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Wednesday, June 28, 2023

Wednesday's Catch: 'Pentecostals: How Do They Keep Growing While Other Groups Are Declining?' And More


Pentecostals: How Do They Keep Growing While Other Groups Are Declining?
Some denominations, such as the United Church of Christ and The Presbyterian Church (USA) have experienced steady decline, waning by 52% and 58% respectively. For others, such as the Southern Baptist Convention and the United Methodist Church, the rate of decline has accelerated in recent years. But throughout the last several decades of falling membership numbers among Protestants, one consistent outlier has bucked the trend: Pentecostals. Why aren’t Pentecostals following the same pattern of other denominations?

Why Your Congregation Is Likely More Optimistic about the Future Than You Realize
"Over 80% of churchgoers predict a promising future for their churches. Is this figure what you would expect? Until I saw the research, I would not have guessed optimism was so high among churchgoers," Sam Raier writes.

How Christians Can Help Heal Cuts From a Broken Society
Many live with this perspective on society: The world around me is broken, the deck is stacked against me, and nobody powerful is on my side.
Psychologists and sociologists who have researched this particular mindset in which individuals see themselves as helpless victims who have no control over their lives have found that it is not necessarily based in reality but rather in how individuals with this mindset perceive reality. They display a strong tendency to blame others for their circumstances and to discount their own contribution to these circumstances. In helping these individuals, it is important to be aware of this tendency.
Is This Church Ready for Rebuilding?
When Rebekah Simon-Peter talks about "embracing society," she is talking about connecting with the community. I have seen churches that have negligible connection with the community in which they are located go into steep decline and eventually disband because they were no longer viable. They had isolated themselves so well from the community that very few, if any, people in the community knew that the church existed. They were practically invisible to the community.

What God’s Micro Communities Should Be For
"If I’m going to be known or listened to, I want it to be because of what I’m FOR, not what I’m against," writes Brandon Cox.

Southern Baptists say no to women pastors. But what does the Bible say a pastor is?
The expulsion of Saddleback Church and other congregations for having women pastors led to national headlines. It’s also prompted questions about thousands of other churches where women serve in roles such as children’s pastor or music minister. Can the role’s title get a church in trouble with the SBC?

When the Sermon Fizzles Instead of Sizzles
None of us can force the Spirit to so “possess” and overtake us that he divinely empowers our words as we preach. That can only be called down, pleaded down, prayed down.

8 Ways to Maximize Bible Impact upon your Life
Most believers want to grow spiritually. But often we stumble in our efforts to grow. Is there a key or a silver bullet that catalyzes our spiritual formation? Willow Creek’s Reveal survey of several thousand churches revealed not a silver bullet, but the number one catalyst that believers said contributed most to their growth: Bible reading and reflection. The great leader Nehemiah shows us 8 ways to engage with God’s Word for maximum impact.

PTZ Cameras for Church — or Camcorders?
When it comes to houses of worship and the cameras they use to film or live-stream their sermons and other events, nearly all of them at one time used basic camcorders. Although these are excellent cameras, more and more of these organizations are switching to PTZ cameras for church (pan/tilt/zoom cameras) instead. Known as PTZ cameras, they have a lot of the same advantages as camcorders but offer perks those cameras just don’t have.

Youth Leaders and Volunteers Need These 6 Characteristics
According to Josh Evans, "Youth leaders must understand the importance of recruiting and developing volunteers. It isn’t rocket science, but so few people do this the right way. Why? I believe we recruit people but not always the right people."

“Seeing God’s Beauty:” Local church to construct trail system for the community
A new trail system will soon be available to the public, thanks to the efforts of members of St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church in Chelsea. Volunteers from St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church in Chelsea recently began work on a new community project involving the construction of a trail from King’s Ranch to the church.
Churches can form connections with their communities with projects like this one. Involving other members of community in a project is one way to build relationships with these members of the community. .
Estonian churches leave United Methodist fold
Churches in the nation of Estonia have completed the needed steps to leave The United Methodist Church. The churches are forming their own denomination, the Estonia Methodist Church. United Methodists in the Northern Europe and Eurasia Central Conference met earlier this year to approve a process allowing the churches to disaffiliate. Already, United Methodist and Estonian Methodist leaders have signed an agreement of mutual recognition.

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