Worship Meets the Web
from The Sun News
 Many churches bridge the gap between worship and the Web by making music, sermons and social information more accessible online. "I think the truth is that more people are making decisions about where they visit and church possibilities via the Web than any other way," said J. Phill Martin, deputy chief executive officer of the National Association of Church Business Administration. "Your Web presence now is a critical part of people deciding whether they're even going to come to your door or not." More
Faith-Based Charities May Fare Better than Other Non-Profits
from The Christian Post
Americans are slashing expenses left and right due to the economic downturn with entertainment and charitable giving among the first to be cut from their budgets. However, a recent survey shows that faith-based organizations may fare better than other non-profits in terms of donations. More
Preaching Made Better
from The Courier-Journal
About 15 people -- teenagers and young adults, liberals and conservatives from numerous denominations – recently met at a retreat in Louisville, Ky., to launch a new project, the Academy of Preachers. The academy trains and mentors young preachers with the belief that the ancient art of preaching is not only relevant but worth learning to do well. It's funded by a grant from the Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment, one of the nation's largest philanthropies, which has a long history of funding for clergy training. More
Video: Tithing Down, Attendance up in Churches
from WRCB-TV
Just like all other places around America, even churches are getting hit by the recession. There's a drop in tithing. But when people are hurting, they turn to the church for help. Steve Ball, senior pastor at the Metropolitan Tabernacle Sanctuary in Chattanooga, Tenn., estimates 100 new people have joined his roster of 700 members. More
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An Established Church Vision is Key Prior to New Construction
from Church Executive
Unlike a business, a church doesn’t have one boss who can mold and direct the organization. In a church, the vision must be owned, developed and implemented by members of the congregation. While church leaders influence the vision, they must be careful so as not to alienate members by encouraging initiatives that may be perceived as inappropriate. Make sure you keep the vision intact when building a new church or expanding existing facilities. More
Is Your Outreach Purpose Driven?
from Ministry Marketing Coach
No doubt your church has staged an event or two that drew a crowd before. Each year, churches host activities that get people in the door but they don’t get results from the events. But if you determine why you do what you do, before you do it, you can prepare to make a meaningful connection with the people you reach and help your ministry grow. More
Five Common Pitfalls in Church Campaigns
from Preaching.com
Raising funds for special projects such as new construction, renovation or debt retirement can be a positive and exciting time in the life of a church. Renewal and focus on the real vision of the church sometimes are precipitated by the capital campaign. All too often, however, churches experience problems in the midst of growth. More
Strategizing for the Next Generation
from Ministry Today
Are we dreaming dreams for our young people? Joel 2:28 reads: “I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.” It’s the older people in the church who must dream dreams and engage with and care about the younger generation. More
2009 Christianity Today Book Awards
from Christianity Today
The judging process began with 436 titles submitted by 67 publishers. Christianity Today editors selected finalists in each category, and then a panel of expert judges — one panel per category — sorted out the cream of the crop from 2008. Here are the 10 winners and 11 notables that best shed light on the people, events, and ideas that shape evangelical life, thought, and mission, with comments from the judges.congregation each day in a way that will have a great impact on your congregation. More
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State of the States: Importance of Religion
from Gallup
An analysis of more than 350,000 interviews conducted by Gallup in 2008 finds Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Arkansas to be the most religious states in the nation. Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts are the least religious states. More
The Quest for a Spiritual Home
from Newsweek
A surprising number of Americans are switching from one religion to another. A 2007 survey done by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life found that 44 percent of Americans profess a different religious affiliation from the one they were raised in. Excluding shifts between Protestant denominations, the number—28 percent—is still remarkably high. More
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