Tag «Community Outreach»

Innovating Faithfully through Action Learning Experiments

The authors of a new book, Leading Faithful Innovation, explain how engaging in simple, repeatable, and affordable learning experiments can create an environment where people feel safe trying new things. They provide seven simple steps to help your church employ simple practices to get outside your comfort zone and connect with neighbors in new ways. […]

The post Innovating Faithfully through Action Learning Experiments first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post Innovating Faithfully through Action Learning Experiments appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

Funding Forward: Developing New Revenue Sources for Your Congregation — An In-depth Interview with Grace Pomroy

Grace Pomroy from Luther Seminary shares research findings on how congregations are developing new and creative funding sources. In this in-depth interview with Ann Michel of the Lewis Center Staff, she explains how congregations can lessen their dependence on Sunday morning offerings in ways that can bolster the bottom line while also building connections with […]

The post Funding Forward: Developing New Revenue Sources for Your Congregation — An In-depth Interview with Grace Pomroy first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post Funding Forward: Developing New Revenue Sources for Your Congregation — An In-depth Interview with Grace Pomroy appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

4 Key Characteristics of Missional Congregations

Congregations that want to move forward and live more missionally need to understand and embody four key characteristics, says F. Douglas Powe, director of the Lewis Center and the James C. Logan Chair in Evangelism (an E. Stanley Jones Professorship) at Wesley Theological Seminary. Missional congregations must be connected to their context, bound as a […]

The post 4 Key Characteristics of Missional Congregations first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post 4 Key Characteristics of Missional Congregations appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

Blessing of the Animals as Community Outreach

How can a Blessing of the Animals reach new people in your community? Jessica Anschutz shares tips to engage pet owners and community partners as you celebrate all creatures great and small. Many congregations celebrate a blessing of the animals on or around October 4, the Feast of Saint Francis, while other congregations have a […]

The post Blessing of the Animals as Community Outreach first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post Blessing of the Animals as Community Outreach appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

Leading Faithful Innovation: An In-depth Interview with Dwight Zscheile

What if congregational change didn’t focus on setting goals or planning new programs? Ann Michel of the Lewis Center Staff interviews Dwight Zscheile, coauthor of Leading Faithful Innovation. He shares a simple three-step process for experimenting with new practices that allow you to discover what God is already doing in the lives of your neighbors […]

The post Leading Faithful Innovation: An In-depth Interview with Dwight Zscheile first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post Leading Faithful Innovation: An In-depth Interview with Dwight Zscheile appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

10 Tips for Building Genuine Connections with Your Neighbors

Kay Kotan says we can no longer wait for people to come to church. The church must go out into the community and meet its neighbors. She provides ten easy strategies for your church to build genuine connections with your neighbors. What church doesn’t want to form new relationships with their neighbors, right? Desire is […]

The post 10 Tips for Building Genuine Connections with Your Neighbors first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post 10 Tips for Building Genuine Connections with Your Neighbors appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

Before You Rent Church Space, Calculate the Costs

Churches often struggle to determine a fair price when they rent space to community groups. Partners for Sacred Places, an organization helping congregations develop creative community partnerships, says the hard costs of maintaining any shared space is an objective factor that must be considered in determining the rental value. To celebrate the Lewis Center’s anniversary, […]

The post Before You Rent Church Space, Calculate the Costs first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post Before You Rent Church Space, Calculate the Costs appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

What to do When a New Church Comes to Town

Pastor Eric Daniel describes how he overcame feelings of jealousy and competitiveness when committed members of his congregation started drifting to a new, better-resourced church. He built a relationship with the new pastor, concentrated on the strengths of his own church, and kept inviting new people to the worship table. About eight years into […]

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The post What to do When a New Church Comes to Town appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

7 Ideas for Making Vacation Bible School an Evangelism Opportunity

How can you deepen your relationship with the children and families participating in a Vacation Bible School and stay connected with them throughout the year? Lewis Center Director Doug Powe outlines strategies to make your Vacation Bible School a meaningful and effective evangelism opportunity. This article by F. Douglas Powe Jr. was originally published on […]

The post 7 Ideas for Making Vacation Bible School an Evangelism Opportunity first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

The post 7 Ideas for Making Vacation Bible School an Evangelism Opportunity appeared first on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.

7 Tips for Sharing Your Congregation’s Story on Social Media 

How do you effectively share your congregation’s story via social media to reach new people? Tim Welch offers seven tips for sharing your congregation’s story on various social media platforms. One of the best forms of communicating with church members is through digital platforms. Most of your congregation has immediate access to web-based content or […]

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