Showing Appreciation at Christmas
from the Baptist Press
 In the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, church leaders and Sunday School directors should not forget to take the opportunity to show appreciation to their Sunday School leaders. Make a list and check it twice. Here are a few ideas for saying "thank you" to those faithful folks who lead and teach in your classes week in and week out all year. More
Full-Service Facilities
from Leadership Journal
On any given day, Chapel Hill Bible Church's seven-year-old facility might host a blood drive, a gathering of mental health professionals, local and national election polls, a home school co-op, a meeting for a teen pregnancy support center, a concert by the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra, or a parachurch leadership training event. Its parking lot is a regular Park and Ride lot for a University of North Carolina campus shuttle. And the church is not alone. Many churches are using their buildings to make an impact way beyond the weekend. More
How to Pastor Difficult People
from Ministry Today
Are certain people in your church driving you crazy? Here are some practical tips for dealing with nine difficult personality types. More
Software Offers Virtual Potlucks, Electronic Collection Plates
from Church Central
If your church is looking to better manage money, data or volunteers, or if your congregation is interested in online fellowship, e-mail communications, or easily accessible news about upcoming events, you may be looking for church management software. Today’s congregations and their leaders have a plethora of choices to accommodate their diverse needs for software. Rather than choosing the largest company, the most popular tool, or the name that comes most readily to mind, churches today have the option to research software that matches up directly to the tasks they want it to perform. More
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Product Showcase:
Choosing the Best Data Security Partner
 Choosing a data security partner can be a daunting task for churches and to help, ACS Technologies has developed the ministry guide How Secure Is Your Vital Information. It covers choosing a partner that understands the specific needs churches face and answers churches’ most frequently asked data security questions.
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Churches See Drop in Giving
from the Dallas Business Journal
The recession may have been declared official only two weeks ago, but many churches, already were bracing themselves for the possibility of members giving less money to support ongoing ministries, meet new needs or proceed with building programs. The capital campaigns typically required to support church growth and expansion projects also could be hit in a downturn, said Simeon May, CEO of the National Association of Church Business Administration. More
Church Staff Service, is it a Job or Calling?
from the Western Recorder
Is being a member of a church staff a job or a calling for church staff members? The author submits it is both—and more. In practical language, it is both a job and a mission; it is both sustenance for families who serve Him and an abiding sense of peace that comes from submitting to His will and following "wherever He leads." Personal fulfillment and assurance are affirming blessings that come from ministering. More
Survey: 9 in 10 Americans Believe in Miracles
from The Christian Post
Nearly 9 in 10 Americans believe miracles have occurred in the past and can still occur today, according to a new national survey. While only 48 percent of those surveyed by N.J.-based HCD Research said miracle stories presented in religious texts should be taken as literally true, 86 percent said they believe that miracles have occurred in the past and 85 percent believe that they can occur today. More
How to Write Your State of the Church Message
from LifeWay
The New Year is approaching and you may be considering a sermon on "making resolutions" or on "fresh starts." The author is encouraging pastors to consider using the first Sunday of January to preach an annual "State of the Church" message. If you have never done this before, he offers several practical suggestions. More
Churches Rescue Stolen Baby Jesuses with GPS Devices
from The Associated Press via The Seattle Times
When Baby Jesus disappeared last year from a Nativity scene on the lawn of the Wellington, Fla., community center, village officials didn't follow a star to locate him. A GPS device inside the life-size ceramic figurine led sheriff's deputies to a nearby apartment, where it was found face down on the carpet. An 18-year-old woman was arrested. Giving up on old-fashioned padlocks and trust, a number of churches, synagogues, governments and ordinary citizens are turning to technology to protect holiday displays from pranks or prejudice. More
 Special Year End Pricing from PowerChurch Software
Church management software featuring Membership, Contributions, Accounting, and Event Scheduling in one complete and easy to use package. Until January 31, 2009 we’re offering PowerChurch Plus for the exceptionally low price of $295. For the Online version we’re waiving the setup fee (a $99 value). More info
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Researchers Stepping Up Study of Health and Religiosity
from the Washington Post
Researchers are studying what they say is becoming increasingly obvious: the link between a person's religion or spirituality and their health. A meeting held last week at the Reagan Building represented the growth of a research field that has existed on a small scale for decades but has expanded significantly in the past few years. The researchers include psychologists, sociologists, philosophers, statisticians and others who believe being religious or spiritual has health benefits. More
Church Fighting Alzheimer's by Keeping Elderly Active
from VOA News
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that causes a gradual decline in memory, language skills, and, eventually, the ability to care for oneself. It strikes millions of people around the world. Now a church in the United States has a program to help fight the disease. At the First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, North Carolina, older members are singing and playing instruments to stimulate their minds to keep the disease at bay. This may also help delay or limit the symptoms of Alzheimer's. More
Kentucky Church Remembers Homicide Victims
from the Associated Baptist Press
Sixty-five crosses dot the front lawn of Highland Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., one for each person in the city killed in an act of violence so far this year. Each year the church closes its worship service on the second Sunday of Advent -- which features lighting of the Peace Candle -- by moving outdoors. As names of murder victims are read, families come forward, take a cross and drive it into the ground with a mallet. More
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