Posted in Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Relevant Ministry, Three Relevant Ministry Responses, tagged Al Hirsch, community, community needs, Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, missional, Missional Ministry, Missional Resurgence, Relevant Ministry, Three Relevant Ministry Responses on September 26, 2008 | 4 Comments »
Community Versus “Communitas”
If you build it they may not come! That’s why they no longer build enclosed shopping mall in the US. We’re now drawn to these community oriented lifestyle centers. From shopping to church we’re walking away from mere convenience and consumption and are drawn to connection and purpose.
Thanks for hanging with me as [...]
Posted in Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Relevant Ministry, Three Relevant Ministry Responses, tagged Relevant Ministry, community, Evolving Culture, community needs, Empowering Leadership, missional, Three Relevant Ministry Responses, Missional Ministry, Missional Resurgence, youth ministry on September 22, 2008 | No Comments »
To reach their community, a church doesn’t have to have fancy programs or an elaborate mission statement – they simply need a genuine passion to serve their neighbors.
When pastor Rick Thiemke came to New Life Church in Yorkville, Ill., eight years ago he discovered that the community saw churches as “takers.”
“I would call a business [...]
Posted in Empowering Leadership, Relevant Ministry, Three Relevant Ministry Responses, tagged Add new tag, Disciple making, Empowering Leadership, Jesus, missional, Missional Ministry, Relevant Ministry, Three Relevant Ministry Responses on September 19, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Sending Disciples
Recent church research reveals a longing for something far beyond a great weekend presentation and enticing programs. People are deeply interested in living with a mission and a purpose, and mission trips seem to be more popular than ever. Though they certainly broaden our perspectives, they’re really only another temporal program. How do we [...]
Posted in Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Relevant Ministry, Three Relevant Ministry Responses, tagged Alan Hirsch, Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Missional Ministry, Missional Resurgence, Relevant Ministry, Three Relevant Ministry Responses on September 17, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Jesus The Center
“We still have so much to learn, so much to do, and so far to go, but we are confident that God is ‘on the move…” -Kirsten Strand, Community 4:12
In our last post, we looked at the way one church is learning to build bridges between their safe, sacred spaces on Sunday and [...]
Posted in Relevant Ministry, Three Relevant Ministry Responses, tagged Chrisitan Community Developmental Association, Community 4:12, Community Christian Church, Missional Ministry, Relevant Ministry, Three Relevant Ministry Responses on September 15, 2008 | 5 Comments »
Less than seven miles separates Community Christian Church (CCC) in affluent Naperville, Ill., from the impoverished East Aurora School District #131, and yet demographically these areas are opposites.
Money Magazine ranked Naperville as the Third Best Small City in 2008 based on the town’s “plentiful jobs, excellent schools, and affordable housing.” Additionally, Naperville has a [...]
Posted in Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Relevant Ministry, Three Relevant Ministry Responses, tagged Empowering Leadership, Evolving Culture, Incarnational ministry, International Community, Missional Ministry, Missional Resurgence, Overconsumption, Relevant Ministry, Sacrificing, Three Relevant Ministry Responses on September 12, 2008 | 11 Comments »
Inequitable Globalization
How can the world hear or believe our message of God’s love when we are spending:
$8 billion annually on cosmetics in the US
$11 billion annually on ice cream in Europe
$17 billion annually on pet food in Europe and the US
$35 billion annually on business entertainment in Japan
$105 billion annually on alcoholic drinks in [...]
Posted in Empowering Leadership, Three Relevant Ministry Responses, tagged communication, delegation, Empowering Leadership, Epic story, free the Spirit, Jethro, loyalty, pastor burn out, trust on June 5, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Here’s some provocative statistics from a post of Mark Driscoll’s, Pastor at Mars Hill in Seattle. If you Google “pastor burn out statistics,” you’ll find 3-4 pages of content, including this one. And, if you Google “business owner burn out,” you’ll find over 33 pages of content. Leadership seems a serious risk to well being. [...]
Posted in Evolving Culture, Intentional Facilities, Three Relevant Ministry Responses, tagged third place, community, Evolving Culture, missional, Starbucks, Epic story, Intentional Facilities, Three Relevant Ministry Responses, Churches waste money, Coffee ministry, Church growth on June 1, 2008 | 11 Comments »
Churches Waste Money Building “Third Places”
We were so enthused about this “Third Place” in a bustling church. We had planned it all well; an awesome coffee bar, latte machine that rivaled those at Starbucks, a fire place with soft leather seating, trendy lighting, warm colors, and engaging seating nooks creating an ambiance Starbucks would die [...]
Posted in Bahler Family Doing Life, Evolving Culture, Three Relevant Ministry Responses, tagged community, Covenant, Family, It's a Wonderful Life, Life, love, Vanity on May 25, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Socrates said, “The unexamined life isn’t worth living. So maybe it’s OK I’m sitting at my keyboard at 4 am Sunday morning with far too many thoughts to sleep. I’m pondering the graduation yesterday of our fifth of six kids. We were blessed to have a special group of friends stop by. As I sat [...]
Posted in Relevant Ministry, Three Relevant Ministry Responses, tagged ADHD Christians, Authentage, Bill Hybels, Christ-Centered Growth, connection, Consumerism, Creating a Covenant Community, Dissatisfaction, Incarnational ministry, Missional Ministry, Realness, Roots, Seeker-Sensitive Model, Self-Feeders, Three Relevant Ministry Responses, Willow Creek on May 15, 2008 | 1 Comment »
The most influential church in America, Willow Creek, is learning a sustainable ministry requires more than a “Seeker-Sensitive” model. The next few weeks I’ll explore what Willow and other ministry thought leaders are discovering. It’s apparent three “Relevant Ministry Responses” are emerging as vital for sustainable ministry in this “Digital Age”. The three are:
1) Christ [...]
