Church leaders may not be thinking about Christmas in September, but this is an ideal time to begin preparing for Christmas Eve. Lewis Center Director Jonathan Page offers five practical recommendations for strengthening hospitality, engaging newcomers, supporting local missions, planning follow-up, and surrounding it all with prayer.
How Some Churches Grow Without Getting Bigger
Butts-in-the-seats growth is great. But it’s not going to happen for every church. That’s never a reason to give up, coast along, or offer excuses.
Three Volunteer Recruitment Mistakes
Every church knows the panic of scrambling for volunteers at the last minute, but reactive recruiting is just one of the mistakes that keeps your bench thin and your team burned out. In this episode, Scott and A.J. walk through three of the most common volunteer recruitment mistakes churches make and, more importantly, how to fix them with practical systems you can put in place right away. If your church is tired of guilt-tripping people from the pulpit, this conversation is for you.
Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are the co-hosts of the Church Revitalization Podcast, produced by the Malphurs Group, a ministry dedicated to helping churches develop healthy strategies for growth and renewal. Together, Scott and A.J. bring practical, field-tested insight to church leaders each week, covering topics from leadership development to volunteer management to organizational health. Whether you are a senior pastor or a ministry director, their goal is to give you tools you can actually use.
Also See: Three Volunteer Recruitment MistakesAI Questions Leaders Never Ask: AI Girlfriends, Truth, Deepfakes, and Best + Worst Case Scenarios
You use AI. Have you thought about what it's doing to your church, the people you're reaching, or your soul?
James (JP) Poulter flips the mic to interview me in this video.
We discuss AI girlfriends, deepfakes, and the best and worst-case scenarios nobody's naming.
There's a shift happening in your church and your community right now, and most church leaders haven't caught up.
What AI Is Doing To Your Church (And How to Prepare) - Free Webinar
This moment isn’t just about what tools you use. It’s about what AI is doing to culture, your congregation, and your team. That’s why I’m hosting this free live session. You’ll leave knowing the three critical shifts every church needs to make, and a practical next step for each one.
Two pastors detained, a student dead: Haitians in Ohio turn to faith amid fear of ICE
‘All I want is to see my husband back,’ said Denise Gedeon, whose pastor-husband, Joubert Adrien, was detained by ICE — one of two pastors arrested during a weekend that also brought a death, prayers and vigils for a Haitian community under siege.
Also See: Dozens killed in gang attack on church shelter in Haiti; Gangs massacre worshippers in Kenscoff church shelterACNA Continues to Bleed From Self-Inflicted Wounds
While it is understandable that The Episcopal Church (TEC) and the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) have major theological differences over human sexuality and these differences are substantial enough to impair relations between the two bodies, harboring a grudge against TEC for past conflicts over property does not strike me as very Christian. When the Anglican Mission in the Americas (AMiA) was established in 2001, the clergy and congregations that broke away from TEC and joined the AMiA understood that they would be unable to retain their property and would be starting fresh. Rather than nurturing old grudges,the ACNA needs to focus on new church development like the AMiA did in its early days. Otherwise, it risks becoming known for pettiness.
Episcopal Court of Review upholds ruling against priest found guilty of adultery
The Episcopal Church’s Court of Review has upheld a ruling against an Ohio priest who was convicted of engaging in adultery while the divorce from his first wife was being finalized.
In a unanimous decision released last week, the Court of Review rejected an appeal from the Rev. Daniel McClain, former rector at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Oakwood.
Also See: Court of Review affirms deposition of Dayton priest for adultery, but strikes broader misconduct findings$1.6M stolen from UMC regional body through cyberattack
More than $1.6 million in funds was reportedly stolen from a regional body of The United Methodist Church by criminals posing as bank representatives.
The UMC New England Conference is working with authorities to investigate a cybersecurity incident that occured on Aug. 5.
Also See: Conference confronts cyber theft with faith, resolveHow Your Church Can Prepare for a New Pastor - The Church Revitalization Podcast
Pastoral transitions are critical moments in your church's life. In this episode, we share three essential strategies to help your congregation prepare for a new pastor:
Practice Intentional Hospitality - Make your new pastor and their family truly feel at home
Communicate with Grace and Clarity - Build trust through healthy communication patterns
Embrace Listening, Learning, and Change - Balance tradition with openness to fresh ideas
Whether you're currently in a transition or simply planning ahead, these principles will help your church navigate pastoral changes with wisdom and grace.
Also See: New Pastor Onboarding Part 1: Church Prep For A New PastorStarting a New Pastor Position at a Church - The Church Revitalization Podcast
Starting at a new church? In this episode, we explore essential strategies for pastors preparing to begin ministry in a new congregation. Learn how to navigate the critical first 90 days, build key relationships, understand church culture, and implement change wisely. This companion to our previous episode provides the pastor's perspective on successful transitions.
Also See: New Pastor Onboarding Part 2: Pastor Prep For A New ChurchChurch sets the table to connect beyond its walls
The Table Korean Cuisine restaurant is a ministry of Bonfire United Methodist Church, a new congregation supported by the Great Plains Conference’s church development ministry.
The ministry began in the home of the Rev. Changhyun Kim, a United Methodist pastor and certified Korean cuisine chef, where he served multicourse Korean meals to invited guests.
Now housed at Grace United Methodist Church, both the restaurant and the Bonfire congregation are able to reach people outside the church.
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