Failure is an inevitable part of innovation. In fact, failure is a necessary part of innovation; it is an iterative process that inherently involves failure. But in our modern church settings, where it can feel – as is sometimes true – that we are one big failure away from closing our doors, innovation is set aside. We set the value of protecting what we have above the value of growing forward, and in doing so, we often stagnate, turn inward, and embrace a steady decline into irrelevance. The fear of failure can be paralyzing, preventing churches from stepping out in faith and trying new approaches.
ACNA’s New Archbishop: Passionate for Evangelism
New Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) Archbishop Steve Wood remembers texting Bible verses in March 2020 with the Rev. Geoff Chapman of St. Stephen’s Church, Sewickley, Pennsylvania, as he was about to be placed on a ventilator. Among the earliest U.S. cases of COVID-19, Wood would be sedated for 10 days and hospitalized far longer with an arduous recovery.
Thomas Jefferson, The Baptists, and A Giant Block of Cheese
Despite having a widespread reputation for irreligious beliefs, President Thomas Jefferson was a hero to many Baptists in America because he was arguably the nation’s greatest champion of religious liberty.
Worship Unplugged
When we think about the legacy of the 16th century Reformation our minds quickly go to such sublime themes as justification by faith and the priesthood of all believers. However, if you actually lived in the 16th century the biggest “felt” impact of the Reformation was in the area of worship.
Observers have recognized for a number of years the negative impact that worship bands have upon congregational singing, an important form of corporate worship. Worshiping God takes many forms, some corporate, others individual. In none of these forms can someone worship by proxy.When Worship Leaders Go on Vacation, Churches Get Creative
Acoustic sets, recorded tracks, and alternative setups can offer volunteers a break and invite congregants into new spiritual practices.
To read this article, you may need to open a free account. Alternately, you can copy the whole page and then past it in a Word document. This will enable you to bypass the subscription wall and read the article.How to Lead Effective Rehearsals
Terrible rehearsals don’t have to be the norm. Engineering a great rehearsal is a relatively small, easy, immediate next step that worship pastors can take, making a massive difference.
5 Ways to Help Students Keep the Camp Fire Burning
Here are five steps pastors can take to help students keep the camp fire burning after they return home from camp this summer.
Spontaneous Summer Activities Are a Win for Your Youth Ministry
By now you are probably either neck-deep in summer activities or about to jump into the summer frenzy (just looking out our youth group’s summer calendar makes me tired!), so you probably aren’t looking to add any extra stuff to your plate. But you should. You should add a few extra activities this summer that nobody knows you are adding…until the very last minute! Adding a few “spontaneous” summer activities is a great way to add a little sizzle to your summer! Here are three benefits of summer spontaneity.
The Biblical Language of Missions
As you have read through your Bible, maybe you have wondered, “Why is no one called a missionary in the New Testament?” There are pastors and elders, apostles and evangelists, prophets and priests, but where are the missionaries? Indeed, you may have noticed that the word “mission” does not even appear in your English Bible. But if you were to conclude that the Bible has nothing to say about missions because the English word is nowhere to be found, you would be greatly mistaken.
How to Plan Short-Term Mission Trips that Benefit Long-Term Work
...short-term trips are only beneficial for long-term work if they are done at the right times and in the right ways, with short-termers who are equipped for the context in which the long-term work exists.
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