the aisles during
worship. I literally had no idea what was taking place and could only
imagine what an unbeliever would be thinking if it was their first time
in church. More recently I watched a lady awkwardly jerk and move
(dancing?) across the back of the auditorium during the service. The
people around me tried to ignore her but it was hard for us, as
visitors, to look away. In other churches I’ve heard incessant “<i>ameners</i>” who say “<i>amen</i>!”
about anything and everything (even during announcements and at the
parts of the sermon where a hearty amen doesn’t make sense!) I’ve heard
church leaders close the service in prayer and go WAAAAAYYYYY long
trying to impress the audience with their use of the old English
language. Dost thou knowest what I meanest?<br />
<br />
Beware of weird Christian things. I know we’re not of this earth but
we need to make sure that we’re not doing things in our services to
perpetuate stereotypes that make Christians look needlessly kookie.<br />
<br />
<b>8. Give visitors a pass on the offering plate.</b><br />
The last church we went to asked the visitors NOT to give anything in
the offering plate except a completed information card (name, address,
phone number, e-mail, etc.) The pastor reassured the visitors that
giving was for their regular attendees only. This gave us a pass when
the offering went by. Another way some churches did this was by not
passing the plate at all. Some had offering boxes at the exits that
church members could put their gifts into on the way out of the service.<br />
<br />
<b>9. Don’t get too aggressive with the church follow up e-mails.</b><br />
Okay, I know this can be a sensitive one because we definitely want
to follow up with newcomers. But one church I visited literally was
relentlessly sending me e-mails, almost daily! That’s way too much.
Nobody wants spam from a church, either at their annual potluck or in
their e-mail box.<br />
<br />
<b>10. Call us after, ask about our experience at the church and invite us back.</b><br />
Not one time at all my church visits was I ever called and invited
back personally. That seems weird to me. In every church we registered
our kids and wrote down our names and phone numbers as first time
visitors. But not one time were we called and followed up. A phone call
is more personal than an e-mail. A simple phone call would go a long way
in making me think about coming back a second time.<br />
<br />
Hopefully these 10 things will help you create a more welcoming church environment for 1st time visitors.LIFE MATTERShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08626883444873516837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531040103085383042.post-89798810695642480372014-11-03T13:24:00.000-08:002014-11-03T13:24:00.133-08:00CREATING A NEW MINISTRY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpomYHVwDelVbiFPOBP7w2Y1pb_iMK3U1AgAlwnc1Yk8jKSoapdpob1FSvmN824ygaK_Tj3i2hbo6Rebx5_9L4jcg1ZIfkQRJ8yCi9goYNi_zMzQfQGTmW34LkFFKFto0Ppo09Qt21P0/s1600/creativity1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpomYHVwDelVbiFPOBP7w2Y1pb_iMK3U1AgAlwnc1Yk8jKSoapdpob1FSvmN824ygaK_Tj3i2hbo6Rebx5_9L4jcg1ZIfkQRJ8yCi9goYNi_zMzQfQGTmW34LkFFKFto0Ppo09Qt21P0/s1600/creativity1.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
BY STEVE DUNN</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Some churches start new ministries by purchasing a prepackaged program that has been used <em>successfully</em>.
Such an approach is fraught with challenges and difficulties. Every
ministry designed from scratch is created in a specific context. That
means in a particular ministry setting with very specific resources,
dynamics, experience and mission. Unless the next group using this
ministry has a context that mirrors the first, there is no guarantee
that it success in the first setting will be replicated in the next.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Far better in almost every case is a
ministry designed from the beginning for a specific setting. We often
resist doing that, however, because we believe we lack the creativity
and leadership necessary. Better to borrow and tweak.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Most churches, however, can create a new
ministry uniquely suited to its setting and capable by the Spirit’s
empowerment to be fruitful.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
There are some simple planning questions that can guide this creative process.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1. What is the purpose of the ministry you are attempting to create? Be specific.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2. Who is the specific target (or beneficiary of this ministry)? Name names of real people.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
3. What kind of leadership gifts and passions will be needed to accomplish this? Again, be specific.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
4. What other resources will this require? Space, time, money, workers.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
5. How will we know this ministry is successful? By what fruit will you measure it?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
6. Is this the right time?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And, of course, all of this needs to be pervaded with prayer.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
(c) 2014 BY STEPHEN L DUNN</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This post originally appeared in another of my blogs<a href="http://kingdomfocusedchurch.wordpress.com/2014/05/28/creating-a-new-ministry/"> BEING THE BEST CHURCH FOR THE</a> COMMUNITY.-May 2014 </div>
LIFE MATTERShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08626883444873516837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531040103085383042.post-85071381816846108272014-11-02T13:05:00.000-08:002014-11-02T13:05:12.405-08:0010 SIGNS THAT YOU ATTEND A GREAT CHURCHFrom <a href="http://www.churchleaders.com/outreach-missions/outreach-missions-articles/176826-greg-stier-signs-you-re-attending-a-great-church.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=clnewsletter&utm_content=CL+Daily+20141102">ChurchLeaders.Com </a>comes this important checklist which originated with<a href="http://www.dare2share.org/"> Greg Stier </a>of Dare@Share, a great youth ministry resource. - STEVE<br />
<br />
<div class="article_image_and_abstract">
<div class="article_abstract_image" style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="10 Signs You're Attending a Great Church" src="http://www.churchleaders.com/thumbnail.php?file=article_images/10_signs_youre_attending_997564732.jpg&size=article_large" />
</div>
<div class="article_abstract">
When you're plugged into a church that's focused on the things of God, you can tell the difference. </div>
</div>
<div class="article_text_spacer">
</div>
I love the church. She is Christ’s bride
and the key to cultural transformation. In that sense, every church is
great. But let’s be honest, there are a ton of churches that leave much
to be desired when it comes to truly making a difference in their
congregations and communities. So, when you plug into a church that is
getting it done, it’s a true blessing.<br />
<br />
Of course there are no perfect churches, but there are many that are pressing toward the high water mark we see in Scripture.<br />
<br />
Here are 10 signs you may be going to a great local church:<br />
<br />
<strong>1. It is lead by a team of godly leaders</strong> not a Lone Ranger pastor who gathers Tonto-type leaders around him to say “<em>Yes, Kemo Sabe”</em> to his each and every idea (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Titus+1%3A5-9&version=NIV">Titus 1:5-9</a>).<br />
<strong>2. The Gospel is central </strong>to every sermon, program and meeting (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15%3A3-4&version=NIV">1 Corinthians 15:3,4</a>) and the advancement of it both locally and globally drive strategic initiatives (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+1%3A8&version=NIV">Acts 1:8</a>).<br />
<strong>3. People are using their spiritual gifts</strong> not just watching the “<em>stage team</em>” exercise theirs (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+12%3A12-31&version=NIV">1 Corinthians 12:12-31</a>), resulting in disciples being made and multiplied (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+2%3A2&version=NIV">2 Timothy 2:2</a>).<br />
<strong>4. It, like the early church, is integrated</strong>, fully representing the demographic of the community in which it resides (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A11-21&version=NIV">Ephesians 2:11-21</a>). By the way, my buddy <a href="http://www.twitter.com/derwinlgray">Derwin Gray </a>has got a lot of great material (blogs, sermons, etc.) on this particular point.<br />
<strong>5. Love, demonstrating itself in friendliness</strong>, generosity, internal/external care programs and community involvement, dominates the atmosphere (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13%3A1-8&version=NIV">1 Corinthians 13:1-8</a>).<br />
<strong>6. Most likely there is a thriving small group program</strong> where members truly can have great biblical conversations, share struggles and pray with/for each other (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+5%3A16&version=NIV">James 5:16</a>).<br />
<strong>7. The people are being inspired</strong> and equipped to <a href="http://dare2share.org/mobileapp">share their faith</a> relationally, resulting in more and more new believers being added to the church (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2%3A47&version=NIV">Acts 2:47</a>).<br />
<strong>8. The teaching/preaching is biblical</strong>, theological and immensely practical (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+3%3A16-17">2 Timothy 3:16-17</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+4%3A1-4&version=NIV">4:1-4</a>).<br />
<strong>9. Ministry to children and teenagers are top priorities</strong>, not afterthoughts (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Titus+2%3A1-8&version=NIV">Titus 2:1-8</a>; <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+6%3A4-9&version=NIV">Deuteronomy 6:4-9</a>).<br />
<strong>10. Intercessory prayer fuels everything.</strong> It’s the engine, not the caboose, of how the church rolls from top to bottom (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+2%3A1-8&version=NIV">1 Timothy 2:1-8</a>).<br />
These are 10 signs you may be going to a great church. What are some other signs? <img border="0" src="http://www.churchleaders.com/files/endslug_533550574.gif" /><br />
<em>© 2014 Dare 2 Share Ministries. Used by permission.</em>LIFE MATTERShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08626883444873516837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531040103085383042.post-43260582480141804672014-06-11T06:50:00.000-07:002014-06-11T06:50:00.598-07:00CREATING A CHURCH THAT UNCHURCHED PEOPLE LOVE TO ATENDFrom <a href="http://www.churchleaders.com/pastors/videos-for-pastors/167713-andy-stanley-creating-church-unchurched-people-love-to-attend.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=cl_topvideos&utm_content=CL+TodaysVideo+-+20140610">Andy Stanley</a> comes some solid counsel for outward focused churches.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe src="//player.vimeo.com/video/49756262" width="500" height="281" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe>LIFE MATTERShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08626883444873516837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531040103085383042.post-34402474209195026362014-05-23T17:41:00.001-07:002014-05-23T17:41:16.145-07:00SEVEN WAYS TO GROW YOUR CHURCH BY LEVERAGING SOCIAL MEDIA<i>Some straightforward counsel to outward focused churches from Perry Noble.</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJZJ5ZT4-w6g3dua2CQMb-pfFY7ZvEfcI39YJAO1YUxkNuz6FBdDF_UAm-VxU3tHs_VQhVbXE7s4w6qpnQ_7pN3817fUr97ebLECwDClPejYDRBTcB2-Dv4-KK15ysIxmEcaPiCmGv4s/s1600/church-social-media-directory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJZJ5ZT4-w6g3dua2CQMb-pfFY7ZvEfcI39YJAO1YUxkNuz6FBdDF_UAm-VxU3tHs_VQhVbXE7s4w6qpnQ_7pN3817fUr97ebLECwDClPejYDRBTcB2-Dv4-KK15ysIxmEcaPiCmGv4s/s1600/church-social-media-directory.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
BY PERRY NOBLE</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Information is advancing daily on a global stage through the
connectivity of the Internet. Email, blogs and social platforms
contribute to the viral spread of content in real-time to shape culture,
capture polarized opinions and broadcast the news of "right now" to the
ends of the earth.<br />
<br />
On Facebook alone, there are 1.3 billion active users who log in
monthly to read news, connect with friends and share relevant content.
People are not only getting information online but they are living their
lives there as well and the church can be a part of the conversation.<br />
<br />
Here are 7 ways you can leverage social media this week to help your church grow!<br />
<br />
<b>1. Be an active part of the conversation on social media platforms.</b><br />
Before stepping foot into your building, people get their first
impression of your church online. If your social media platforms are
empty or haven’t posted anything new for months, people will think your
message is out of date too!<br />
<br />
<b>2. Contribute content worth sharing.</b><br />
We're all strolling around the Internet asking, "What's in it for
me?" while hunting the funniest video, the latest controversial article
or the cutest picture of puppies we can find. Once we do, what's next?<br />
<br />
We share it! People share content that moves them, and creating content
that stirs emotion takes effort.<br />
<br />
Social content is often visual so think about how you can leverage
what you’re creating for Sundays or midweek services that will empower
and encourage your fans to continue conversations around what Jesus is
doing in your church in their social circles. Short tweets, sermon recap
videos and content formatted for phones can be great content that’s
easy to share.<br />
<br />
<b>3. Answer questions people are asking.</b><br />
Everyone is asking three questions: What happened? What’s happening?
What's next? If you're not answering one of these three basic questions
about your church on a daily basis, you're missing a great opportunity
to contribute to the conversation online and in the workplace.<br />
<br />
<b>4. Know your audience and the platform.</b><br />
All social media platforms are not created equal. Posting the same
message on all the different social media outlets is like using a hammer
to put screws in the wall or painting with a fork--it may get the job
done, but it’s not the best way. Know who’s there and why they are
there. Then, craft your message and communication specifically for them.<br />
<br />
<b>5. Listen to the conversation.</b><br />
Broadcasting information but not engaging in conversation is like
holding up protest signs in a public place but never speaking to the
people around you...it’s just stupid! Similarly, hijacking conversations
instead of participating in them is rude in real life and the internet
too.<br />
<br />
<b>6. Provide excellent customer service.</b><br />
Excellent customer service lets your audience know that you’re
listening. And, when they know you’re listening to them, they’ll listen
to you. You are the expert for your organization. If someone asks a
question on your Facebook page or tweets it @you, let them know they
matter by answering it in a timely manner.<br />
<br />
<b>7. Empower your staff and volunteers.</b><br />
One of the greatest ways your church can reach people in your
community is by empowering staff and volunteers to share their stories
and connect with others. Gather your church’s leaders and volunteers and
teach them to share their story. Then as they live their life and faith
online it will naturally point people to Jesus and let your area know
that your church is a place where people can grow in a community.<br />
<br />
(This post was put together by our AMAZING social media team. This year at our <a href="http://doubleconference.com/" target="_blank">Double Conference</a>
they will be doing breakouts on how to do promotion for your church
that is VERY inexpensive…but more effective than television
commercials!! To learn more about using social media to advance the
Gospel and help your church grow, make plans to join us for the <a href="http://doubleconference.com/" target="_blank">Double Conference on August 28th and 29th</a>. It's going to be AWESOME!!!)LIFE MATTERShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08626883444873516837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531040103085383042.post-38553505113521826892014-05-20T07:00:00.000-07:002014-05-20T07:00:04.297-07:00DOES YOUR CHURCH REALLY WANT TO REACH YOUR UNCHURCHED NEIGHBORS<div style="text-align: center;">
BY STEVE DUNN </div>
<br />
Who are your neighbors?<br />
<br />
Increasingly traditional churches cannot answer that question with
any specificity. Some congregations are reverse commuters, returning
Sundays and perhaps Wednesdays to gather and worship in a community in
which they no longer live. Other churches live in a bubble of doctrinal
isolation (i.e., we do not want to tainted by the world and therefore
have little contact) or inward-focused fellowship, spending almost 100%
of their time with other church people. Some congregations are even
afraid of their neighbors. As a result no attempt is made to reach
those unchurched neighbors except the billboard or sign out front.<br />
<br />
Who are our neighbors? The scriptures make it very plain – they are
the people for whom Christ died and who Christ loves. Some of them are
connected to churches, some are not. Some are Christians, some are
not. Some are church drop-outs. Some have absolutely no Christian
roots and have barely a clue as to what you do behind closed doors on
Sunday morning.<br />
<br />
If we think of those neighbors at all, we generalize them as <i>the lost</i> and then act as if they’re not really lost by largely ignoring them.<br />
<br />
Do you want to reach your unchurched neighbors? That is an essential
question for every congregation that claims to be an obedient and
faithful part of the Body of Christ.<br />
<br />
If you truly want to reach your unchurched neighbors, then there some realities you must come to grips with.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://drdunn2.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/annoy-neighbor.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" src="http://drdunn2.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/annoy-neighbor.jpg?w=300&h=247&h=247" height="247" title="annoy neighbor" width="300" /></a></b></div>
<br />
<b>1. They are not your enemies, nuisances, nor your project.</b>
These are three perceptions that will drive your neighbors away or
create barriers across which they will never pass. They may not like
your faith nor approve of it, but if you see them as your enemies and
approach them as such, they will fight back. They are not persons who
get in the way of your ministry. They are people who need your
ministry. Reaching them is far more important than all the church
suppers, small group Bible studies, and projects your church may pour
its energy into. They are not a project, a number to be counted, a
victory to be one. They are people, created in the image of God, loved
and respected because Christ died for them. They are people who need a
relationship with Jesus Christ and with you, the Body.<br />
<br />
<b>2. They have needs that you must first understand and then respond to in the name of Christ. </b>Too
many of us do not know our neighbors well enough to know their needs,
let alone address those needs. We often assume we know them, but that
usually leads to assuming they are like us and just need to be persuaded
to behave as such. If you don’t build relationships, listen, and seek
to understand–you will not reach your neighbors effectively.<br />
<br />
<b>3. They are have values and dreams.</b> You may think
those values to be sinful or their dreams to be shallow; but you do not
build a redemptive relationship with people who you do not respect in
some way.<br />
<br />
There’s more to be said on this subject, but for now; know that if
you want to reach your unchurched neighbors, you will have to begin
thinking in new ways.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
(C) 2011 by Stephen L Dunn</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This post originally appeared on the blog<a href="http://bridgestothebridge.wordpress.com/"> BRIDGES TO THE BRIDGE </a></div>
LIFE MATTERShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08626883444873516837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531040103085383042.post-25243581568609147542014-05-18T18:34:00.000-07:002014-05-18T18:34:19.836-07:00THE IMPORTANCE OF VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihenvi9pyX4CkqcDeYL5sG0moMOC7yCv9qrLsKKuM_FDpF8wXM-boIzKkGx39ta-1BMzWttBrzwD1-eie0HCF_Hlyl8AXePsicRLicF7orEAfrkGa5bRLN0CEwFSpg1euJulPJlH1AhKw/s1600/Vacation-Bible-School-01-1280x853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihenvi9pyX4CkqcDeYL5sG0moMOC7yCv9qrLsKKuM_FDpF8wXM-boIzKkGx39ta-1BMzWttBrzwD1-eie0HCF_Hlyl8AXePsicRLicF7orEAfrkGa5bRLN0CEwFSpg1euJulPJlH1AhKw/s1600/Vacation-Bible-School-01-1280x853.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> BY STEVE DUNN</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">One of the most popular
forms of outreach for a local church is that of the Vacation Bible School. With
more and more working parents looking for meaningful experiences for their kids
during the summer, the potential for VBS remains undiminished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is clearly the front door to the church
that even secularized parents appear willing to open.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Some people within the
church resent <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">being used as a babysitting
service </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and even seed the soil
negatively by expressing that thought within the church.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Resist that feeling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It comes from hell and smells like
smoke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we think Jesus resented the
people who came to him in crowds out of their unspiritual needs?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, Matthew 9:38 says clearly, “He saw that
they were harassed and helpless … he had compassion on them.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He prayed for more harvesters.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">VBS is important for these
reasons—especially within an increasingly unchurched culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(1) People like Jesus but not the
church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a chance to let them the
love and joy found in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">real church. </i>(2)
It allows people to learn what’s in the Bible and find practical applications
for life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This may be the only time
these children receive any Bible teaching (and God’s Word does not return to
Him void.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(3) This <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">babysitting </i>can be the first step in building redemptive
relationships—building bridges to the Bridge.(4) VBS is not a tool of church
growth—it is a resource for evangelism and discipleship. (5) VBS gets your
people interacting with the community in practical ways. (6) VBS gives <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">your people </i>practical ministry
experience as a team. (7) VBS says “children matter God” and they matter to us
as a church.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">(c) 2014 by Stephen L.Dunn </span></div>
LIFE MATTERShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08626883444873516837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531040103085383042.post-3334640905455887542014-04-03T19:29:00.000-07:002014-04-03T19:29:04.550-07:00BRIDGEBUILDING CHURCHES have a kingdom-sized vision and a mission
field that ultimately moves beyond Judea and Samaria to the uttermost
parts of the earth. Dean Hay pastors the United Church of God in
Ursina, Pennsylvania and are definitely a BRIDGEBUILDING CHURCH. Here
is their latest mission field.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://bridgestothebridge.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/300px-uss_essex_at_sea.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-429" height="320" src="http://bridgestothebridge.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/300px-uss_essex_at_sea.jpg?w=510" title="300px-USS_Essex_at_sea" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_429" style="width: 310px;">
<div class="wp-caption-text">
The amphibious assault ship, the USS Essex</div>
<div class="wp-caption-text">
<br /></div>
<div class="wp-caption-text">
For more on Bridgebuilders Ministries go the <a href="http://www,bridgestothebridge.wordpress.com/">bridges to the Bridge. </a></div>
</div>
LIFE MATTERShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08626883444873516837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531040103085383042.post-63340350892322422542014-02-23T17:34:00.000-08:002014-02-23T17:34:03.107-08:0010 WARNING SIGNS OF AN INWARDLY OBSESSED CHURCH<i>Thom and Sam Rainer have some of the best research on the traditional church. Increasingly I find that churches "talk a good game" because an outward focus is the ecclesiastically-correct position to take, but Thom tells us why too many churches will not make any substantive changes to reach out.-STEVE</i><br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
10 WARNING SIGNS OF AN INWARDLY OBSESSED CHURCH<i> </i></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-articles/160925-thom_rainer_10_warnings_signs_of_an_inwardly_obsessed_church.html?p=3">by Thom Rainer</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div id="content_main_top">
<div class="crumb_line">
<a href="http://www.churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-articles/index.1.html"></a>
</div>
<h1>
10 Warning Signs of an Inwardly Obsessed Church</h1>
</div>
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<div class="article_abstract_image" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<img alt="10 Warning Signs of an Inwardly Obsessed Church" src="http://www.churchleaders.com/files/article_images/obsessed2_700904162.jpg" />
</div>
<div class="article_abstract">
Thom
Rainer: "In my research of churches, I have kept a checklist of
potential signs that a church might be moving toward inward obsession." </div>
</div>
<div class="article_text_spacer">
</div>
Any healthy church must have some level
of inward focus. Those in the church should be discipled. Hurting
members need genuine concern and ministry. Healthy fellowship among the
members is a good sign for a congregation.<br />
<br />
But churches can lose their outward focus and become preoccupied with
the perceived needs and desires of the members. The dollars spent and
the time expended can quickly become focused on the demands of those
inside the congregation. When that takes place, the church has become
inwardly obsessed. It is no longer a Great Commission congregation.<br />
<br />
In my research of churches and consultation with churches, I have
kept a checklist of potential signs that a church might be moving toward
inward obsession. No church is perfect; indeed, most churches will
demonstrate one or two of these signs for a season. But the real danger
takes place when a church begins to manifest three or more of these
warning signs for an extended period of months and even years.<br />
<div class="article_dont_miss">
</div>
<h2>
<strong>1. Worship wars. </strong></h2>
One or more factions in the church want the music just the way they
like it. Any deviation is met with anger and demands for change. The
order of service must remain constant. Certain instrumentation is
required while others are prohibited.<br />
<h2>
<strong>2. Prolonged minutia meetings.</strong></h2>
The church spends an inordinate amount of time in different meetings.
Most of the meetings deal with the most inconsequential items, while
the Great Commission and Great Commandment are rarely the topics of
discussion.<br />
<h2>
<strong>3. Facility focus.</strong></h2>
The church facilities develop iconic status. One of the highest
priorities in the church is the protection and preservation of rooms,
furniture, and other visible parts of the church’s buildings and
grounds.
<br />
<br />
<a class="page" href="http://www.churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-articles/160925-thom_rainer_10_warnings_signs_of_an_inwardly_obsessed_church.html?p=3" title="Go to Page 3"></a><br />
<h2>
<strong>4. Program driven.</strong></h2>
Every church has programs even if they don’t admit it. When we start
doing a ministry a certain way, it takes on programmatic status. The
problem is not with programs. The problem develops when the program
becomes an end instead of a means to greater ministry.<br />
<h2>
<strong>5. Inwardly focused budget. </strong></h2>
<strong></strong>A disproportionate share of the budget is used to
meet the needs and comforts of the members instead of reaching beyond
the walls of the church.<br />
<h2>
<strong>6. Inordinate demands for pastoral care.</strong></h2>
All church members deserve care and concern, especially in times of
need and crisis. Problems develop, however, when church members have
unreasonable expectations for even minor matters. Some members expect
the pastoral staff to visit them regularly merely because they have
membership status.<br />
<h2>
<strong>7. Attitudes of entitlement.</strong></h2>
This issue could be a catchall for many of the points named here. The
overarching attitude is one of demanding and having a sense of
deserving special treatment.<br />
<br />
<h2>
<strong>8. Greater concern about change than the gospel.</strong></h2>
Almost any noticeable changes in the church evoke the ire of many,
but those same passions are not evident about participating in the work
of the gospel to change lives.<br />
<h2>
<strong>9. Anger and hostility.</strong></h2>
Members are consistently angry. They regularly express hostility toward the church staff and other members.<br />
<h2>
<strong>10. Evangelistic apathy.</strong></h2>
Very few members share their faith on a regular basis. More are
concerned about their own needs rather than the greatest eternal needs
of the world and community in which they live.<br />
<br /><a class="page" href="http://www.churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-articles/160925-thom_rainer_10_warnings_signs_of_an_inwardly_obsessed_church.html?p=3" title="Go to Page 3"></a>LIFE MATTERShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08626883444873516837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531040103085383042.post-33162835590502217102014-02-11T13:00:00.000-08:002014-02-11T13:00:00.392-08:00SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, BLOCKBUSTER AND YOUR CHURCH<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVghi06omjDTgXWooaMEuLJe9CDmEncSq-hJTYsUgfm0mJKzWPERaVbS-vkKQu23gOmXK3VKb4ArhS_yOxIVcgqHMz-i0FoZ-59cBILYwv_uHdVgj4-LfqhOtE_03Z80v-zaeR17asU4/s1600/IMG_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVghi06omjDTgXWooaMEuLJe9CDmEncSq-hJTYsUgfm0mJKzWPERaVbS-vkKQu23gOmXK3VKb4ArhS_yOxIVcgqHMz-i0FoZ-59cBILYwv_uHdVgj4-LfqhOtE_03Z80v-zaeR17asU4/s1600/IMG_0001.jpg" height="200" width="159" /></a></div>
From Marty Duren comes a timely and insightful look at keeping our focus on our mission and our strategies realistically capable of supporting that mission. Thanks to Justin Meier, the Church Expansion Specialist for the Churches of God, General Conference for bringing this to my attention. - <i>STEVE</i><br />
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<br />
<header class="entry-header"><h1 class="entry-title" itemprop="headline">
Sports Illustrated, Blockbuster, and Your Church</h1>
</header><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
By Marty Duren</div>
<br />
Years ago there was a world-beating sports magazine called <i>Sports Illustrated</i>. It was the one thing that every football, baseball, basketball loving person could not wait to see weekly in the mailbox or on the newsstand.<br />
<br />
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, the throne crumbled. An upstart cable TV network called ESPN became the must-watch channel for sports fans. ESPN provided sports updates all morning so people getting ready for work could catch up on the scores and highlights from the previous night. No more having to wait a week for Sports Illustrated. Fans did not even have to wait until the sports segment on the evening news.<br />
<br />
Now ESPN boasts multiple cable channels, a partnership with ABC Sports (via parent company, Disney), its own Olympics (the X-Games), its own magazine, and a host of other properties. ESPN is now THE undisputed leader in sports. Sports Illustrated still exists, but its once dominant foothold is long gone.<br />
<br />
What is the difference? Sports Illustrated mistakenly thought it was in the magazine business. ESPN correctly understood itself to be in the sports information business. If Sports Illustrated had understood its true position and leveraged its talent base, reach and influence, ESPN might still be a channel.<br />
<br />
Remember when there were Blockbuster stores? People got into their cars, drove miles to a brick building (or strip mall) to rent movies on VHS, and later on DVD. Remember when Blockbuster dropped their late fees even though it made up a large portion of its revenue? Why would a company willfully drop revenue?<br />
<br />
This other out-of-nowhere company called Netflix had arrived. A Netflix membership allowed you to order DVDs online and have them sent directly to your mailbox! There were no late fees. Instead, you simply had to return the movies you had rented before ordering more. No driving in the snow or rain, no penalty for being forgetful—and no need to rewind. Netflix was a game changer.<br />
<br />
As if that were not enough, Netflix was an early provider of online streaming movies and TV shows enabling subscribers to watch on their desktop, laptop or tablet. Now Netflix produces its own shows and movies.<br />
<br />
What is the difference? Blockbuster mistakenly thought it was in the movie rental business. Netflix correctly understood itself to be in the entertainment content delivery business. Blockbuster had both the market share and the leverage to do everything Netflix did. They simply did not have the understanding of the times or vision of the future.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately many churches are like Sports Illustrated and Blockbuster. They rightly see themselves are repositories of truth with a responsibility to get truth to others. Unfortunately, they hold to a singular content delivery system—the Sunday morning service—as ultimate. This is a time when people expect multiple delivery systems as the norm. For churches, the content will not change; the gospel is the same. But our delivery systems and touchpoints with “customers” must change both for the sake of our members and those who need Jesus.<br />
<br />
One way to make our content (the gospel) more readily available is for churches to re-evaluate everything about their online presence from the website to use of social media. People who live in your area do not reach for the Yellow Pages or the church directory of the county newspaper. If they are looking for a church at all, they will use a search engine or the search bar on Facebook. If you have a website that looks like a template from Geocities or a middle schooler’s 2006 Myspace page, you have blown it.<br />
<br />
Websites need not have elaborate image sliders and be covered in HTML5 moving parts. They simply need to be clean and easy to navigate. Remember: the landing page needs to be friendly to non-attendees, so service times and contact information need to be prominent. Members—those who visit the website regularly—know where to look for other information. Ease of use is for non-members, not for members. Additionally, make sure your social media is just that: social. Do not make announcements on your Facebook page then neglect to answer related questions. Social media is a conversation, not an info dump.<br />
<br />
So much content can be provided via a church website it is hard to cover it all in such a short article. Podcasts of the sermon, videos of the entire service, new member training, a pastor’s welcome, bulletin downloads, student ministry permission forms, and so much more are all content pieces just waiting to be added to your church website.<br />
<br />
Churches should learn from Sports Illustrated’s missed opportunity and Blockbuster’s failure. Do not isolate yourself into a single content delivery system. Put the Internet to work for you and your church for the sake of the gospel.<br />
<br />
THIS POST IS REBLOGGED FROM <a href="http://blog.lifeway.com/pastorstoday/2014/02/06/sports-illustrated-blockbuster-and-your-church/">PASTORS TODAY </a>LIFE MATTERShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08626883444873516837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531040103085383042.post-86684671741371551992014-02-10T21:50:00.000-08:002014-02-10T21:50:34.693-08:00THE OUTWARD FOCUSED CHURCH 2.0<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVghi06omjDTgXWooaMEuLJe9CDmEncSq-hJTYsUgfm0mJKzWPERaVbS-vkKQu23gOmXK3VKb4ArhS_yOxIVcgqHMz-i0FoZ-59cBILYwv_uHdVgj4-LfqhOtE_03Z80v-zaeR17asU4/s1600/IMG_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVghi06omjDTgXWooaMEuLJe9CDmEncSq-hJTYsUgfm0mJKzWPERaVbS-vkKQu23gOmXK3VKb4ArhS_yOxIVcgqHMz-i0FoZ-59cBILYwv_uHdVgj4-LfqhOtE_03Z80v-zaeR17asU4/s1600/IMG_0001.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a></div>
We have been on hiatus on this blog for several months, evaluating its purpose. From its inception THE OUTWARD FOCUSED CHURCH has reflected a personal passion of mine--- connecting people to Jesus Christ and helping churches provide thoughtful,faithful,fruitful and welcoming ministry. In this effort I received much encouragement, especially from Rick Russaw of THE EXTERNALLY FOCUSED CHURCH who saw in me a kindred spirit. Along the way, I found myself developing other blogs with various niches: preaching, leadership development, evangelism, discipleship, even humor. Some of those blogs are listed in the BLOGROLL.<br />
<br />
In the last 18 months, much of my personal emphasis has centered around a ministry that I developed with the encouragement and financial support of the Commission on Evangelism of the Eastern Regional Conference of the Churches of God, General Conference. That ministry is called <i>Bridgebuilders </i>and has as its mission helping churches reach their unchurched neighbors. Basically it is teaching churches how to be missionaries to the mission field that begins at their front door. I began teaching for them and also developing on-line newsletters, the latter depending heavily on my own original writing. It is supported by a blog linked particularly to Bridgebuilders Seminars called <a href="http://bridgestothebridge.wordpress.com/">BRIDGES TO THE BRIDGE.</a><br />
<br />
I have also developed a consulting and training ministry that goes beyond my parent region of my tribe, and works cross-denomination. It is called Bridgebuilders Minstries and is supported by a blog called <a href="http://kingdomfocusedchurch.wordpress.com/">BEING THE BEST CHURCH FOR THE COMMUNITY. </a><br />
<br />
Both blogs go beyond techniques, programs. etc to educate in making a shift from a traditional church or membership culture to a disciple or Gospel culture. They contain the bulk of my original work these days.<br />
<br />
But I continue to come across materials that cross a broad spectrum of ideas and issues, all focused on one powerful necessity--making sure the church has a outward focus--a focus that keeps them on mission with Jesus.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLU7_J9vPZOPwnY76KakOINFyB1B1w3187QESQe8V7Hcb9wOjwzctznEXW1xe-PIwaZ5k8duSQVmPeVAh8DP4FhJXartDQydLFMjYOsv3oj2P2lwkHj1DKxyp5FZ_Y51sG8zkpG0pFV1g/s1600/on+mission+with+jesus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLU7_J9vPZOPwnY76KakOINFyB1B1w3187QESQe8V7Hcb9wOjwzctznEXW1xe-PIwaZ5k8duSQVmPeVAh8DP4FhJXartDQydLFMjYOsv3oj2P2lwkHj1DKxyp5FZ_Y51sG8zkpG0pFV1g/s1600/on+mission+with+jesus.jpg" /></a></div>
So I am resuming this blog with that purpose in mind. Much of its content will be repostings from excellent leaders like Sam and Thom Rainer, Charles Stone, and others. Watch tomorrow for the first of these as THE OUTWARD FOCUSED CHURCH develops a 2.0 version of itself. - STEVE DUNNLIFE MATTERShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08626883444873516837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531040103085383042.post-33735406103006821462013-10-01T17:05:00.000-07:002013-10-01T17:05:43.461-07:00HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT TELEVISION ADVERTISINGGilbert Thurston and Chad Chute pastor a Churches of God, General Conference congregation in Harrisburg PA that meets in a Regal Theater. TV advertising is one of their tools:<br />
<br />
<br /><iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/0Z0HKkOUCjM?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>LIFE MATTERShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08626883444873516837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531040103085383042.post-59657108344914310072013-09-16T15:45:00.000-07:002013-09-16T15:45:13.603-07:00FRIENDLY VERSUS WELCOMING<span class="edit-link"></span>
<br />
<div class="entry-content">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://kingdomfocusedchurch.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/friendly-church.jpg"><img alt="friendly-church" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2772" src="http://kingdomfocusedchurch.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/friendly-church.jpg?w=812" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
by Steve Dunn</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Many churches like to proclaim that they are a friendly church. They
emblazon the phrase across their advertising–both print and web. They
are proud of the fact that they now how to smile when people come in,
maybe even shake hands during that moment of friendship in worship. It’s
what they like to brag about when talking to others about their
church–especially people from other churches who are comparing notes.
The <em>belief</em> that they are friendly is often something very necessary for them to feel good about themselves and their church.<br />
<br />
The unfortunate thing is that it often more a <em>wish</em> than a
truth. It is often a self-deception that shields us from thinking about
visitors who show up or new people looking for a way to belong; or a
rationalization for not making a great investment in actually connected
with new people and visitors. Smile, shake hands, and then go back to
the group in the church you always connect with, and go about your usual
Sunday morning business with a clear conscience but no significant
connection with that person who is seeking something from the church.<br />
<br />
I’ve actually yet to meet a church that says officially, “We really
don’t care if you’re here or not, but whatever you do, don’t ask to do
anything that disturbs our carefully constructed comfort.” And yet that
is the reality that visitors or new people encounter in far too many
church situations.<br />
<br />
For a church to truly reach new people for Christ, it must shift to asking <em>“our we a welcoming church?”</em><br />
<br />
1. A welcoming church invests significant time <em>beginning on Sunday morning</em>
with getting to know those visitors or newcomers. Inviting them to
tell you about them instead or feeling the need to have equal time in
the conversation.<br />
<br />
2. A welcoming church has people whose gifts are hospitality and who
are positioned to do so. These people do not have nine different jobs on
a Sunday morning.<br />
<br />
3. A welcoming church carries on its activity into the week, through
visits and contacts and acts of kindness. It does not wait for someone
to return or make a request before doing anything else.<br />
<br />
4. A welcoming church does not make it the pastor’s job to do
follow-up with visitors. He’s the one paid to do it and the newcomers
know that. They are much more impressed by lay people who take the time
to make the follow-up contact.<br />
<br />
5. A welcoming church takes responsibility to help new people feel welcome and a part.<br />
<br />
6. A welcoming church takes new people to lunch as their guests on Sunday.<br />
<br />
7. A welcoming church learns the names of new people and introduces the new people to others.<br />
<br />
8. A welcoming church has a plan to help new people find their place in the church family.<br />
<br />
9. A welcoming church does not ask visitors to stand or wear name tags. People don’t like to be put on display.<br />
<br />
10. A welcoming church explains itself to people who are attempting
to connect–especially in worship, be sure that you periodically discuss
why you do things as you do and ask, how safe or included would this
make a person feel who is trying to find a place in the church.<br />
<br />
11. A welcoming church asks new people, do you feel welcome here? and then learns from and deals honestly with the answers.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
(C) 2013 by Stephen L Dunn</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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LIFE MATTERShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08626883444873516837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531040103085383042.post-7723053052503641542013-08-11T18:01:00.000-07:002013-08-11T18:01:00.072-07:00THE KEY TO WORKING WITH A SCHOOL--A SERVANT'S HEART AND A SERVANT'S ATTITUDE<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1aV1esdquAZPf3D3-MtZdAsgC81xyPug8rUbOquqA0CpLmlH5X0GH9iErXlGdL9-8U7xTH6kM6uTbahRb0AuVa_W3OdmOMjFwNbtr1t7FfnvpmzdUukDKgj6eQbU7GGrqVu-IrEnlSE/s1600/1_3df8ad23639a1-81-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1aV1esdquAZPf3D3-MtZdAsgC81xyPug8rUbOquqA0CpLmlH5X0GH9iErXlGdL9-8U7xTH6kM6uTbahRb0AuVa_W3OdmOMjFwNbtr1t7FfnvpmzdUukDKgj6eQbU7GGrqVu-IrEnlSE/s320/1_3df8ad23639a1-81-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"> BY STEVE DUNN</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><i>Part 2 of a Series</i></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">Schools have become
the center of most communities, often supplanting the position a key
church once else. This acutally makes them now a prime mission field for
churches who seek to build bridges of truth and grace,. The key here
is to surrender any idea of controlling the school or asking the school
to serve your mission. The key is to seek to influence a school by
showing it how the church can help the school accomplish <i>its </i>mission.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">The primary goal of
most schools is to provide a quality education by giving kids academic
knowledge and lifeskills necessary to function as useful members of the
society. What that involves varies from community to community and is
often dependent upon three things:(1) the graduation requirements of
state departments of higher education (2) the constraints of budgets
available from the taxation system (3) the socio-economic needs of the
community they serve.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">Many school
superintendants or principals will tell you that there are many
competing groups trying to control that agenda. As such, school
administrators have an instinctive reaction against anyone who wants to
use the schools for their purposes--whether it by the federal
government, taxpayer groups, political parties, or special interests (in
which category they often place churches).</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">It is not without accident that Jesus taught us that true leadership comes through humility and <i>self-</i>sacrifice. These are the two key ingredients in servanthood.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">You demonstrate a
servant's heart when you pay attention to the "little people" (i.e., the
support staff) and offer to help them. One church gained inroads
because their youth staff visiting school lunch rooms helped the kitchen
bus the tables.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">You demonstrate a
servant's heart when you help the school do the community research it
must have to make its reports and justify its proposals for funding.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">You demonstrate a
servant's heart when you ask that principal, "What's one job around here
that you have trouble getting people to do?" and then you go do it.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">You demonstrate a
servant's heart whenyou give your Christmas offering to support the
"family emergency fund" that most office of student services must have
to meet lower income needs.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">You demonstrate a
servant's heart when you don't feel the need to brag about what you do
for the school on your websites. You let the school do the bragging
about you.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">(C) 2013 by Stephen Dunn</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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LIFE MATTERShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08626883444873516837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531040103085383042.post-31912755477757288962013-08-10T18:01:00.001-07:002013-08-10T18:01:23.540-07:00LEARNING TO WORK WITH A SCHOOL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAkXwygpE-iY7aumkGMCwikD4vnVZl4rUzhDIjmfx4oAzl3vIr440_STQdmKzgYUkN84xpIaLVoefAhX5-xQhbPBLSP0n9OVOnpMZ4DRJtX7roOkmAqGiKjL-ZxcuzXE3dh6q9Mjy1dY/s1600/schools_at_heart_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAkXwygpE-iY7aumkGMCwikD4vnVZl4rUzhDIjmfx4oAzl3vIr440_STQdmKzgYUkN84xpIaLVoefAhX5-xQhbPBLSP0n9OVOnpMZ4DRJtX7roOkmAqGiKjL-ZxcuzXE3dh6q9Mjy1dY/s200/schools_at_heart_2.jpg" width="192" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> BY STEVE DUNN</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><i>Part 1 of a Series</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">There was a time when
the church was the center of the community. That position has long ago
been supplanted by the community's schools. As our society has become
more secularized, as youth sports have grown, and through a variety of
other factors, schools have come to definer of community rhythms and the
schedules of countless households--even those without children.<br /> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Many
churches have come to recognize that those same schools are a vital
part of the mission field outside their front door. Although such
courtesies as "dark nights" in the school schedule to protect the
church's priorities have been swallowed up the burgeoning demands of the
schools, churches are wise to shun the attitude that sees the school as
an adversary. We need to see schools as a vital venue for building
redemptive relationships with the larger community beyond the church's
walls.<br /><br />The church should begin by prayerfully examining the question: "How can we be the best church for community's schools?" <strong>But do not assume you know the answer? </strong>Schools ultimately need the life transforming presence of Jesus Christ, but first a church must respond to the <em>school's</em> felt needs<br /><br />Here are some simple steps to getting started.<br /><br /><strong>Prayerfully ask God to identify the school He wants your church to build a redemptive relationship with.<br /><br />Learn all you can about the school so that you have a sense of their needs and assess if you have the resources to help them.<br /><br />Have the pastor make an appointment with the principal.</strong> Be sure to schedule it at the <em>principal's </em>convenience.
Simply explain that your church wants to provide some volunteer
assistance for his or her school. Ask him, "What is something that we
could help you with to relieve some of the work load of himself or his
staff, or to help the school save some money, or to achieve something
the school needs but currently lacks the time, manpower and resources to
accomplish?"<br /><br /><strong>Do NOT ask him to do something for you.</strong>
There will come a time when it will be appropriate to ask the school's
support or participation, but that tends to come in at later point when
you have earned that right.</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">
<div>
<br /><strong>Offer to fund </strong>items for this. <strong> </strong></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<strong>If he has something, </strong>and most will--tell him you
will see what you can do to meet his request--and do so quickly (not
hastily). Report back to him promptly.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<em>Next post: The Key to Working with the School: A Servant's Heart and Attitude</em></div>
<div>
<em> </em></div>
</span><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><div>
<em>(C) 2013 by Stephen L Dunn </em></div>
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</span>LIFE MATTERShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08626883444873516837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531040103085383042.post-40999754007276990582013-07-12T20:33:00.000-07:002013-07-12T20:33:50.125-07:009 SIGNS YOUR CHURCH IS READY TO REACH UNCHURCHED PEOPLE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExzrwiL0lrmsZrsVdNiskes94tj9l-e_CdO7VIjJnc3872jSRVjfLoVEkPDP2saO1z9EoGZLqwUCiyIEahMVHFiCbI_QizRN0BaJz_XPC3TkrUKvpRSiVwgwKoWs4TWoJag-4D6LLW-A/s1600/Reaching-Unchurched-People-540x360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExzrwiL0lrmsZrsVdNiskes94tj9l-e_CdO7VIjJnc3872jSRVjfLoVEkPDP2saO1z9EoGZLqwUCiyIEahMVHFiCbI_QizRN0BaJz_XPC3TkrUKvpRSiVwgwKoWs4TWoJag-4D6LLW-A/s320/Reaching-Unchurched-People-540x360.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
An excellent post from <a href="http://careynieuwhof.com/2013/04/9-signs-your-church-is-ready-to-reach-unchurched-people/">Cary Nieuwhof</a><br />
<br />
Almost every church I know says they want to reach unchurched people. But few are actually doing it.
Part of the problem stems from the fact that many churches don’t really understand unchurched people (here’s a post on 15 characteristics of today’s unchurched person).
And part of the problem is that our model of church is designed to reach and help churched people, not unchurched people.<br />
<br />
Churches haven’t embraced change deeply enough.
So you can say you want to reach people all day long. You can teach about it every week. But if you haven’t designed your church around ministering to people who don’t go to church, you might as well be preaching that you want to lose weight while eating a triple cheeseburger.
Your model simply doesn’t match your mission.
So how do you know that your church is actually ready to reach unchurched people?<br />
<br />
Here are 9 signs your church is ready to embrace unchurched people:<br />
<br />
<b> 1. Your main services engage teenagers</b>. I’ve talked with many church leaders who want to reach unchurched people who can’t understand why unchurched people don’t like their church. They would be stumped until I asked them one last question: do the teens in your church love your services and want to invite their friends? As soon as I asked that question, the leader’s expression would inevitably change. He or she would look down at the floor and say ‘no’. Here’s what I believe: if teens find your main services (yes, the ones you run on Sunday mornings) boring, irrelevant, and disengaging, so will unchurched people. As a rule, if you can design services that engage teenagers, you’ve designed a church service that engages unchurched people.<br />
<br />
<b> 2. People who attend your church actually know unchurched people</b>. Many Christians say they want to reach unchurched people, but they don’t actually know any unchurched people well enough to invite them. One of the reasons we run almost no church programs at Connexus where I serve (other than small groups and few other steps toward discipleship) is that we want our families to get to know unchurched people. We want them to play community sports, get involved at their kids school and have time for dinner parties and more. You can’t do that if you’re at church 6 nights a week. We don’t do many ministries because our people are our ministry.<br />
<br />
<b>3. Your attenders are prepared to be non-judgmental.</b> Unchurched people do not come ‘pre-converted’. They will have lifestyle issues that might take years to change (and let’s be honest, don’t you?). Cleaning up your behaviour is not a pre-condition for salvation, at least not in Christianity. What God has done for us in Jesus saves us; not what we have done for God. Is your congregation really ready to love unchurched people, not just judge them? (I wrote about why Christians should let non-Christians off the moral hook here.) One of Jesus’ genius approaches was to love people into life change. If your people can do that, you’re ready to reach unchurched people<br />
.<br />
<b>4. You’re good with questions</b>. This one’s still hard for me. I like to think that every question has an answer. I think one of the reasons unchurched people flee churches is they feel shut down when every question they ask has a snappy or even quick answer. They will find answers, but you need to give them time. Embracing the questions of unchurched people is a form of embracing them.<br />
<br />
<b> 5. You’re honest about your struggles.</b> Unchurched people get suspicious when church leaders and Christians want to appear to have it ‘all together’. Let’s face it, you don’t. And they know it. When you are honest about your struggles, it draws unchurched people closer. I make it a point to tell unchurched people all the time that our church isn’t perfect, that we will probably let them down, but that one of the marks of a Christian community is that we can deal with our problems face to face and honestly, and that I hope we will be able to work it through. There is a strange attraction in that.<br />
<br />
<b> 6. You have easy, obvious, strategic and helpful steps for new people</b>. I am still such a fan of thinking steps, not programs <a href="http://insidenorthpoint.org/practically-speaking/">(Here’s an older but awesome (free) Andy Stanley podcast of all Seven Practices of Effective Ministry).</a> One sure sign that you are ready to handle an influx of unchurched people is that your church has a clear, easily accessible path way to move someone from their first visit right through to integration with existing Christians in small groups or other core ministries. Most churches simply have randomly assembled programs that lead nowhere in particular.<br />
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<b> 7. You’ve dumped all assumptions. </b>It’s so easy to assume that unchurched people ‘must know’ at least the basics of the Christian faith. Lose that thinking. How much do you (really ) know about Hinduism or Taoism? That’s about how much many unchurched people (really) know about Christianity. Don’t fight it. Embrace it. Make it easy for everyone to access what you are talking about whenever you are talking about it.<br />
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<b> 8. Your ‘outreach’ isn’t just a program.</b> Many Christians think having a ‘service’ for unchurched people or a program designed for unchurched people is enough. It’s not. When you behave like reaching unchurched people can be done through a program or an alternate service, you’re building a giant brick wall for unchurched people to walk into. You might as well tell them “This program is for you, but our church is for us. Sorry.”<br />
<br />
<b> 9. You are flexible and adaptable</b>. In the future, you will not ‘arrive’. I think the approach to unchurched people and the strategy behind the mission of the church needs to be flexible and adaptable. Don’t design a ‘now we are done’ model to reaching unchurched people. You might never be done. Churches that are adaptable and flexible in their strategy (not in their mission or vision) will have the best chance of continually reaching unchurched people. “How quickly can your church change?” will become a defining characteristic of future churches. (If you want to read more about change, I wrote <i>Leading Change Without Losing</i> It last year. Additionally, John Kotter’s <i>Leading Change </i>is a must-read classic.)
Those are 9 signs I see that your church is ready to reach unchurched people.
What do you see? LIFE MATTERShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08626883444873516837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531040103085383042.post-6037307034037701852013-06-27T00:42:00.000-07:002013-06-27T00:42:00.930-07:00IS YOUR CHURCH WEBSITE ATTRACTIONAL OR MISSIONAL AND WHY IT MATTERS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdkov7fLDl3bD2uTKDRb2BUuPFQ5tLpmxsDwUU-xyiSHljcor1xijdls8ah6Fk_ktAAYxysx-OFjF5zkydp6nUXMH1wbAvHi3RuXletG0WVvNtHFT3kCra-uJvY0VWULyTv9cH3zj3O0/s1600/Social-Network-Marketing-Business.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdkov7fLDl3bD2uTKDRb2BUuPFQ5tLpmxsDwUU-xyiSHljcor1xijdls8ah6Fk_ktAAYxysx-OFjF5zkydp6nUXMH1wbAvHi3RuXletG0WVvNtHFT3kCra-uJvY0VWULyTv9cH3zj3O0/s320/Social-Network-Marketing-Business.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
In the First Century the spread of the Gospel was facilitated by the Roman Roads. In the 21st century, the Internet has taken this role. This is an excellent article from <a href="http://plantingchurches.org/2013/06/is-your-website-attractional-or-missional-and-why-it-matters/">PLANTING CHURCHES.</a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
A<strong>ttractional vs. Missional. It’s all the buzz. But have you applied the thinking to your website?</strong></div>
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An attractional website:<br />
Is a destination on the web.<br />
It is static and doesn’t change much.<br />
It is difficult to foster relationship and communication.<br />
It looks good and gives all the critical information about the church in one place.<br />
<br />
A missional website:<br />
Is dispersed widely across the internet and found in many different
places (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Community Forums, Blogs,
Google Ads, etc.)<br />
Everyone can play and interact with the content pushed online. It is social by nature.<br />
It can be found in the online communities where everyday people interact on the web.<br />
It is often discovered because of relevant content and social interaction rather than directly sought out.<br />
<br />
The critical information about the church can be difficult to find.<br />
Just as church models are evolving, so is the internet. Ten years ago
church website were largely static pages on the internet. They were
little more than an online brochure, a destination to learn more about
the church. Sites were build to be attractive. The site’s ease of use
and look communicated something about the church. It still does today.
The internet at this point was a popularity contest. Every link to the
site was like as vote for best church website. To get found online, you
simply had to be the most popular.<br />
<br />
But the internet has changed. It is now largely about social and
content. A church’s web presence cannot only be in one static place. A
common phrase in missional circles is “The Church has left the
building.” Applied to web presence, “The Church has left it’s domain.”
To be relevant today, church websites have to be missional. They have to
go where the people are. This is why it is critical to have an
interactive presence in social media.<br />
<br />
Interactive is the key. You can’t just hop on Facebook and start
shouting out church announcements. Put your megaphone done and have a
conversation. This can’t be accomplished with just the church staff. You
have to get the entire congregation involved and help them be
evangelists on the web. Open their eyes to how their online
communication can be seeded with the gospel. If you just make
announcements, you’ll be annoying. Stop it.<br />
<br />
It used to be that links to your site were the key metric in the
popularity contest on the web. Now content is king. Google will evaluate
everything on the web tied to your church. All of your website,
podcasts, blogs, social media outlets, white papers, webinars, etc are
evaluated. The more Google can see that your content is relevant
(measured by sharing, re-posting, liking, etc.), the more you will show
up in search results.<br />
<br />
Here are a few tips to start moving from attractional to missional with your website:<br />
Distribute lots of content. You already create lots of content
(sermons, small group lessons, parenting classes, etc.) With a couple of
tweaks this content can be easily transformed into blog posts,
podcasts, white papers and more. Move all of your content online.<br />
<br />
Pick a couple of social media outlets and do them well. You can’t jump
into every online community. Pick a few (Twitter, Instagram, YouTube)
and get social.<br />
<br />
Model for your congregation how to interact online with the gospel in
mind. Spread seeds of hope and love in your communication and don’t just
point back to your website; point to Jesus. People are raw online, be
equally raw and transparent about the hope we have in Jesus.<br />
<br />
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****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Bridgebuilders Ministries </b>which is the umbrella for Bridgebuilders Seminars (How to Help Your Church Reach Its Unchurched Neighbors) offers an excellent course "Internet Evangelism and Social Networking Tools" that teaches the above concept. Contact them at www.ercbuilders@erccog.org or by emailing sdunnpastor@gmail.com. </div>
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<br />LIFE MATTERShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08626883444873516837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531040103085383042.post-88601167484199436592013-06-21T16:39:00.001-07:002013-06-21T16:39:30.346-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
From <a href="http://billreichart.amplify.com/">www.freshministryideas.com</a> Bill Reichart from Christian Medical Dental Association out of Atlanta<br />
<br />
These are the four moves into mission:<br />
<br />
Move out (into missional engagement).<br />
Move in (burrowing down into the culture).<br />
Move alongside (friendships and relational networks).<br />
Move from (challenging the dehumanizing and sinful aspects of our culture)<br />
<br />LIFE MATTERShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08626883444873516837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531040103085383042.post-64859401109904218502013-05-17T17:53:00.000-07:002013-05-17T17:53:00.146-07:005 GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE CHURCH<div class="headline_area">
from <a href="http://www.internettoolboxforchurches.com/church-social-media-principles">Internet Toolbox for Churches</a> comes this great reminder.... </div>
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by <span class="author vcard"><span class="fn">dave hakes</span></span></div>
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<br /><span><a href="http://www.internettoolboxforchurches.com/category/strategy" rel="category tag" title="View all posts in Strategy"></a></span></div>
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<img alt="Guiding Principles For Social Media in the Church" class="post_image alignleft" height="301" src="http://www.internettoolboxforchurches.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/iStock_000016927256XSmall.jpg" width="399" />
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What should the church do with social media?</div>
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The Catholic Church in Australia has addressed this question with a<a href="http://mediablog.catholic.org.au/?p=335" target="_blank" title="Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Media Blog"> list of social media protocols</a> for its churches.</div>
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But what about your church? Do you have protocols for your social media ministry?</div>
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Here are a few good and bad examples of social media protocols for your church.<span id="more-1237"></span></div>
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Start and end with people</h3>
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The main point to remember in all communication is the person on the other side.</div>
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The church holds a high value of every human being and this should be apparent in all of its interaction in social media.</div>
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Pastors, church staff and volunteers need to keep this principle in mind. You are <a href="http://www.internettoolboxforchurches.com/personable-not-personal-content" target="_blank" title="Your Content Should Be Personable, Not Personal">not writing your own personal responses</a> with your own viewpoints, but representing the church and its positions…and its goal of reaching people with a message.</div>
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Expressing true care for people in your posts and responses
makes the church unique and even attractive to the social media world.</div>
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Make your church visible</h3>
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Always associate yourself with your church when posting. Your profile must make this clear.</div>
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Social media networks allow you to choose what kind of
group you are. Pick the religious organization section and mention the
church you represent.</div>
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This helps people find your church when they are looking for it and tells people where they can look for more information.</div>
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Filter your content</h3>
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The last thing your church wants is a bad reputation resulting from of a bad social interaction online.</div>
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Unfortunately, schools have even had to ban faculty Facebook use because of inappropriate material being posted.</div>
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Consider having one or two people monitor all of your
public posts on your website or Facebook Page. This isn’t a trust issue.
It doesn’t mean you don’t trust your pastor, church staff or
volunteers.</div>
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Instead, see it as another set of eyes to keep everyone
accountable. It is also a way of protecting the pastor, volunteers and
the church itself.</div>
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Bring people into the picture</h3>
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Pictures and video are excellent tools for interaction with
other people online. But the type of pictures posted should always
reflect your church’s message.</div>
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Obviously, house party pictures, vacation pictures and
cute-things-your-child-did pictures are not likely to help spread a
message and thus do not belong on your church’s Facebook page.</div>
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Use pictures and videos that draw people into your church’s
stories and show what your church is all about. Feature pictures from
internal and community events at or sponsored by your church, ideally
with lots of smiling faces and people enjoying each other’s company.</div>
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Don’t leave relationships digital</h3>
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The goal of social media is to get people involved face to face with your church.</div>
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Twitter campaigns, Facebook stories and blogs are all efficient means of creating relationships. But they can easily become <em>ends</em> instead of <em>means</em>.</div>
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Don’t make “getting followers” your goal. That’s social media for social media’s sake.</div>
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Instead, get those followers to come to church, to an event or to some other function. Try to reach people with your message.</div>
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Use social media for what it is, a tool to reach and engage real people.</div>
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Don’t throw out the rules</h3>
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Social media is a tool any church can use, but using it
without rules can be dangerous. Using it with the proper rules can
effectively spread your church’s message.</div>
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Don’t be afraid of social media, use it to your church’s advantage.</div>
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What about your church?</h3>
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Does your church have guidelines for using social media? Do you have anything to add to these suggestions? Let’s talk about it!</div>
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© 2012, <a href="http://www.internettoolboxforchurches.com/">Internet Toolbox for Churches</a>. All rights reserved. </div>
LIFE MATTERShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08626883444873516837noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8531040103085383042.post-55213068903514588032013-05-16T17:48:00.000-07:002013-05-16T17:48:19.701-07:00THE TOP 5 VOLUNTEER NO-NOsFrom <a href="http://www.ministrybestpractices.com/2008/04/top-5-volunteer-no-nos.html">Ministry Best Practices</a> comes some great counsel.<br />
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Volunteers are the life blood of any church or ministry. Without those
who generously give of their time, talents and energy - nothing would be
able to be accomplished by the church (humanly speaking of course).
Here are some volunteer no-no's and pitfalls to avoid when working and
communicating with volunteers.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Never ask a volunteer to help “YOU.”</span><br />
<ul>
<li> Ask them to help the church, or help in a classroom. Don’t make
it a personal favor to you. Personal favors won't stand up over the test
of time. </li>
<li>The focus shouldn't be about YOU.</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">2. Never thank a volunteer for helping “YOU.”</span><br />
<ul>
<li> Remind them of your overall vision and purpose when saying Thank You.</li>
<li>For example, "Thank you for helping us reach all these kids this
morning. You’ve been a great help to all of us!” vs. “Thanks for helping
me out. I don’t know what I would have done without you!”</li>
<li>And... the church name should be prominently displayed on any thank
you correspondence. Make it about the Church or organization, not me!</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Don’t ask the same volunteer to do the same thing over and over.</span><br />
<ul>
<li> Don’t abuse the willingness of one person to ALWAYS help when needed. Mix it up! Don't go to the same "well" all the time.</li>
<li>You want to avoid not giving others in the church the opportunity and privilege to serve.</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">4. Never show any displeasure with church leadership to Volunteers.</span><br />
<ul>
<li> Teach the Power of Buy-In! Representing our leader’s choices as
our very own. This shows our volunteers that we are a strong team, and
are working together for a common goal.</li>
<li>Even if it is someone else’s fault, make it our fault (this is where
the power of the Gospel comes in - we can own fault when we know that
we are SECURE in Christ). If everyone would do this, then rumors and
displeasure with leadership would be stopped early and often!</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">5. Never ask "How did it go today?"</span><br />
<ul>
<li>“How did it go today, or this morning?” is an unhelpful question.
The question is too vague, and you are certain to get merely a one word
answer, "fine".</li>
<li>Ask questions that are directed toward the specific outcomes you and
your volunteers are working toward. When you do this, it will give you
and your volunteers a real and concrete sense of how they are doing,
and it will provoke with them a real discussion of issues or concerns
that perhaps need to be addressed.</li>
</ul>
LIFE MATTERShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08626883444873516837noreply@blogger.com0