Churches Try to Save Souls, Money
from The Oregonian
 Across the country, about 14 percent of the congregations surveyed by the National Association of Church Business Administration last month said they've been hurt by a decline in giving. Another 37 percent said support has slowed, but that they couldn't tell whether it was the economy or a typical summer slump. The severity of the problem seems to depend on the region, said the association's CEO, Simeon May . More
Churches Step Out in Faith Amid Economic Challenges
from The Christian Post
During an economic downturn, pastors of some of the largest Protestant churches in the country may be cutting their budget but few are scaling back their vision. Many are instead stepping out in greater faith. Benny Perez, founder of five-year-old The Church at South Las Vegas in Henderson, Nev., has seen the toll the economic challenges have had in his community and on his church. Las Vegas has been hit "tremendously hard," he says, as it had one of the highest foreclosure rates in the nation. More
New Approaches for Student Ministry
from LifeWay
Do you ever stop to think about how the 21st Century has affected youth ministry? Technology alone has altered the role of the youth leader - making him or her accessible almost 24 hours a day via telephone, cell phone, pager, e-mail and even instant messenging. Changing youth culture continues to force youth ministers to rethink their approaches to youth ministry. More
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Sin is No Match for Good Will
from the Boston Globe
It was a small but disturbing act: A thief stole about $50 in pennies from a church. But the story doesn't end there. The pennies were collected in a wooden box at the First Congregational Church of Braintree, and were used to feed the poor and homeless at Father Bills in Quincy, Ma. But the good news is that donations have picked up since the theft. More
Evangelicals Go “Green” with Caution
from The Barna Group
Everything and everyone seem to be going "green" these days. Advertising boasts the environmental friendliness of products, services, and companies. Presidential candidates are also adopting the trend, vying to offer Americans the best sustainable energy proposal. Are Christians, and the oft-discussed evangelical segment, going green, as well? A new study released by The Barna Group provides the most comprehensive look at the Christian community and environmental issues. The study explores Americans’ perceptions about the environment, global warming, lifestyle changes, and how much impact their faith has on these issues. More
Greeters Make Good Impression
from the Odessa American
Fear and hesitation grip the hearts of first-timers as strange music, unusual customs and a sea of new faces swarm around them. And despite anxious apprehensions, church greeters work to turn that front-door experience into a comfortable, friendly welcome. More
New Research Shows Megachurches Growing in Influence
from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research
A new study by Leadership Network and Hartford Seminary’s Hartford Institute for Religion Research shows that Protestant megachurches continue to strengthen their foothold in the American religious landscape. According to the study, megachurches are becoming de facto replacements for religious denominations in that they are duplicating many of the functions of these national bodies. More
See related article: Supersizing the Faith: Megachurches Not Just Large Facades but Big at Heart (Waco Tribune)
Confessions of a Pastor: The Six Dumbest Financial Mistakes I’ve Made
from Ministry Today
Everyone makes mistakes. But when a pastor makes one and is humble enough to admit it, it usually winds up in a sermon. I'll spare you the full sermon on my biggest financial mistakes and instead offer the cliff notes version. Maybe you can learn from my biggest economic blunders. More
Challenges of Choosing Church Architects
from Church Solutions
The process of finding an architect to build your new facility is a lot more complex than calling any architect and saying, “Hey, we’re building a church. Do you want to design it?” Aside from finding an architect who has experience with worship facilities, you want someone who understands your church’s mission, atmosphere and goals, as well as the role of the architectural firm. More
Publisher Puts 'NIV' Bible in Americans' Handwriting
from USA Today
Once only the elite, the educated and the holy had the privilege of inscribing the words of the Bible, verse by verse. Now Americans coast to coast will have a chance to hand-copy a verse of Scripture to appear in a special edition of the New International Version of the Bible, known as the NIV.
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Americans United Urges IRS To Take Action Against Six Churches That Joined Pulpit-Politicking Scheme
from Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed complaints this week with the Internal Revenue Service about six churches whose pastors endorsed candidates from the pulpit during a mass defiance of federal tax law last Sunday. More
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Vision2020 is raising $1 Billion for Christian Ministries – How much could your Ministry use?
Our goal through Vision 2020 is to foster a new environment for ministries where they don’t simply ask for funding, but they cast vision and build long-term relationships with philanthropists, private foundations, key community partners and other ministries. Vision 2020 is much bigger than simply securing some funding for an organization. Rather, it is a convergence of churches, ministries, Christian philanthropists and private foundations to make a significant impact on lives worldwide. Take the first step to Rai$e Your Vision.
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