Three Steps In Turning Around A Church

See what you think of this video. For me, it was striking about one minute in when the speaker said that telling an aging congregation mission was a church priority was like telling a leper colony they needed to be healed: there was an obligation to agree, but a feeling it couldn’t be done. Listen for how Don Ross approaches this problem, and for his emphasis on making bold decisions.

From Evidence To Action

Action-D! by David Goehring on Flickr. Some rights reserved.

In January 2014, the Church of England published an excellent church growth resource called From Anecdote To Evidence. Now comes the follow-up: a website called From Evidence To Action. It provides all sorts of resources – articles, stories, workbooks, and more. Take a look.

(HT: David Flavell.)

Where Is The Church?

See Dave Walker’s cartoon.

A Messy Life Cleaned Up

I know nothing about this pastor or the church he serves, but isn’t this central to what we’re about as church?

Ineffective Churches

Ineffective Signage by Rob Nguyen on Flickr. Some rights reserved.

Carey Nieuwhof (again! I know) on 9 Surefire Ways to Make Your Church Completely Ineffective.

Problems With Inviting People To Church

An Invitation by Dan Hodgett on Flickr. Some rights reserved.

According to the Church Times, a survey by the organisation Christian Research shows that 52% of practising Christians are unwilling to invite people to church.

It comes down to two main reasons:

1. Christians have a fear of rejection;
2. We are not serious about Jesus’ Great Commission to make disciples of all nations.

Yet more than two thirds of churchgoers have someone in mind whom they could invite.

How can we change this? What would change this for you?

Martin Luther King: Loving Our Enemies As Mission

On 17th November 1957, Martin Luther King preached a sermon at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. An audio extract has been preserved. Listen to how MLK links the Cross to love for enemies and hence to transformation in the world.

Why Religious People Need To Hear The Gospel

Evangelism In The Connexion Magazine

The Connexion Magazine January 2015

On Wednesday, there was a post about a new Methodist magazine, and how the first issue would concentrate on evangelism.

I was asked on Twitter where you could get hold of it. I now know that you can download it as a PDF.

There are also details of how to receive a print copy.

Evangelism Featured In New Methodist Magazine

Look out for new official Methodist magazine ‘The Connexion’. The theme of the first issue is evangelism.